So, there’s been a whole thing going on online regarding the story of Doughboys’ demise. The cafe closed down nearly a year ago and now former owner Frank Waldman has posted a 2,000-word plus account of the how the place grew and how it eventually fell. I read it in its entirety. I was never a Doughboys fans—too much food in my opinion (vats of soup) and a wet rag smell that never went away—so I’m not shedding any tears. That being said, I know a lot of people loved the place and were sad to see it go. My issue with this telling of the story is that there is absolutely zero mention of it being closed for vermin infestation! Frank, you have to address this! When this notice was posted, a simultaneous note was taped on the door saying it was closed for termites. There is no mention or explanation about this in the incredibly lengthy note on his site. I can’t tell you how many people told me Doughboys roach and rat stories after this, some mentioning the Highland location.
The following was mentioned however:
“As it turned out, the ‘restaurant’ we acquired in 1993 had never changed its zoning status, as would have been required, to convert its use from ‘retail’ to ‘restaurant’ use by its owner…I obviously resisted just closing my business and continued to search for a solution. This was a long and tedious search involving many people. And it took quite a long time. So long, in fact, that I was fined several times, and was ultimately charged with criminal prosecution for non-compliance. There is currently a warrant out for my arrest.”
Quite a pickle for a restaurant. Also, a former neighborhood council member posted this comment on Curbed:
“It is sad that Frank was not able to comply with all of the Building and Safety and planning regulations that would have allowed him to continue doing business in the City of Los Angeles. But, he was given citations over and over again, and it got to the point where the City Attorney was involved. Doughboys on Third did not have the code required parking; the parking spaces they did have were taken up by an inoperable van and storage. They used an adjacent duplex owner’s garage for illegal storage. They did not apply for a change of use for the expanded portion of their business from retail to restaurant, because that would have meant they needed more parking; therefore, more than half of their seats were illegal. They did not have their own bathroom. There are plenty of restaurants along Third Street (El Carmen, Little Door, etc.) who attempt to comply with regulations, and they are on good terms with the adjacent neighbors. Businesses that expand or change use illegally make it more difficult for the other businesses to succeed.”
Clearly, there are many challenges for restaurant owners in the area. We’ve heard about complaints regarding our favorite neighborhood spots, but Doughboys just seemed to not be able to get its sh*t together. But read it all to make you own assessment on the Doughboys site, Eater LA and Curbed LA if you haven’t yet checked it out.
Also, for those who were big fans of the cafe’s red velvet cake, you can still get it via the site.
14 responses so far ↓
1 michael // Aug 19, 2008 at 6:17 am
As a local resident, I’m getting pretty sick of “my” neighborhood association causing problems for every restaurant that wants to do business here. They’ve been making it tough for businesses for ten years, and they always want my help. I’m wondering if we need a second association already; one I can support.
2 alex the sea turtle // Aug 19, 2008 at 9:53 am
I agree michael. I hate that they suid and shut down the residential component of the beverly connection.
But dough boys was sick and I am glad they are gone. I think my particular preferences are so specific that I couldn’t get more then one person in my club and that would be me.
3 Lisa // Aug 19, 2008 at 11:15 am
I read the story last week and wondered the same thing –what about the “vermin infestation?”
Oh well, I guess we’ll never know.
4 Miss Teresa // Aug 19, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Here’s some clarification for Michael regarding the two neighborhood groups and the issues with restaurants.
This is kind of long-winded, but here goes:
There is a neighborhood group, Beverly Wilshire Homes, that is not part of City government. There is the Mid City West Community Council, which serves the City in an advisory capacity. I am on the Community Council. We have meetings every month. The two groups are at odds sometimes, but they do agree that parking on Third is is mess.
The main issue both groups have with regard to new and expanding restaurants is that Third Street has no available parking. Restaurants must have 1 parking space for every 100 square feet of restaurant (not counting space outside). So a 1,000 square foot restaurant would need 10 parking spaces, either on-site, or nearby. A retail store usually only has two or three employees, few deliveries, and only a handful of customers at a time, so there is less need for parking. In addition, people rarely come to shop at a store for 90 minutes with 4 friends in two cars.
Most restaurants deal with the parking requirements by renting spaces from adjacent businesses that are closed by dinner time, and they use valet services for pick up and drop off. The ongoing problem with Third Street is that the valet companies are double and triple–dipping on parking – If there are three restaurants that each need 10 spaces, there should be 30 spaces total. However, the valets use the same 10 spaces for all three restaurants, which does not comply with the rules. Valets take up street parking, so drivers can’t use the free street spaces, and the valets have to do a lot more driving around with the cars, because there aren’t really enough spaces.
