Going...
Going?
Gone.
From a Los Angeles Magazine article I just read:
18 of Your Favorite Classic L.A. Places That Are About to Disappear
by Chris Nichols
July 30, 2015
Folks were surprised recently when their neighborhood Albertson’s became a Haggen market and the local Radio Shack started morphing into a Sprint store, but that’s nothing compared to the epochal transformation happening to Los Angeles – especially for those that love those distinctive unusual joints that make the fabric of the city so special.
Most of the following are not designated landmark buildings and most of them are not as well known as the handful of buildings that get saved each year but they play a big part in the unique culture of Southern California. Major change is upon us in 2015 as new topples old and local favorites disappear. Summer isn’t even over and these classic places are heading for extreme remodels, complete demolition, or have already passed into history. Goodbye special places, hello blandness.
L.A. Magazine article
Formosa Café: Interior
7156 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046
This 90-year-old restaurant enjoys city landmark status, which protects the building, but not the ancient booths, lanterns, and funk inside that made this a favorite of film location scouts and fans of old Hollywood noir. A remodeling in July stripped the interior and replaced it with less.
A commenter (Scott Frank) says:
The Formosa renovation is absolutely horrible - it's like they removed all traces of personality and made it as bland as possible. It's doesn't even look like a McBar, it looks like whoever renovated it couldn't be bothered to do any decorating at all, it's almost blank inside. The situation is weird, since the personalityof the interior was really the only reason you went. Now...no reason to go at all.
Article link:
HERE.
If anyone wants to research any of the others on the list, here they are:
El Dorado Lanes
8731 Lincoln Blvd, Westchester, CA 90045
House of Blues
8430 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
French Market Place
7985 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046
Jan’s Coffee Shop
8424 Beverly Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90048
Figueroa Tower Sky Lobby
660 S. Figueroa St Los Angeles, CA 90017
La Palma Chicken Pie Shop
928 N Euclid St, Anaheim, CA 92801
Belvedere Fireman’s Recreation Club
Record Ave., East Los Angeles
Arby’s neon sign
6833 Van Nuys Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91405
Beckham Grill
77 W Walnut St, Pasadena, CA 91103
Billy’s Deli
216 N Orange St Glendale, CA 91203
Jewel’s Catch One
4067 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019
Frederick’s of Hollywood
6751 Hollywood Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90028
Aidikoff Screening Room
150 S Rodeo Dr #140, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Phil’s Diner neon sign
5230 Lakershim Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 91601
Figueroa Hotel
939 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015
San Pedro Waterfront Red Car
600 Sampson Way, San Pedro, CA 90731
Family Fair
810 Meridian Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030