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This week the Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City seems to have opened and closed more times than Homer Simpson's refrigerator door (The light goes on; the light goes off; the light goes on; the light goes off). On Tuesday, the Sportsmen's Lodge director, Linda Scott, told ABC News that the lodge is "destined for the wrecking ball." The story was picked up on AP and widely reported yesterday.
Not so fast. According to the new owner, Richard Weintraub, the lodge will remain open, in spite of planned renovations, as yesterday's Extra Extra suggested.
I am dismayed at the misleading and inaccurate representations on the part of my tenant," Weintraub said in a statement. "As the owner of the Sportsmen's Lodge Hotel site, I have no plans, and never have had plans, to close all of the restaurant and banquet facilities.
Still, Patrick Holleran, who claims sole ownership of the Sportsmen's Lodge, insists he will close the lodge on New Year's Eve before his lease expires in January. "We are the Sportsmen's Lodge, period," states Holleran, who owns the liquor license, fixtures, and rights to the name. Hell, he even owns the swans.
The conflicting reports imply that Patrick Holleran plans to vacate the premises, taking his swans with him while Weintraub will be bringing in a hotel management company to take over banquet operations. So essentially, there will still be a restaurant there, but it will not be The Sportsmen's Lodge as we know it. The 200-room Sportsmen's Lodge Hotel and Patio Cafe next door will still be available for extramarital affairs and vacation tour packages.
The 63-year old kitschy landmark on Ventura Boulevard was once a celebrity hangout for stars like Clark Gable and Bette Davis, as practically any place serving martinis sems to have been. At one time, diners at the lodge could even catch their own trout dinners. Sadly, that was one gimmick the restaurant didn't bring back; it could have been a fad.
Let's all lift a glass to the loss of green-and-orange-lit palm trees, and heave a collective sigh of relief that we will no longer have to suffer tacky weddings amongst the fish ponds nor choke down inedible banquet food at obligatory events. Goodbye, Chicken in Herb Sauce, farewell Spanish Rice. Three Bean Salad -- we hardly knew ye.
Weintraub plans to open a Western-themed steakhouse while remaining faithful to the history of the lodge and what it means to the neighborhood.
I have fond memories of the Sportsmen's Lodge growing up in Sherman Oaks," Weintraub said. "And I want to bring it back to its grandeur, including events, banquets, fine dining, quality hotel space, incredible shopping and perhaps even a fishing pond.
Weintraub will bring back fishing for your own dinner? Count us in! But what will happen to the swans?
Photo by lavocado@sbcglobal.net via flickr
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The only place I've ever been approached by a prostitute was at the Sportsman Lodge in the parking lot. I was there for a big city political event too. The City Attorney was there.
Anyway, that corner is a bit sleepy. Compared to the other major Sherman Oaks/Studio City intersections on Ventura Blvd. (Sepulveda, Van Nuys, Woodman, Laurel Canyon), Coldwater is the worst. You get the fancy Ralphs with the celebrities coming down from the hills, the scary looking Twains 24-hour diner and some shops next to the soon-to-be Wells Fargo bank.
I wouldn't mind seeing this turn into something cool. But get ready for a fight with the neighborhood if they do!
Well, he has Councilwoman Wendy Greuel cheerleading for him.
I only know it as the harbinger of Pinot Bistro..."Oh, we're almost there!" and the site of painful, horrendous wedding receptions.
In the lobby of the hotel, I have run into people I knew meeting people who were not their spouses (Back parking lot for convenient exits I guess) and lots of tour groups from Japan.
I'm a huge proponent of la restaurant history, and would love to keep our institutions intact. But it can only change for the better.
My high school reunion was there. I crashed it because I didn't want there to be any record I attended. I also didn't want to pay. A former classmate got so drunk she barfed in the Swan pond and was asked to leave.