UPDATED: The Abbey/Chapel business and property is for sale

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News reports show a listing of the Abbey and Chapel for sale. The property is located at 656 N. Robertson Blvd. and listed by the Brandon Michaels Group, at Marcus and Millichap.

Listing is described as “A Generational Purchase Opportunity to Acquire One of the World’s Most Iconic Nightclubs and Restaurants, The Abbey and The Chapel at The Abbey, including the Operating Business, Brand, Trademarks, and Trophy West Hollywood Real Estate.

David Cooley opened The Abbey in 1991 at its original location. Within three years, The Abbey relocated across the street and has since expanded five times to occupy its current 18,000-square-foot space on North Robertson Boulevard. Today, patrons flock to the bar for its vibrant music, signature cocktails, and performances by scantily-clad dancers.

Beyond its role as a bar, The Abbey serves as a community center and a meeting place for dignitaries, politicians, and celebrities. Lady Gaga celebrated the 10th anniversary of her album “Born this Way” at The Abbey in 2021, while the late Elizabeth Taylor, a cherished figure within the LGBTQ+ community, gifted a portrait of herself to the bar.

The bar has also been the subject of repeated reports of sexual assault.

The news of The Abbey hitting the market follows word of the sale of Revolver, which is in escrow and scheduled to turn over before the end of the month.

 

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Jerome Cleary
Jerome Cleary
1 year ago

Maybe it might become an Olive Garden or Applebees.

mark feigin
mark feigin
1 year ago

The Abbey is basically a ghetto bar now – thanks to the idiots of the west hollywood city council infesting the city with pot shops – there is mow rampant crime, homeless lunatics on every corner – and a general feeling that this is a place that is neither fun nor safe – The pot shops attract criminals from the hood who come to weho to get high, rob people in broaddaylight and cause havoc, this city is feeling the effects of the democrat virus in a big way – less safe, dirtier; basically a miniature version of skid row… Read more »

Kerrigan Hennings
Kerrigan Hennings
1 year ago
Reply to  mark feigin

Sounds like it’s time for you to move out of West Hollywood! Who would ever want to live in the kind of place you describe? Definitely not me!

Too Much
Too Much
1 year ago

This is actually good news. That whole area needs to be torn down and redeveloped.

Steve Too
Steve Too
1 year ago
Reply to  Too Much

Seriously, you want to tear down one of the highest sales tax producing businesses in West Hollywood? And replace it with what?

Wes M
Wes M
1 year ago

This isn’t the first time Abbey has been sold. It was sold about 15 years or more ago to SLS. After a few years of that, David Cooley bought it back. I don’t see this is anything other than a business decision by someone who has been very successful, and wants to make a lot more money. Maybe he’s moving out of town or out of state or maybe not. I really don’t care. The Abbey has been very expensive for years. They did help lead the way to overpriced food and drinks in West Hollywood. You can’t blame that… Read more »

Kiss it
Kiss it
1 year ago

I think the Abey should just stay open without a liquor license so It could be a coffee shop and bakery and dessert place like the alcove in Los Feliz. So we can have a place to congregate and chitchat there’s plenty of bars with loud music also I like the bathroom stalls in the Abi so I could give a good BJ at any given time and then I can carry my trysting onto the side there where the park is in between all those nice bushes… $22 for an apple martini is too much and the grilled cheese… Read more »

SeeMe
SeeMe
1 year ago
Reply to  Kiss it

I believe the Alcove has a liquor license…great place and I wish we did have one in WeHo.

Ben McCormick
Ben McCormick
1 year ago
Reply to  Kiss it

That is actually how the Abbey started, as a coffee shop bakery across Robertson, where the dry cleaners was next to Bossa Nova.

Kerrigan Hennings
Kerrigan Hennings
1 year ago
Reply to  Kiss it

Where are you drinking in Palm Springs?!

Yola D.
Yola D.
1 year ago

The Abbey was early on a place of safe refuge for our LGBTQ Community to come together. People discussed our Human Rights there and the many things we needed to address on a Local, State, and National Level. Politicians came to speak there especially when running for Office. Mr. Cooley’s Birthdays for countless years were spent raising monies for Charitable Organizations like APLA, The American Cancer Society, etc. at The Abbey. He also sponsored an event for The Children’s Hospital, and each year they would participate in The AIDS Walk. Many people don’t know about his valued contributions contributions to… Read more »

greeneyedguy
greeneyedguy
1 year ago
Reply to  Yola D.

