Help Off Vine Restaurant Close with Dignity!

Off Vine Restaurant, also known as The Little Yellow House, opened its doors in 1989 in a craftsman bungalow in the heart of Hollywood and quickly became an oasis. The former home of singer and showgirl Beryl Wallace, built in 1908, boasts a beautiful, original built-in sideboard made of wood with lead crystal cabinet doors. The floors are made of oak and the centerpiece of the main room is the original fireplace. Guests may dine inside or choose to sit on the porch or the deck outside, both of which are surrounded by night-blooming jasmine and colorful bougainvillea.

Countless patrons have celebrated a wide variety of life's special moments such as engagements, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and family reunions, along with many other special events. The Little Yellow House also hosted a slew of celebrity parties and location shoots in, what was eventually designated, a historical landmark. No other restaurant has made the holidays more festive. It is the most romantic spot on Valentine's Day, the warmest and most cozy on Thanksgiving, and the most beautiful on Christmas. Guests feast on homestyle California cuisine that reminds one of a home-cooked meal. Portions are generous and the soufflees are sublime!

Sadly, Off Vine encountered tragedy when an electrical fire broke out in the middle of a pre-theatre dinner rush in 2008. Thankfully, no one was hurt, however, the restaurant was extremely damaged. The second floor of the house as well as the kitchen area was destroyed. Through fierce determination and dedication, the restaurant reopened its doors in 2010. While this was good news, the two years it took to rebuild was financially devastating and yet Off Vine was able to rise from the ashes and move forward with success. The fire did, however, cause Off Vine to lose its historical landmark designation.

Like many restaurants and other businesses, the Covid-19 pandemic annihilated Off Vine's business and financial stability. But, yet again, Off Vine continued to keep the business going, even when the health guidelines forced us to shut down multiple times. When stay-at-home orders were lifted, people, in general, were not widely comfortable dining out, which caused further financial hardship. Although government assistance programs helped, it was still a struggle to keep going.

In the midst of all of that uncertainty, Off Vine learned that a very large development company out of Texas purchased the property and we would not have the option of renewing our lease. This news came out of nowhere. We were blindsided and saddened to learn that our little piece of Hollywood history is to be replaced by another commercial high-rise. Now we find ourselves at the end of the end and are doing our very best to honor our community and the vendors we have worked with for years. But the reality is that we do not have the funds to fulfill all of our financial obligations to our vendors. On top of all of this, it takes a great deal of money to close a business, money that we just do not have.

We realize that closing a business is not the same as facing a serious health risk or the loss of a loved one. We know that. But Off Vine Restaurant is a loss for many. So, when the Little Yellow House closes its doors for the last time, we hope to do so with dignity, grace and integrity. If you or a loved one ever enjoyed a meal, celebrated a holiday or recognize the loss felt by a community when a beloved business of over thirty years comes to a close, we humbly ask you to give what you can.

Thank you!

If you would like to learn more about the history of the Little Yellow House, please click on the link below to read an article in the Los Angeles Times, written by Linda Deutsch.

https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2023-03-25/off-vine-closing-hollywood-restaurant-gentrification-history?fbclid=IwAR2-VtIGCP62j_kGphpinXsx1Cf6Su_hgcGcwYcDTY24dn87kcYaCL_Nd2Q