Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Did the Silver Lake Whole Foods Hoax Prankster Reveal His Plans on a Podcast?

We went through a sped-up hype and disappointment cycle when we thought Whole Food was coming Silver Lake and then we found out we'd all been duped / Read the posts here and here

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

A tipster who listens to "WTF with Marc Maron" told us that we should listen to today's episode with comic Brendon Walsh.

It's not clear when the podcast was taped, but in it, the comic describes some very familiar-sounding plans to pull a fast one on the hipsters of Silver Lake. Many Silver Lakers rejoiced when they heard they wouldn't have to schlep to the west or Pasadena to get their fill of fancy organic cheese. Their hopes were crushed when Whole Foods confirmed the whole thing was a hoax. But no one has yet stepped forward to claim the prank — until now.

Here's a transcript from today's show:



Brendon Walsh: This is something I'm going to do ... I'm going to get everyone in Silver Lake excited thinking that there is a Whole Foods is coming into town. There's an empty Circuit City... Marc Maron: Yeah, I know where that is.

BW: Yeah, it's been empty for like two years and I was talking with actually Neil Hamburger. We were talking about how -- he lives in the neighborhood, too -- and we're like it's crazy there's not a Whole Foods here with so many hipsters.

MM: It is crazy.

BW: He mentioned that would be a good location for one and I said, "You know what? That's right." I said, "I'm gonna get a banner printed up that says 'Coming Soon: Silver Lake Whole Foods' and hang it up on the fence." I haven't done it yet, but I'm going to and that's going to be exciting for the...the neighborhood is going to get excited and then confused.

Bingo.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today