HAPPY HOLIDAYS ~

Most stores and restaurants are closed Christmas Day. For the latest updates, check http://twitter.com/larchmontla

Babycakes reopens Thursday, December 27th.
Village Pizzeria reopens Thursday, December 27th.
Larchmont Deli on Beverly reopens January 2nd.
Coffee + Food on Melrose reopens January 2nd.

Larchmont Bungalow Shut Down

UPDATE: On April 3, 2013, in the Central Arraignment Court in downtown Los Angeles, Larchmont Bungalow pleaded no contest to the case presented by the fire department, and was sentenced to three years' probation. The primary criminal case against Bungalow's illegal operation is still ongoing and has been continued to June 19, 2013.

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September 2nd (Sunday), 2012


A quick update regarding the closure of illegal restaurant Larchmont Bungalow today.

The Los Angeles Fire Department, accompanied by Los Angeles Police Department resources, appeared at 107 North Larchmont Boulevard at midday Sunday and shut the establishment down for operating beyond the stated occupancy on their legal papers.

For those unfamiliar with the most galling issue confronting our community, Bungalow has been operating without the most basic city permit required of restaurants or any kind of food-service business. The last permit issued for that space (formerly an office building) was for food-retail and it was declared void in October 2009. After several administrative appeals and hearings, that food-retail permit, which is in the same category as the one used by Starbucks and other coffee takeout places, was revoked for good in December 2009.

There is no record of any other food facility in the City of Los Angeles that has been able to get away with such blatant disregard of the law for such a long time and with the patronage of high-ranking government officials. Whether they can reopen will depend on their continued willingness to pour money into extending the processes of lobbying, litigation, and PR.

NOTE: Without a Certificate of Occupancy, the building occupied by Bungalow can accommodate only 49 people according to LAFD calculations specified in the Municipal Code. The fire marshal counted a total of 98 people on September 2nd, thus requiring the closure.

For more background, you may search this site. We will add more information and links to this entry soon.

Larchmont Bungalow Violates LAMC

According to the Los Angeles Municipal Code, a sit-down restaurant with a gross floor area of 2,579 square feet should provide 25 parking spaces. Larchmont Bungalow only has seven (7) parking spaces, even as it serves patrons who dine on full meals on the premises.

What's even more brazen is that Larchmont Bungalow does NOT have a permit to operate a restaurant – any kind of restaurant. In 2009, it applied to convert the office building at 107 North Larchmont into a takeout and retail space. The property owner signed a legal affidavit promising the city that there would be no seating for dining. Technically called a "covenant," the notarized affidavit is an instrument used by the Department of Building and Safety in many other instances to guarantee compliance.

When Bungalow opened in October 2009, they did have seating for dining, and so their permit was REVOKED. They appealed, and their APPEAL was DENIED. Instead of working with city agencies to bring the establishment into compliance with the law (i.e., follow the terms of the legal affidavit that was signed), Bungalow decided it could preclude criminal charges by suing the city, saying that the permit was improperly revoked.

Even to this day, Bungalow has NOT received ANY permit from the city that would allow it to operate legally. That is why the city attorney's office has filed criminal charges for its blatant disregard of business requirements that every other restaurant painstakingly fulfills. A date for the criminal trial is scheduled to be set in the summer of 2013.

UPDATE: In a separate criminal case involving fire-code violations endangering the safety of its customers, the court found Larchmont Bungalow guilty. Lawyers for Bungalow had it plead no-contest; it was sentenced to three years' probation in April 2013. The manager is Sasha Urbelis.

Address: 107 N Larchmont Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90004
Phone number: 323 461-1528   

Bungalow insists on referring to itself as an "award-winning tea importer" despite not having won any award. It also continues its unauthorized use of the Dine Green logo despite being asked by the Green Restaurant Association to desist.

Furthermore, in a meeting with the community, the owners categorically stated that they are a furniture store and that as such, are operating within the conditions of a takeout/retail permit. Their lawyers have also stated in the March 2011 reply brief in the civil suit that they are NOT a sit-down restaurant -- despite serving full meals with proper cutlery to patrons who leisurely consume their food on the premises.




BARGAIN HUNTERS FORM LINES OUT THE DOOR

Groupon: 4,417 deals purchased on February 8, 2011

1,863 Living Social coupons purchased on December 10, 2010

1,556 Living Social coupons purchased on July 27, 2010
 

341 Living Social coupons purchased on February 25, 2010

Total: 8,177 coupons since February 25, 2010 – all with the Larchmont Bungalow's stipulation that the coupons can only be used for dine in, and not take out.

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LINKS TO RELATED ARTICLES:

City's Criminal Case Against Larchmont Bungalow
Application for a Mini-Mall in Larchmont Village?
Health Department's Official Inspection Report
Larchmont Bungalow: Furniture Store
Bungalow Calls LAPD to Arrest Reporter

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Lemonade Restaurant on Larchmont

After the Larchmont Larder closed in August 2012, speculation has grown over what could possibly take its place in the bungalow just south of Melrose.

Lemonade? Yes, the popular chain of restaurants has confirmed that it will be opening an outpost at 626 N. Larchmont Boulevard in early 2013.

Additional details to be posted soon.