Very nice words. I hope he can sell it to someone who values community like David did.

mark feigin
mark feigin
1 year ago
Reply to  Yola D.

people did alot of drugs there they didnt discuss human rights -“human rights” – lol –

Kerrigan Hennings
Kerrigan Hennings
1 year ago
Reply to  mark feigin

You were there every night and can verify this, I assume? I mean – can’t both things be true?

Jerome Cleary
Jerome Cleary
1 year ago

A friend mentioned to me today that they would not be surprised if a developer came in and bought the Chapel, The Abbey and Pump and then demolished it all and built another hotel to compete with the one on Robertson that is coming in the near future.

The Eraser
The Eraser
1 year ago
Reply to  Jerome Cleary

Sounds like that could be a plan to take West Hollywood out of West Hollywood or at lease erase all evidence of it. LOL

RoadBully
RoadBully
1 year ago
Reply to  Jerome Cleary

With all the dev going on in town, I would not be surprised. I don’t even think they’re going to be able to stop the demolish of the Viper here on the sunset strip.

SeeMe
SeeMe
1 year ago
Reply to  Jerome Cleary

Why would a developer shell out millions for the brand rights to the Abbey, only to burn all that cash trying to rent out hotel rooms instead of selling $20 cocktails? Also – and I have no idea about this – I would be surprised if the city would approve a hotel being built adjacent to the park. (thought our current city council has shown they can easily be bought, so what do I know?)

Jim Nasium
Jim Nasium
1 year ago
Reply to  SeeMe

$20 cocktails?! Did the prices go down?

Kerrigan Hennings
Kerrigan Hennings
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Nasium

HA! Good one!

Kerrigan Hennings
Kerrigan Hennings
1 year ago
Reply to  SeeMe

Maybe the buyer is thinking to franchise it – like Flaming Saddles or Bar 10.

TomSmart
TomSmart
1 year ago
Reply to  Jerome Cleary

The property isn’t large enough for a hotel to be profitable

Jim Nasium
Jim Nasium
1 year ago
Reply to  Jerome Cleary

If that’s what happens, it won’t be built for 20 years.

Kerrigan Hennings
Kerrigan Hennings
1 year ago
Reply to  Jerome Cleary

I could see this happening.

hifi5000
hifi5000
1 year ago

A commenter on here states that the city should expand West Hollywood Park by designating the one side on Santa Monica Blvd for future expansion.If that is the case,the city will have to do eminent domain to get those properties. It will be a hard case as the property owners will not want to sell.Think of the tax revenue lost if those businesses go away. I bet there will be a lot of lawsuits should that happen.They will run years and the city will have spend all kinds of money.The city will be better off keeping the area as it… Read more »

Kevin
Kevin
1 year ago

First his home was put on the market (stunning btw), and now his business. I really hope there is not a medical issue, but I do wish him well on his life’s next chapter.

RoadBully
RoadBully
1 year ago
Reply to  Kevin

He might be moving out of state.

Kerrigan Hennings
Kerrigan Hennings
1 year ago
Reply to  RoadBully

To Florida lol

hifi5000
hifi5000
1 year ago

I wonder if The Abbey and The Chapel will continue to be gay-centrist.Of course,it will be up to the new owner,but if he is smart,he will continue to cater to the gay crowd as the two places have a reputation of serving gay customers.

There is the matter of the continuing sexual assaults so there will be a need to get those under control.Much luck to Mr. Cooley as he is looking to slow down.He has a wonderful property in north Palm Springs that is very secluded,so he will be there after the sale.

Em Rz
1 year ago

One more nail in the coffin of the gayborhood. Once the Abbey goes, the Robertson Hotel project will likely break ground and begin transforming the gayborhood into a place for wealthy tourists rather than LGBT locals, and all the cute gay dives on the other side of Santa Monica will slowly erode.

Jim Nasium
Jim Nasium
1 year ago
Reply to  Em Rz

What “cute gay dives”?

RoadBully
RoadBully
1 year ago

Major red flag David Cooley is trying to cash out and walk away from his Abbey empire. Will be interesting to see who will carry on the legacy, what will change under new management, and more.