Since 1957, the Norms restaurant on Pico has been serving classic old-school fare from a recognizable retro-style diner. Now it looks set to close at the end of December.
Famous as an example of the Googie architecture that once dotted the region, Norms has been recognized by drivers passing its pennant-shaped sign for almost 60 years. The locations built during the 1950’s, including this one on Pico in West L.A. and the La Cienega Boulevard restaurant in West Hollywood, were designed by architects Armet and Davis to resemble automobile dealerships of the day, with big glass windows and concrete walls, and featuring booths evocative of car seats.
The property where the Pico Norms sits was sold in 2015 for $8.25 million. According to L.A. Observed, the current speculation is that the whole corridor is likely to be rezoned as a Transit Overlay District to encourage greater density and capitalize on the nearby Expo Line expansion.
A year ago, the La Cienega Boulevard Norms—the location immortalized in the popular culture by Ed Ruscha and Tom Waits, among others—looked set for closure and demolition, but was saved by a designation as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. While the Pico location shares much of what makes La Cienega's architecturally distinctive, it lacks some of the West Hollywood location’s celebrity and artistic history.
Norms’ lease on the Pico space runs out on December 31. The chain has yet to release an official statement about the closure, but it looks like you’ll have until New Year’s Eve to get your steak and eggs and hotcakes at this location.
Norms West L.A. is located at 11001 W Pico Blvd. Open 24 hours, daily.
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