More change to Larchmont in New Year

Billy Taylor | January 28, 2021 | 0 Comments

CHEVALIER’S BOOKS welcomed customers into its new space last month. Photos by Gary Leonard

It’s anything but business as usual on Larchmont Boulevard, where a number of storefronts are struggling with landlord and pandemic related issues. A few of the former tenants from the Lipson Building, which is now under construction — like Chevalier’s Books and Landis Stationery — have found new homes, while other longtime businesses on Larchmont have either signaled trouble, or have decided to close all together.

Here’s what’s happened in the first month of 2021.

Chevalier’s Books

BOOK boxes cross the Boulevard.

First, the good news. The oldest independent bookstore in Los Angeles was welcoming customers back into a new space by mid-January.

Now at 133 N. Larchmont Blvd., the bookstore was forced to move from its former location in the Lipson Building, just across the street, when its lease expired on Dec. 31. Christina Development is now in the process of renovating the entire 14-unit structure.

BOOK boxes enter the new store at 133 N. Larchmont Blvd.

Chevalier’s staff and volunteers worked quickly in the first week of 2021 to decorate the new space and move the many boxes of books to the new location.

Visit chevaliersbooks.com.

Landis Stationery

CHEVALIER’S Books’ bare new store.

Edie Frère, owner of Landis Gifts and Stationery for 30 years, has relocated to a design studio on Larchmont Boulevard, north of Beverly.

CHEVALIER’S after – new store interior view southwest.

“It’s a cozy new space,” Frère told us last month. She laments the loss of foot traffic that her former location provided, but Frère says that the new design studio, now located at 584 N. Larchmont Blvd., is a perfect place to meet with clients for custom stationery.

Visit landisstationery.com.

CHEVALIER’S after – new store interior view northwest.

Lipson Plumbing

Also with a new Larchmont location is Lipson Plumbing, which has settled in at 606 N. Larchmont. Same telephone number: 323-469-2395.

Tailwaggers and Tailwashers

The former Flywheel Sports location, 147 N. Larchmont Blvd., which has sat empty since August 2019, has been leased to Hollywood-based pet food and supply store Tailwaggers and its grooming studio Tailwashers.

CHEVALIER’S staff as movers, left to right: Theresa Le Phung, Myra Diehl, Mykayla Booth, Miles Parnegg,
Emma Ayzenberg and Daniel Kusunoki.

Plans are underway to convert the former spinning studio into a multipurpose space that includes pet daycare, self-washing stations, grooming and a retail store.

Pickett Fences

EDIE Frère supervises her Landis move-out.

Now, for the bad news. After nearly 27 years on Larchmont, beloved retailer Pickett Fences announced Jan. 7 that it would close its doors for good.

Owner Joane Pickett told the Chronicle that she is sad about the decision, but she says that it’s been a grueling time, as she and husband Wiley have tried to save the business through unprecedented challenges. “We’ve been here every day since March, but the pandemic is not going away,” said Pickett. “The fatigue, frustration and fear from not being able to pivot and hustle our way to a sustainable solution have been crushing. We fought so hard for 10 months, but the time has come to walk away.”

INTERIOR of new Larchmont studio for Landis Gifts & Stationery.

Pickett told us not to count her out just yet: “I’m not ready to retire, so we’ll see what happens.” For now, she plans to take time off and rest. She will seek opportunities after the pandemic passes.

“I made the best friends and found the most wonderful community in Larchmont Village, that makes me proud and will be my takeaway,” said Pickett in a statement to the community.

Visit pickettfences.com.

Healing Hands

LIPSON PLUMBING before the move.

Founded in 2003, Healing Hands Wellness Center offers residents massage therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic care. However, last month, the business announced that it has “come to a financial fork in the road.”

Owners Wyntress and Steve Gluck said in an email to customers that the business lost $100,000 last year, and the losses keep coming. “We have two options: To close our doors and let the wrath of 2020 dictate our ending or raise enough money to get us over the hump and allow us to continue on as a reliable resource for our communities’ physical and mental wellbeing,” read the plea for help.