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I’m all for the Hollywood revival, but this time the powers that be have taken it one step too far. Tonight, low and behold, is the last night for Daddy’s. For those of us that have spent many a night, many a birthday party and drank many a cocktail at this Hollywood bar, it is a true loss.
Daddy’s is a popular bar, but a place where the bartenders, especially Brandon, actually cared about the patrons, knew our names, knew our stories. Daddy’s is one of the only bars that I felt comfortable, as a girl, going to by myself, usually before I was covering a music event for LAist to get a drink and chill before the show.
So what happened? Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency is evicting them through eminent domain my friends. Or more precisely, a $326 million mixed-use project approved by the Los Angeles City Council that is slated to be built along the east side of Vine and Hollywood Boulevard and will effectively wipeout all of the many small businesses on the block, including Daddy's.
The project, which will include a W hotel, 350 apartments, 145 condominiums and nearly 60,000 square feet of retail, is scheduled to break ground next year.
What is redevelopment about? Yes, it’s bringing more money and economic growth to a community, but does it have to be with chains, hotels, Starbucks, Barnes & Noble and other stores that are now a dime a dozen? There is something to be said for a neighborhood bar, a neighborhood place where you feel welcome. And if that means that another generic hotel and condominium can’t be built in Hollywood, well who is really going to miss it?
Rumor is tonight is invitation only, but I think I’m going to crash it to give the bar a personal sendoff.
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OK this totally sucks because daddy's is seriously one of my favorite spots.
I am all for change but it sounds like they are trying to ruin hollywood.
So sad. One of my favorite bars. I'll be there to bid it farewell....(sigh)
We're all going Friday night for a last round. I'm going to miss this place :'(
Are we sure it's invitation only for tonite? I'd like to go one last time.
Wait, is tonite the last night or Friday night?
Does this mean the Juices Fountain is going to be razed too? That place is a Hollywood classic. The old Broadway building across the street is already being turned into condos. How many condos do we need in Hollywood?
I'm sorry bummed!
You could get a non $10 drink there. Not wear make up and still pick up a guy because of the wonderful lack of wattage. You could even take your own Dad there and not have him think rehab was far behind. Thanks GWB and your backup group the Supremes.
350 apartments only a few can afford and more retail products I could get at the Glendale Galleria. What about preserving the character of the community? They need more condos because because the middle class can no longer afford homes, this is their consolation prize.
Its a shame they cant incorporate the structure and at least the bar into the new mixed development. How tacky hollywood will look if they raze all the cool old stuff and put up only new stuff. At least they tried to preserve the facade of the old pharmacy at sunset and vine. Losing daddy's and that building is sad in a city with few old buildings....
Eminent domain is evil.
Eminent domain for private developers is especially despicable.
Mweh.
There's other places. In time, you will forget, and go to the W Hotel for a $20 cosmopolitan. Anybody remember Raji's, which used to be on that site, where the Red Line station is now? Didn't think so. But you're probably too young for that.
Change is inevitable. I'm just glad they're not knocking down the Taft building on the corner. Seems like the larger the building, the better chance it has of survival. If the original Brown Derby was still there, you might have a chance of saving the whole block. But that was torn down over 10 years ago, after the 1994 Northridge quake messed it up.
But the storefront where Daddy's is, as far as I know, doesn't have any particular historical significance, other than a general vintage pedigree.
How about a requirement, when the government uses eminent domain for private purposes, that at least half of the retail space be used for local small-businesses to be given reduced rent for at least the first 3 years?
Actually, Scott, I mourn Raji's frequently. But you're right about it being good they're keeping the Taft Building intact. Of course, the last plan I heard for that was condos, too...
I'll mourn Daddy's, too, but your facts are totally wrong. There is no eminent domain of Daddy's going on. In fact, the owner of the land under Daddy's sold the land to the developer. That's unfortunate, but last time I checked, it was a free country for property owners to sell whatever they want. Whether the new development will be key or not remains to be seen, but after a few of us raised eminent domain concerns with our councilmember, we managed to work with him to stop any land grabs and help some long-time folks stay. CRA needs to be neutered, though--they don't know what the hell they are doing.
OK, seriously: why is the CRA allowed to continue existing? They've been destroying neighborhoods in Los Angeles for decades and replacing them with grandiose projects that never manage to live up to their billing as community-revivers and job-creators. They've left a swath of destruction in this city that, if you put it all together, would cover hundreds of square miles. Are they answerable to anybody?