Noted writer Dan Dunn drops into the Thrillist universe to deliver a long screed on the woes of Venice, once a thriving socioeconomic neighborhood that of late has become ground zero for activists worried about the effects of big money on small businesses. The article focuses on a few Venice stalwarts — most notably Roosterfish and the quarter-century old Joe’s —and what their departure means for the rest of the area.
Here are the four best lines:
Who profits when places go out of business? "Not everyone gives a rat’s ass about Roosterfish, its rich history, and its patrons, though — their landlord just shoved his boot up the bar’s ass, obviously hoping that it gets taken over by a well-off future tenant."
It didn’t always used to be like this. "Back then you had to watch your ass on Abbot Kinney at all times. If you stumbled out of The Brig at 2 a.m., the street was full of possibilities, many of them treacherous -— which is what made hanging out there so appealing."
It’s all about branding now. Hatchet Hall / Townhouse owner Louie Ryan chimes in for this bit. "There are businesses out there with very deep pockets who view having a shop on that street as strictly brand building. There’s a lot of money to be made right now if you own property on Abbot Kinney."
Once big business as moved on, things will get back to normal. "I actually look forward to the day I can walk down Abbot Kinney again secure in the knowledge that at any moment, a crackhead might come along and whack me upside the head with a tire iron. It’d be a lot less painful than, say, the average brunch tab at Gjelina."