Alana’s Coffee Roasters Burglarized Last Night

The story of Alana’s begins with founder Eric Stogsdill, who’s been honing his roasting skills for over a decade. It started in his garage—a small roaster, a lot of trial and error, and a growing passion that took him to farmers’ markets in Westchester, Culver City, West LA, and Redondo Beach. He didn’t just sell beans there; he hauled an espresso setup, pulling shots and talking customers through the nuances of each roast. It was a grind—long days of setup and takedown, all solo—but it built a following. Teaming up with co-owner Erin, he turned that momentum into Alana’s first brick-and-mortar on Venice Blvd in Mar Vista, opening in April 2017 after two years of renovations turned a faded Chinese takeout spot into a coffee haven. The West Hollywood location came later, settling onto a street of boutiques and galleries with a patio lined with succulents and a pet-friendly policy that pulls in locals, freelancers, and coffee buffs alike.

Details of the robbery—what was taken, how entry was made, or if cameras caught anything—are still thin. WEHO Online has contacted the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, which serves West Hollywood, for more and will update this story as details emerge. Reopening just hours after the burglary mirrors the grit that’s driven Stogsdill from a garage setup to two solid locations. Alana’s is known for rolling out free movie nights, open mics, and karaoke when the weather turns mild, all tied to a goal of making specialty coffee feel welcoming. Regulars at the Mar Vista spot swear by baristas who’ll break down Ethiopian versus Colombian beans, while the West Hollywood crowd leans into its quieter, creative energy. This burglary might sting, but it’s hard to see it derailing a business built on steady hands and a loyal base.