More on the threat to Irv’s Burgers

More information has emerged in recent days on the proposed development in West Hollywood, Calif., that may threaten historic Irv’s Burgers along Route 66.

WeHo News, which serves West Hollywood, posted a more detailed story a few days ago. Basically, the dispute concerns a vacant lot next to Irv’s that The Standard Oil Investment Group wants to develop into a Beach Cafe, and Irv’s co-owner Sonia Hong says the developer wants more rent money, or her establishment gone.

Beginning in December, Ms. Hong says she has heard repeatedly from her landlords that they want her gone so they can bring in a new business to run the stand.

Despite Ms. Hong’s fears and clams, the managing partner, Steven Bohbot says that he “doesn’t want the Hong family to leave. We love them; they are a great business and have much community goodwill.”

Confirming that Irv’s had been visited repeatedly, her landlord’s representative at Standard Oil Investment Group, Michael Bitton, told WeHo News that he has been trying to negotiate a new lease.

“Because of the investment we’re planning in Irv’s Burgers,” he said, “as well as the new Café Beach investment, we’ll have to raise the rent.”

The Hongs pay roughly $4,500 a month now; Ms. Hong says that she was recently asked for nearly $10,000, a better than 100 percent jump.

The investment firm would not confirm the amount of that request, saying only that, “We are trying to work something out with them to keep them there and trying to have a good relationship with them.”

The firm confirmed it requested a rent increase, so it gives Hong’s story a lot of credibility.

Hong also says she’s been offered $20,000 to move, but the developer denied that.

Bitton says he’s also concerned that in addition to Irv’s needing a new roof, the restaurant might require other costly repairs.

Local roadie Scott Piotrowski also has kept his ear to the ground regarding Irv’s. He wrote in an email Thursday:

 I can confirm that the City of West Hollywood has already formally approved design plans for the property, and those plans have been approved by the Cultural Heritage Committee. They cannot confirm what business will occupy the new building, but that the building can now legally be built. I have not yet seen the plans first hand but hope to do so soon. I am frankly not as concerned about the new building as the co-habitation of the two businesses on the one property.

I can also confirm today that the Los Angeles Conservancy had no knowledge of the situation prior to this morning but that the Burger Brigade (the loosely organized local friends of Irv’s that formed to help with the initial preservation nomination) is aware of the situation and has been monitoring it. More discussions between myself and them are in the works.

Irv’s faced a threat before in 2004, when a property owner wanted to raze the stand so he could build a coffee shop. But customers — including a few Hollywood celebrities — and preservationists banded together to give it historic landmark status and protection. However, that status does not prevent the restaurant from being torn down.

(Photo of Irv’s Burgers by waltarrrr via Flickr)

4 thoughts on “More on the threat to Irv’s Burgers

  1. They must be selling a whole lot of hamburgers at that little stand if they’ve been clearing enough to make a living after paying 4,500 a month for rent. I’ve eaten a fair number of meals in West Hollywood on vacations through the years and know the area is peppered with plenty of places to eat ranging from outdoor walk-ups like this one to fancy, schmancy restaurants and they all always appear to be busy.. I’m guessing with millions of locals and millions more visitors to feed Irv’s landlords have every reason to expect to rake in bigger $$$ with a more ambitious business plan.

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