West Hollywood’s “Big Gay” Starbucks shut its doors to the public for the last time Sunday, and WEHOville was there to witness this end of an era. Catch a last look at the cafe on Santa Monica Blvd. and the microcosm of the community it nurtured for many years.
Video by Larry Block
Saying goodbye to loyal customers.The Starbucks drew a diverse crowd of all agesEmployees all have jobs at other Starbucks locationsMark Feigan, Sen. Bob Hertzberg and Brian Luster
Manager Acacia says goodbye on behalf of Starbucks
Interview by Larry BlockFinal customers befo
re doors are lockedLocked outFinal ordersThe team’s last dayThe Big Gay Starbucks’ final serving
Photos by Brandon Garcia
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Blame the city council all you want … the closure of this Starbucks location is based on the historic ways in which Starbucks mistreats their employees. Period.
Please due your due diligence on other Starbucks closures and the retribution this company enacts on their employees in order to scare them into not wanting to unionize.
Steve Carry
5 days ago
This is not the only Starbucks that closed its doors. This should tell you what’s really going on in Los Angeles and it’s not good. If you continue to support left wing liberal idiology this and more will be the result.
JR Birdsong
5 days ago
here will these folks hang out that used to sit for hours ‘working’ [or was it cruising?] at Big Bucks. Possibly buy a coffee maker and save money having coffee at home? OR can they afford internet paying so much for over roasted coffee? LOL!!!!
Liz
11 days ago
I hope CBTL sees an opportunity to return to a Boystown adjacent location here…
Tom Smart
11 days ago
If another decent coffee place moved into this space, I’d move my approx 6k yearly Java habit over to them instead of Bux
LateralThinker
12 days ago
Far bigger than a cup of coffee is community itself. For many of us Old Farts that still remember the Abbey was only coffee and desert and someplace that attracted the Gay community from all over the country, the Valley, OC , San Gabriel Valley and beyond, when that became mostly a bar, for many Starbucks was the only option in town and became a central meeting point and safe spot across from what was 24 hr fitness. While I understand and support change stop and ask what are we allowing to be done to ourselves as a result. Don’t… Read more »
Sad to know that a coffee shop represents a “community itself”. It’s a cup of coffee folks and maybe desert, not a pillar of the community by any stretch. Plenty of worthwhile things can be found to occupy one’s time. Times have surely changed.
Matthew Flanagan
12 days ago
At Starbucks stupid liberal policies of allow the homeless to sit in their facility that allow this to happen also no one’s addressing the fact that they want to become part of the union do you think they’re not gonna trim the fat edges of have to become part of the union?
You know, I’m not even sure he is a real person, and I swear, he just makes comments like these to stir the pot. Always negative, always the contrarian. I think he thrives on drama, and wants attention. Ignore him. I try to, as much as I can.
The city will need to engage the next city council to undo the “ 4:00AM Nothing Good Ever Happens After Midnight” fiasco. More busy work for city staff, more hearings, more excess for everyone.
They aren’t “undoing” anything. The city council chose to approve it for the future and people who aren’t you, happen to support it, and look forward to the change in bar serving hours.
LoL. Apparently I am supposed to apologize to you for not living the same lifestyle as you, your majesty! Great life choice moving to one of the biggest gay nightlife communities in the nation and complaining about it being too active, by the way. That’s like moving to the Bible belt and being perpetually annoyed by those darn churches. Nothing ridiculous about that, nooo….
Apparently you seem be at least of drinking age but with a mentality ca. 7th grade. No apologies required for a different lifestyle but one can hope. for a bit of responsibility. Don’t live adjacent to the nightlife community but share the concerns of those that do. Prior to the city becoming unhinged professing to be the 9th wonder of the progressive world the picture was different. If you ever spend time out of the West Hollywood cacoon you may get an accurate picture of how it is actually perceived. Myopia never gets one very far before they find themselves… Read more »
Can’t wait to see Ham in his go-go boots and Daisy Dukes gettin’ it on at Or.
resident
12 days ago
Point the finger of blame at the City Council for the disgusting state our streets. Each self-serving vote by Hovath/Erickson/Shyne was another nail in the coffin of West Hollywood residents. John D’Amico should be tarred and feathered on his way out for all the harm he has done to this community.
Yup, John D’Amico who allowed everyone to believe he was an architect. While on the Planning Commission, he and his perpetual lunch date, John Altschul were greatly responsible for the horrid structures on the East side without an ounce of ambiance. Well, Mr. Project Manager, your real title was evidently not transferable to your council position as your management deserves a Failing grade. No more free access to entertainment events while claiming to be a city official. Bad manners on top of all.
You can’t even get your insults right. The Streisand/Nolte movie was “The Prince of Tides”. Give up, troll.
Randy
12 days ago
Great story, guys. Larry, it was great to meet you there yesterday. To get in on part of the final celebration. This was sad and unnecessary.
Davedi
12 days ago
Hard working taxpaying residents can’t enjoy a cup of coffee out because a bunch of drugged out screaming transients have the run of the place. Sad what we have become.
Blame the city council all you want … the closure of this Starbucks location is based on the historic ways in which Starbucks mistreats their employees. Period.
