Laurel Supply Is Finally Open — It Was Worth the Wait

Let’s just say good things come to those who wait.

Laurel Supply finally opened its doors Friday, ending what turned out to be a well intentioned wait for one of the more ambitious specialty food retail projects in West Hollywood. It’s the second West Hollywood venture from Dean McKillen and Phil Howard, the pair behind Laurel Hardware just up the way at 7984 Santa Monica Boulevard.  

Originally built in 1942 for Ritts Company Furniture, owned by the parents of photographer Herb Ritts, the building later housed the dot com-era Hollywood Stock Exchange and more recently served as creative office space for companies like Stampede Ventures. Since the late 2010s it has been controlled by the Laurel Hardware and Ysabel owners and their development partners. What they have done with it is something to see.

The soaring Douglas fir timber trusses, the warm blonde oak millwork, the floating ceiling canopy over the central bar, the cedar facade with floor-to-ceiling glass looking out onto Santa Monica Boulevard. Every surface considered, nothing value-engineered.

WEHOonline first got inside the space back in February when we could see a massive refrigerated display case running the back wall, and butcher-block millwork that made clear this wasn’t going to be a casual operation. The sign went up in January. The opening took a wee bit longer than expected, as happens with all construction project – especially those paying attention to the details and design that make a difference. As I said, it looks to be well worth the wait. 

One of the first things you notice walking in: “100% ORGANIC” is painted in block letters directly on the exposed brick wall above a floor-to-ceiling refrigerated display running the full length of the back. Everything that follows makes good on that promise.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ The vibe is fresh, organic and curated.

Health and Beauty 

This is Los Angeles, after all, where the line between grocery store and lifestyle statement dissolved a long time ago. Laurel Supply lands firmly on the lifestyle side, and it earns it. Staff in crisp white jackets move through the floor with purpose, lending the whole operation a polish that matches the room. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Inside, the space delivers on the promise of two years of construction and one long tease.

The health and beauty section alone spans an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling light oak shelving stocked with hundreds of specially selected products. “HEALTH & BEAUTY” is painted in faded block lettering on the exposed brick above it, a nod to the building’s history that feels less like decoration and more like a mission statement.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

You’ll find vitamins, supplements, skin care, body care, soap, hand care, lip care — all displayed with the kind of deliberate aesthetic that places this squarely in Erewhon territory — or frankly, beyond it.

Dining

The hot food counter drew a line on opening day, with customers crowding a long glass display of prepared dishes under a cluster of white dome heat lamps while chefs worked the open kitchen behind it.

The bakery anchors its own corner of the space, centered on a wood-fired dome oven stacked with logs. Cans of Bianco DiNapoli tomatoes — the premium brand from Phoenix pizza legend Chris Bianco — were visible on the counter, a detail that signals the kitchen is sourcing at the top end.

And​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ in case you’re wondering if the bread is fresh — wonder no more. I overheard a customer asking a staff member what time the baking begins? He told him “3am.”

Speaking of fresh, the juice bar alone is worth the trip. You could smell the kitchen from across the floor. Leave that NutriBullet at home and head over there now. They’ve got it covered.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Richard Prince

One detail on the wall that stopped me in my tracks. A large framed piece – unmistakably a Richard Prince “Instagram painting.” It hangs prominently inside the store. Prince, the appropriation artist, has produced a series of works based on printed screenshots of real Instagram posts, complete with likes and comments, exhibited and sold at major galleries. The framed piece at Laurel Supply shows a post from @cakemix91 with a comment attributed to @richardprince1234.

Whether it’s an original, a commissioned piece, or a reproduction wasn’t immediately clear. It is definitely a conversation piece and makes for an interesting touch. 

Branded Merch You Use

Branded tote bags and t-shirts line the shelves beneath the butcher-block checkout counter, “Laurel Supply West Hollywood” and “Laurel Supply Los Angeles” in black and white. They’re going to sell a lot of those. Staff in white jackets work the registers while the patio and Santa Monica Boulevard stretch out through the floor-to-ceiling windows behind them. It’s a good first and last impression.

Last but certainly not least — the outdoor patio. It may be the best people-watching seat in West Hollywood. Warm oak benches and tables stretch along the Santa Monica Boulevard frontage under oversized cream umbrellas, framed by young olive trees. The views down the boulevard are wide open. Gas fire features are already in place for cooler days and evenings.

Ample parking is available in the lot behind the building. Laurel Supply is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 8445 Santa Monica Boulevard.

This is truly a West Hollywood original — homegrown, independent, and built by people who already proved once they know what this city wants. McKillen and Howard did it with Laurel Hardware. Looks like they’ve done it again.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Bravo, gents. Bravo.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​