Some storefronts, like the original Doughboys site, were approved for restaurant use before the new parking rules took effect. So Doughboys was allowed to function without the required parking. When they chose to expand next door, new rules kicked in, and they needed parking for the new space. They never found the space. Joans on Third had the same problem. When Joan tried to expand, it took her a very long time to come up with the needed parking.
There is a major failure on the part of City government; the need for municipal parking structures along neighborhood commercial corridors has been well-known for decades, but the City only puts in one structure per Council District per year. Maybe the potential subway stop at Fairfax and Wilshire will get the City to focus on finding a solution to the problem.
5 alex the sea turtle // Aug 20, 2008 at 6:59 am
I would love to see the city force the Gilman’s to develop a public parking lot at 3rd and Fairfax in the empty lot they own that is used for christmas trees and pumpkins. I mean the city has allowed them with Caruso to do major stuff and I think it’s time for them to give back.
Also having lived in SF I can tell you that a neighborhood can actually be nicer if you ban valet parking and force customers to park where they can and walk. One of the reasons this area is so unsafe to walk around is because people aren’t walking around. A large amount of street parking is taken away to be used a loading for the valets. I think it’s crazy and stupid.
6 Miss Teresa // Aug 20, 2008 at 11:53 am
Alex, you are right on the money. I’m from SF too, and I know I would weigh a good 15 pounds less if I was back there, even though I do a fair amount of walking in our neighborhood.
The Gilmore Co. has plans for a hotel complex at that corner, so I don’t think they will put in a parking structure. One option is the Whole Foods lot: a structure could easily be built there. The only problem is that the owner of that mall, Ira Smedra, hates Tom LaBonge, so I don’t think he would ever work with the City to put in a structure. Right now, if I’m doing major shopping and have to drive, I have to move my car three times to shop at Whole Foods, Ross, and Farmers Market. The whole thing is ridiculous.
I wish the City would take a strategic look at a street like Third, and come up with a couple of lots that could be purchased and replaced by small parking structures.
7 alex the sea turtle // Aug 20, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Miss Teressa I couldn’t agree with you more. I know you live in the neighborhood and assuming you also have a valued 34 parking pass like… then to do the shopping at the Farmers Market, Whole Foods and Ross I would park on Blackburn or Colgate near Fairfax and walk.
But like you I also do a fair amount of walking when I have plenty of time. That typically means evening meals out on 3rd or Beverly.
Tell us more about Gilmore’s plans for this hotel? This is the first I have heard of it. I am surprised the Beverly Wilshire hasn’t started sending out alerts. Maybe they know I have stopped supporting them.
8 Miss Teresa // Aug 20, 2008 at 3:38 pm
The hotel plans are pretty far off; it’s just the word going around.
There is a chance we will at least get some kind of Fairfax Trolley running from LACMA to Third, and Caruso has plans for a project on San Vicente and Burton Way, so maybe we will get some help from him in connecting the west end of Third to the Grove.
(I got a new car, so I don’t have a sticker yet, but I plan on getting one this Spring.)
9 alex the sea turtle // Aug 21, 2008 at 7:47 am
A fairfax trolley – really running along where paid for how?
The corner of Burton way and San Vicente? Do you mean that lot that use to be a car rental and is now storage for the BMW dealership?
10 anonymous // Aug 21, 2008 at 1:01 pm
I hated Doughboys. They were poor neighbors and the sidewalk was always full and hard to walk by during rush hours. I’m glad they’re gone.
11 I make Dough but dont call me doughboy // Aug 21, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Stop hating on Doughboys people. The place was cool and the food was good.
12 Doughboys Owner Frank Waldman Really Wants the Last Word // Sep 2, 2008 at 6:13 pm
[...] the real story (and red velvet too),” which takes you to his 2,000-word explanation discussed here earlier this month. » The Doughboys Story » Part of Old Doughboys Space Boarded Up » [...]
13 Benji // Jan 29, 2009 at 12:46 pm
I live almost directly behind where Doughboy’s used to be and often use the alley as a shortcut and I never, not once ever saw a cockroach nor any type of vermin. I did however, hear the trash trucks at some ungodly hour of the morning –
SEVERAL
TIMES
A
WEEK
14 Benji // Jan 29, 2009 at 12:46 pm
and still do, actually
Leave a Comment