April 3, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Following September Fire, Restaurateurs in Palms Strip Mall in Tough Spot

September 17 fire destroys feline boarding center killing 17 cats. Nearby restaurant owners now struggling to make ends meet 

By Dolores Quintana

A local Palms strip mall was the site of a recent fire last month which has thrown the lives of the restaurateurs whose places of business were in the building into chaos as reported by the Los Angeles Times

The fire started at 6:00 a.m. on September 17, and over 120 firefighters were part of the fight to extinguish the blaze. A nearby cat boarding facility was also engulfed in flames that killed 17 cats in the building and an additional two cats were revived after being rescued. Other businesses that were damaged were a martial arts studio, a nail salon, a smoke shop and a staffing agency. 

Jay Betts, the owner of Bernie’s Soul Kitchen said, as quoted by The Los Angeles Times, “I was making almost $3,000 a day. Now I’m making only maybe $600.” According to the Times, Betts now uses a ghost kitchen in the Hawthorne area to keep his business going since the building is still burned out and in need of repair. Betts managed to salvage some of his equipment and is also doing catering work and pop ups to try to make ends meet. Even so, someone tried to break into the burned out restaurant but Betts had already moved anything he could. As quotes by The Los Angeles Times, Betts said, “But all they found was an empty cash register.”

Danny Cheng, chef and founder of Golden China Restaurant from the same complex and his press representative said that it might take a year before the restaurant can reopen. Golden China did not respond to attempts to contact them. 

Jerk Spot Restaurant avoided damage for the second time after eight years of tenancy. owner Courtney Williams said, as quoted by the Los Angeles Times, “So getting the call this time set off alarm bells. Luckily for us again, we didn’t get damage. It was a relief to see we were not on fire, but it was disheartening to see what was happening after. With some of the shop owners, we had a good relationship, so of course them being affected that way hurts us.”

Tom’s #5 and US Donuts also took no damage and remain open. 

Betts said, as quoted by The Los Angeles Times, “It’s not just money — money is the least. The food is what’s most important to me.

Related Posts

LAX Airport Server Finds Hate-Filled Message From Unidentified Diners

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Waiter Says He Was Stunned by the Message Left by Customers Guillermo Ortiz, who works at Planet Hollywood inside the...

Sunset Strip Staple Le Petit Four Shuts Down After Landlord Pulls the Plug

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

End of an Era: Le Petit Four Forced to Close in West Hollywood In a stunning reversal to the upbeat...

Metro LA Pushes Back Sepulveda Transit Community Meetings

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Environmental Review Delay Prompts Metro to Reschedule  Metro announced that community meetings scheduled for early April to discuss the Sepulveda...

County Board Approves New Homeless Agency, Redirecting Millions from Existing System

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

With Billions on the Line, LA County Moves to Centralize Homeless Response Los Angeles County is making a dramatic shift...

Put the Phone Down: LAPD and CHP Targets Distracted Drivers in April Crackdown

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Hands-Free Law Violations Could Now Cost You More Than Just a Fine Throughout April, the Los Angeles Police Department will...

Five Arrested in Culver City After Attempted Carjacking and Vandalism Incident

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Gun, Warrants, and Broken Glass: Culver City Police Tackle Two Crimes Police arrested four juveniles in connection with an attempted...

Kim Delaney, Partner Cleared After Weekend Arrest in Marina del Rey

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Emmy-Winning Actress and Partner James Morgan Released Kim Delaney, the Emmy-winning actress recognized for her roles in NYPD Blue and...

(Video) Spending an Afternoon at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Go To Pacpark.com For Tickets and More Information. Go To https://t.co/fDDgcY6b3e For Tickets and More Information.#amusementpark #rides #rollercoaster #summer #spring...

Matū Kai to Debut in Brentwood With Grass Fed Wagyu and Global Flair This Week

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Farm-To-Fork Beef, Wood-Fired Flavors, and Sustainability Meet on San Vicente The team behind Beverly Hills’ acclaimed steakhouse Matū will soon...

Mid-City Freeway Death Under Investigation After Caltrans Workers Find Blanket-Covered Body

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Woman Discovered on 10 Freeway Shoulder Identified; CHP Launches Probe Caltrans workers discovered a woman’s dead body around 9:00 a.m....

Community Support Saves Beloved West Hollywood Café from Closure

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Packed Tables and Emotional Messages Helped Keep the Doors Open Le Petit Four, the popular Sunset Boulevard café known for...

Egg Beaters Recalled Over Possible Chemical Contamination

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Massive Liquid Egg Recall Includes California Shipments Cargill Kitchen Solutions is recalling approximately 212,268 pounds of liquid egg products after...

Los Angeles County’s Measure A Raises Sales Tax On April 1, And It’s No Joke

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Culver City, and Malibu Will See Higher Increases Starting April 1, Los Angeles County residents will...

Robbery Boast on Instagram Helps Send Beverly Hills Heist Suspect to Prison

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Flashy Post, Federal Time: Smash-and-Grab Mastermind Sentenced Ladell Tharpe, 39, received an 84-month sentence from U.S. District Judge George H....

Culver City Rolls Out Hi-Lo Siren to Warn Residents During Emergencies

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Hi-Lo Warning System Activated: Culver City Adds New Evacuation Tool In an effort to strengthen emergency preparedness and public safety,...