Please due your due diligence on other Starbucks closures and the retribution this company enacts on their employees in order to scare them into not wanting to unionize.
This is not the only Starbucks that closed its doors. This should tell you what’s really going on in Los Angeles and it’s not good. If you continue to support left wing liberal idiology this and more will be the result.
here will these folks hang out that used to sit for hours ‘working’ [or was it cruising?] at Big Bucks. Possibly buy a coffee maker and save money having coffee at home? OR can they afford internet paying so much for over roasted coffee? LOL!!!!
I hope CBTL sees an opportunity to return to a Boystown adjacent location here…
If another decent coffee place moved into this space, I’d move my approx 6k yearly Java habit over to them instead of Bux
Far bigger than a cup of coffee is community itself. For many of us Old Farts that still remember the Abbey was only coffee and desert and someplace that attracted the Gay community from all over the country, the Valley, OC , San Gabriel Valley and beyond, when that became mostly a bar, for many Starbucks was the only option in town and became a central meeting point and safe spot across from what was 24 hr fitness. While I understand and support change stop and ask what are we allowing to be done to ourselves as a result. Don’t… Read more »
I’d actually go to the Abbey if it reverted back to coffee and dessert.
Sad to know that a coffee shop represents a “community itself”. It’s a cup of coffee folks and maybe desert, not a pillar of the community by any stretch. Plenty of worthwhile things can be found to occupy one’s time. Times have surely changed.
At Starbucks stupid liberal policies of allow the homeless to sit in their facility that allow this to happen also no one’s addressing the fact that they want to become part of the union do you think they’re not gonna trim the fat edges of have to become part of the union?
I didn’t realize West Hollywood had morphed into Mayberry, ignorance and all.
Lol. Y’all closed this place when you turned a blind eye to crime and “compassion” for the drug addicts (not homeless). We’ll done, gay liberals.
Exactly!
Any change on SMB should be embraced.
Wow you’re embracing the several new gay bars coming to SMB later this year? Proud of you!
World goes to hell and you think everything is peachy. Probably just waiting for another stimmy check…
4am closing and less Police. Well done council!
Please speak on the record in Public Comment tonight at City Council otherwise your words will be lost in the wind.
“4am closing”
That wouldn’t even be introduced until 2025***
Why do so many people just read headlines on here?
For the same reason they get their politics from bumper stickers.
You know, I’m not even sure he is a real person, and I swear, he just makes comments like these to stir the pot. Always negative, always the contrarian. I think he thrives on drama, and wants attention. Ignore him. I try to, as much as I can.
The city will need to engage the next city council to undo the “ 4:00AM Nothing Good Ever Happens After Midnight” fiasco. More busy work for city staff, more hearings, more excess for everyone.
They aren’t “undoing” anything. The city council chose to approve it for the future and people who aren’t you, happen to support it, and look forward to the change in bar serving hours.
Terrifically unwise current idea. We’ll see about the future. Keep drinking your life away with your drinking pals supporting bar owners.🙄🥺
LoL. Apparently I am supposed to apologize to you for not living the same lifestyle as you, your majesty! Great life choice moving to one of the biggest gay nightlife communities in the nation and complaining about it being too active, by the way. That’s like moving to the Bible belt and being perpetually annoyed by those darn churches. Nothing ridiculous about that, nooo….
Apparently you seem be at least of drinking age but with a mentality ca. 7th grade. No apologies required for a different lifestyle but one can hope. for a bit of responsibility. Don’t live adjacent to the nightlife community but share the concerns of those that do. Prior to the city becoming unhinged professing to be the 9th wonder of the progressive world the picture was different. If you ever spend time out of the West Hollywood cacoon you may get an accurate picture of how it is actually perceived. Myopia never gets one very far before they find themselves… Read more »
LOL
He’s a Marxist Bot
Truth.
Can’t wait to see Ham in his go-go boots and Daisy Dukes gettin’ it on at Or.
Point the finger of blame at the City Council for the disgusting state our streets. Each self-serving vote by Hovath/Erickson/Shyne was another nail in the coffin of West Hollywood residents. John D’Amico should be tarred and feathered on his way out for all the harm he has done to this community.
Yup, John D’Amico who allowed everyone to believe he was an architect. While on the Planning Commission, he and his perpetual lunch date, John Altschul were greatly responsible for the horrid structures on the East side without an ounce of ambiance. Well, Mr. Project Manager, your real title was evidently not transferable to your council position as your management deserves a Failing grade. No more free access to entertainment events while claiming to be a city official. Bad manners on top of all.
It’s very easy when things don’t go our way to point our finger at others when you should really be looking in the mirror.
The West Hollywood City Council is like the Streisand/Nolte movie “The Mirror Has 2 Faces” and they are both ugly.
You can’t even get your insults right. The Streisand/Nolte movie was “The Prince of Tides”. Give up, troll.
Great story, guys. Larry, it was great to meet you there yesterday. To get in on part of the final celebration. This was sad and unnecessary.
Hard working taxpaying residents can’t enjoy a cup of coffee out because a bunch of drugged out screaming transients have the run of the place. Sad what we have become.