Molly's Charbroiled Burger: Taking a Stand to Save the Stand
Over a year ago, the fate of Molly's Charbroiled Burger on Vine in Hollywood seemed to be that the beloved octogenarian shack was doomed to be crumpled up and tossed in the trashcan like the paper-wrapper remains of a greasy cheeseburger lunch.
"Land around the 20-stool eatery is to be sold to Pacifica Ventures, a Santa Monica-based development company that builds and operates out-of-state movie soundstages," explains today's LA Times, providing an update to the ongoing Hollywood development saga. In Molly's stead: "[A] $57-million, eight-story, glass-sided office building [that] will eliminate an eyesore along a revitalized, trendy stretch between Hollywood and Sunset boulevards."
Yes, the shack with the stools and the quintessentially Los Angeles backstory of its evolution to its current Korean owners, Mexican cooks, and (mostly) all-American fare, is an "eyesore" that, should owner Kiok Yi wish, can resurrect as a tenant on the ground floor of said glass tower.
Not everyone is gung-ho about the suggestion, though, and people are stepping in to take a stand to save the stand. Preservationists are urging that the restaurant remain intact, and City Council President Eric Garcetti, who represents the area where Molly's is located, agrees. Garcetti "asked that approval of the office project be delayed until the historic nature of Molly's is examined further." The Council is expected to discuss the matter today.
Previously on LAist
- Molly's Charbroiled Burger, Hollywood
- Over 950 Historical Monuments in Los Angeles -- Many Go Unnoticed