Classic Highland Park Liquor Store Getting Local Booze And Hidden Sandwich Shop

A neighborhood liquor store in Highland Park will soon get a spiffy makeover complete with a hidden sandwich shop as well as local beer, wine and spirits.

Just last month, the fate of the vintage neon sign advertising "Coldest Beer In Town" at Figueroa Street and S Avenue 59 seemed to hang in the balance as the liquor store beneath it went up for sale. But now it seems not only will the broken, iconic sign be repaired, but this summer the shop itself will transform into Tinfoil Liquor & Grocery, a new concept that will offer plenty of attractive perks to the usual liquor store offerings and also uncover the building's original, historic architecture inside.

The revamped shop is the work of Jeremy Fall, the man behind buzzy nightlife spots like the recently opened Nighthawk Breaksfast Bar, the dance spots Genesis and Golden Box, and the reworked King Eddy. With Tinfoil Liquor & Grocery, Fall wants to maintain the neighborhood vibe of the long-standing location, still offering the convenience of everyday items, while also adding locally-brewed beer, as well as craft spirits and wine. He's also partnering with chef Alvin Cailan—of Egg Slut, Amboy and Unit 120—and his Unit 120 Group to add a sandwich shop that will be hidden away in a back room of the shop.

"I was born and raised in L.A., so it's really cool to work on a location that has a lot of history," Fall tells LAist. "This isn't some sort of gentryfing project, I'm really trying to preserve the history of Highland Park and add something to the conversation. I'm not trying to tarnish it by any means, and I think that's important."

Fall tells us that Tinfoil will be his take on a traditional bodega like you might find in New York, while featuring distinctly L.A. offerings, including lots of products and grocery items from local purveyors around town, as well as exclusive items you won't find elsewhere. The shop will also make a convenient stop before or after a visit to the soon-to-open Highland Park Bowl just down the road, which will also be restoring a portion of the neighborhood's history.

"Anytime I start a new project, I want to make it unexpected and different than what I usually do or what I've done before," Fall explains. "Everything I'm doing now, I want to go more towards food because that's where my true passion lies."

More specific detail and designs of Tinfoil will gradually be unveiled as the summer opening approaches.

Tinfoil Liquor & Grocery will be located at 5900 N. Figueroa Street, Highland Park.