Laurel Hardware, West Hollywood's fashionable and hidden gem, is expanding the brand (or at the very least adding to the family).
Dean McKillen and Phil Howard’s Laurel Hardware — famous for its vintage hardware store facade — will soon have company just 7 blocks west. Construction is nearing completion for the new venue at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Olive Drive in West Hollywood (between Barney’s Beanery and the Emser Tile building).
And it's a beautiful space! Speculation on what's planned is the story.
While official details remain limited, early buzz points to a “Laurel Hardware Market” food hall concept. A source at Laurel Hardware confirmed the market idea, though details are still being finalized. A market with multiple dining options would be a welcome addition to West Hollywood. Are we seeing a revival of Santa Monica Boulevard and a shift toward the high-end? Erewhon (coming soon) and others are betting on it.
Long celebrated for its stylish ambiance, New American menu, and craft cocktails, Laurel Hardware West Hollywood has been a must-visit restaurant since 2012. Expanding that vibe into a more casual and spontaneous setting could be a winning formula. McKillen and Howard also own and operate Ysabel (West Hollywood) and Laurel Grill (Culver City).
The new location is due for a win.
Sitting vacant for several years, the architecturally significant corner site is a smart location for an eatery!
8445 Santa Monica Blvd
Before it was slated to house McKillen's next venture, the building at 8445 Santa Monica Blvd had an entirely different life. In the 1940s, it housed Ritt’s Company Furniture. Built in 1942, the structure is striking and showcases mid-century design influences with angled lines, a stone fireplace, wood-beamed ceilings, and a mezzanine.
The design feels ahead of its time — more reminiscent of the 1960s than the early 1940s Deco era.
See the prior listing with photos here!
Locals may also remember the space as home to The Hollywood Stock Exchange, a dot-com era favorite where a digital ticker tracked the value of celebrities’ fictional stock.
Why Locals Are Searching 'Laurel Hardware Market'
Excitement is evident in the surge of Google searches for phrases like “Laurel Hardware new location,” “Laurel Hardware Market,” “8445 Santa Monica Blvd history,” and “Santa Monica Boulevard restaurants.” Locals and food lovers want to know what’s next for this high-profile West Hollywood corner.
