Larchmont Chronicle
Larchmont
(Continued from page 20) Closing and opening Stylish, comfortable and sustainable Rothy’s shoes are coming to our Village, in the former Mr. Holmes Bakehouse space (which followed the longtime Village Footwear in that space at 248 N. Larchmont). “Larchmont will be part of a larger retail expansion,” Rothy’s spokesperson Anna Dore tells us via email from the company’s San Francisco headquarters. Five Rothy’s stores are set to open this fall: New York, Boston, Georgetown and two in Los Angeles, including Larch-
SEPTEMBER 2019
mont and one on Melrose Ave. Started online in 2016, it has had one location on Fillmore St. in San Francisco. Styles include a pointed and sneaker-style ballet flat and are made of recycled water bottles and other reused materials. And, they’re machine washable! Also, to be welcomed to the greater neighborhood is Dr. Sebastian Kverneland. The native Norwegian got his doctorate degree from USC in 2014. A firm believer in a comprehensive and personal approach, he works with other healthcare professions in his chiropractic practice. He is located upstairs at Ultra Body Fitness, 828 B N. La Brea Ave.
Letter to the Editor
SECTION ONE
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* ‘Petit’ Le Petit Greek We are putting the “Petit” back into Le Petit Greek Restaurant. Our restaurant on Larchmont Boulevard was opened in May of 1988 by brothers Thomas and Dimitris Houndalas. They grew up in their father’s restaurant in Nafplion, Greece. In 2000, after 12 successful years on Larchmont, Dimitris made a bold decision to expand the restaurant when the space adjacent to us became vacant. It was an excellent decision as it expanded our patio and allowed for large private parties. The restaurant business is probably one of the most difficult businesses to run successfully. I am extremely proud of my husband and my brotherin-law. Today, Dimitris runs the restaurant on Larchmont while Thomas runs Le Petit Greek Hotel in Santorini, Greece. That boutique hotel sits on the cliffs of the caldera with stunning views overlooking the volcano and Aegean Sea. Many of our longtime Los Angeles customers have stayed in the hotel, making even more wonderful memories with our family. One of the things I admire about my husband Dimitris is that he has always had his finger on the pulse of the restaurant business. The recession of 2008 was a difficult time for us as it was for so many of the country’s small businesses. We have been on Larchmont for over 31 years. Now, for many professional and personal reasons, we feel the best decision for our business and our family is to put the “petit” back into Le Petit Greek — by returning our footprint to what it was
during our first dozen years. We are committed to our employees, our customers, our community; and we aren’t going anywhere. We know this move will be best for our success and allow us to continue to serve the Larchmont community for many years to come. We understand people’s curiosity and appreciate their concern about the issues that impact our business. People often ask us about rising rent, increase in wages and overall costs in many areas. In general, California and Los Angeles are not viewed as small-business-friendly. It is true that many factors impact the restaurant. However, our job is to create an enjoyable dining experience for our customers and a positive environment for our employees to work and thrive. We feel our business viewpoints are very personal and choose not to discuss them. The best thing people can do to show their support is to come out to dine with us and consider us for takeout. When you spend time on Larchmont, we hope you consider all of the small family-run businesses first. So, while we are reducing our footprint, we will remain at 127 N. Larchmont for many years to come. We may spruce up the place a bit over the coming years as time permits; after all, it is Los Angeles, and it may be time for a little cosmetic work, but the menu and staff you have grown to love remain the same. We are thankful to be here and hope to be here for many years to come. Kali Orexi (Good Appetite)! Nora Houndalas
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VACANCIES on Larchmont, September 2019, plus one replacement Rothy s .
* Photos by Duke Underwood