This past week, Q-line asked: In light of the corporate takeover, what local, small business is your favorite place to eat, shop or seek services?
Here are your responses: “SHOPPI NG, EATI NG OR DOI NG business of any kind ended for me some time ago. My bank, Vons and Rite-Aid are it. The rest of this corporate madness is all yours.”
“I WILL MENTION THREE BUSINESS locations that have treated me better than congenially well. One Hour Martinizing cleaners on Wilshire Boulevard, Vienna Pastry and the Chevron at Fifth and Wilshire.” “ MYTWO FAV ORITEBUSINESS in Santa Monica that I frequent very often. The first is the facialist Gina Marchese. She does the best facial I have ever had in my life. She cares and she’s really good. My second favorite is DK Donuts at 16th and Santa Monica. The owner works really hard. His employees are quick and very good at what they do. The selection and price cannot be beat anywhere.”
“GROUNDWORK COFFEE, THE ORGANIC coffee store, is an excellent source for organic coffee in the morning. There are a lot of locals there. The prices are quite good for organic. Best of all is the longhaired fellow in the morning. He’s so kind and quick and sweet.”
“I LI KE CAFE BOLIVAR ON 18TH and Ocean Park Boulevard. It’s just a very pleasant place. Another nice place for pet owners is called Got Pet Food. It is a non-chain pet supply store that has good prices and has good people. These things still exist.”
“MY FAVORITE WOULD HAVE TO BE THE Hi De Ho comic book store. They have all the comics I need.”
“THE SHIATSU MASSAGE SCHOOL ON Main Street. We are so lucky to have them here is Santa Monica. Maya Shoe repair on Ocean Park has been there forever and they do great work.”
“THE BUSINESSES I LIKE AND SUPPORT are Drugtown Pharmacy for all my toiletries, The Farms Market on Montana, Busy Bee for all my hardware items, sometimes Bourget Bros., Bay Cities Deli for great sandwiches and lasagna, Santa Monica Seafood for the great fish and some of the best clam chowder, Carlson’s All Appliance for my TV, Wilshire Books where I loved to browse for old books. I try to support all these small business people, some of which are second and third generation. I support them in spite of the big chains and the hypocrites on the City Council.”
“MY TWO FAVORITE SMALL BUSINESSES are Hi De Ho Comics and Printland on Wilshire Boulevard. Very good people there at both stores.”
“THE BEST LOCAL CAFE IS LUX CAFE on Montana. It has the best expresso you can get in the city.”
“LET M E TH I N K, OOPS, TH EY ARE all gone.“ “ONE OF THE PLACES I EAT AT IS Callahan’s on Wilshire. I used to go to Busters for shoe repairs, but because of economic crowding it had to move because they are redoing the building.” “ M Y FAV ORITEPLACE TO SHOP is Co-Opportunity. They have wonderful fresh fruits and vegetables as well as a very friendly staff.”
“I’M GOING TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MID- City. Bread and Porridge, Park Avenue Dry Cleaners and Box Brothers. They are small, local people. Mid-City needs more services like this instead of losing them.”
“AGRE AT SMALL BUSINESS IS Co-Opportunity the health food store on Broadway.”
“I LIKE TO EAT AT CALLAHAN’S Restaurant. I also love going into Busy Bee Hardware. The best deal in town is the bookstore inside of the Santa Monica Main Library.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 16, 2008. Read the original PDF.