Larchmont Chronicle Story Archive

Larchmont Chronicle Neighborhood newspaper representing Hancock Park, Larchmont Village
Miracle Mile, Park La Brea Fremont Place in the Wilshire center area of Los Angeles. Local News and
stories about the local Los Angeles Scene. Historical informattion regarding the Larchmont Chronicle and
Hancock Park area. Founded in 1963 on Larchmont Bouelvard, Los Angeles, CA, California

April 2, 2010

COURT DATE BREWS FOR LARCHMONT BUNGALOW

Suzan Filipek

LICENSED as take-out, but operating as a restaurant.

Larchmont Bungalow is more than an Artisan Café Bakery & Brew at 107 N. Larchmont Blvd. It’s illegal.

Criminal charges were filed against owner Albert Mizrahi last month by Tina Hess, supervising assistant city attorney for the Safe Neighborhoods division. Larchmont Village Partners One, LLC was charged with three counts of failing to comply with orders, providing false information and operating without a certificate of occupancy.

An arraignment and plea have been set for Thurs., April 15 in L.A. Superior Court, Hollywood Division, 5925 Hollywood Blvd.

Charges were filed after the city Building and Safety Dept. revoked the Bungalow’s certificate of occupancy last year, Hess said. Mizrahi’s attorney Fred Gaines did not return calls.

Building & Safety officials visited the site after complaints that, while licensed as a take-out with retail, it operated as a restaurant. Bungalow owners were cited, they appealed and were denied by the Building and Safety Board of Commissioners.

The integrity of zoning laws is at stake, said Patty Lombard. The area resident is among several neighbors and Larchmont business owners who pressed city officials to enforce zoning laws after the Bungalow opened last fall with 36 tables and chairs. Limiting restaurants preserves the character of the street and keeps traffic, trash and noise in check, said Lombard. “You want to have thoughtful planning,” added Lombard, one of the founders of ilovelarchmontblvd.org, a website devoted to the preservation of Larchmont Blvd.

The area’s Q Condition allows for a total of eight restaurants between Beverly Blvd. and First St.; there are 12. “The Bungalow was the line in the sand the city has drawn… you either comply or you close. It’s enough already. These guys were told (no tables and chairs); they signed a covenant and they violated it,” Lombard said.

Limiting restaurants preserves the character of the street, it also keeps traffic, trash and late-night noise in check, she added.

While several eateries zoned take-out have seating areas, there was concern that the Bungalow’s large 3,000-square foot space would be used as a restaurant, so the city inspector required a signed covenant stating no tables and chairs, said Lombard.

The city is adamant; failure to comply can result in hefty fines, said Lombard. Updates can be found at ilovelarchmontblvd.com

Larchmont Chronicle
542½ North Larchmont Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90004

Editor & Publisher: Jane Gilman
Associate Publisher: Irwin Gilman

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Information about the Larchmont Village, Hancock Park, Miracle Mile, Park LaBrea areas of Los Angeles, california. The larchmont Chronicle provides information, news stories, local events, advertising, real estate information, real estate listing advertisings, Los Angeles area demographics and other neighborhood news.