Weeneez to reopen as Stray Cat Café
Ed Fuentes
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The space formerly known as Weeneez is having a private opening Wednesday afternoon in its new incarnation: the Stray Cat Café. With windows still wrapped in butcher paper, a simple sign makes clear that the first day is for "friends and family only."
That criteria is sure to exclude many in the neighborhood around 5th and Spring. Weeneez owners Julie Rico and Sid Carter sold their interest in the space early in July, an act that led to a stealthy displacement of popular wine bar The Must during the wee hours of July 3.
Rico originally said Weeneez would be returning as a tenant, but she later said the space would get "a new concept."
A posting on Facebook said that a soft opening would come during Art Walk on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, The Must fans were tweeted by the owners of the bar that they will be holding a Pop-Up party at The Rosslyn during Art Walk from 7pm to 1am. Donations are requested.
ADD: As a random footnote to TV coverage on the Must Bar vs Weeneez LLC, KTLA’s Jamie Chambers also covered the story that holiday weekend. He is the grandson of Stan Chambers, who retired from KTLA today after 63 years of covering LA’s stories, big and small.
SeanYodaRouse on August 11, 2010, at 04:21PM – #1
Has a notice of the "sale" been filed with the ABC? A search of the on-line database shows the beer and wine permit still listing Weeneez & The Must: http://www.abc.ca.gov/datport/LQSData.asp?ID=19436278
Guest on August 11, 2010, at 05:09PM – #2
They took the sign down, the cowards.
Virginia F on August 11, 2010, at 05:09PM – #3
Friends and family invite only? As if anyone from the community is going to go. Not after what was done to The Must girls!! As if!
bill on August 11, 2010, at 06:10PM – #4
So who are the new owners? Is Julie still connected? Whoever they are it will be a long time before I find my way there
Sara Jones on August 11, 2010, at 06:52PM – #5
"Friends and Family Only"
Julie has "friends?"
Guest on August 11, 2010, at 08:25PM – #6
Good luck, Rico, you'll need it. You may get "randoms" from ArtWalk, but you won't get regulars and you won't get the community.
How many times can you change your business, sell your other business, before someone smells a rat? Not sure how she has managed to go unoticed until the whole Must thing?
Steve Marks on August 11, 2010, at 09:03PM – #7
Let the boycotts begin!
Guest on August 11, 2010, at 09:14PM – #8
The place was packed with locals and others. What a great restaurant. This is going to be a favorite restaurant in the neighborhood. Excellent menu. Excellent chef. Excellent service. Too bad for the weirdos that wont go to this really cool restaurant. But on the other hand. Thank you for not bothering me while I eat my lunch. :) Go Stray Cat!
Guest on August 11, 2010, at 09:18PM – #9
I'll be there, especially cause all you losers won't be.
Guest on August 11, 2010, at 09:26PM – #10
Sure didn't look packed to me. Guests #8 and 9 seem like planted comments. And, I walked by several times this evening and saw minimal activity.
Jasmijn on August 11, 2010, at 10:48PM – #11
Uh-huh. Yeah, OK. Looks like whatever business this new cafe gets is going to remain as "friends and family only" for quite a while. Ordinarily I'd agree with Guest #12 on wishing the new owners well, but given that the new owner was apparently in on the midnight stealth "eviction" I can't think of a way that he'd be innocent in a case of such blatant underhanded misbehavior, so I can't really cheer him on. Pity for the space, though: DTLA could use something popular and successful there again.
And while I'm on the topic, who is the new owner? (or owners, as the case may be). The previous article reported one name while a comment said a different name had been given to the police on the night of the break-in/clearout.
Karin Liljegren on August 12, 2010, at 02:51AM – #12
Yes, I would also like to know if Julie Rico is connected to the new Ownership - or if she is only subleasing to them.
Guest on August 12, 2010, at 07:52AM – #13
Of course Julie Rico is attached to the business.... did you guys not read comments #8 & #9? LOL! They are so transparent- it's either Julie Rico or Don Noyes. Maybe when you get those two egos in a room it get's a little crowded??
Jamie DeFrisco on August 12, 2010, at 08:07AM – #14
Didn't "The Must" not buy out or partner with Julie Rico because she wanted to preserve the Weenez business? This sounds like a completely new concept. Would the Must girls have been interested if they could change enough things around or did they just not want to be involved in a second business or with JR?
I also find it VERY cowardly to post anonymously. Obviously must not be that great of a place if you can't put your reputation on the line.
Anthony Costantino on August 12, 2010, at 01:28PM – #15
When I peeked in several days ago, it looked like Ms. Rico herself training the staff at the register, so that should answer the ownership Q.
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on August 12, 2010, at 02:44PM – #16
I have deleted a number of inappropriate guest comments posted by the same user.
Ankur on August 12, 2010, at 04:23PM – #17
Sorry Eric - my bad. Thanks for the unbiased view. (even tho I have my own)
Dixon on August 12, 2010, at 06:18PM – #18
Julie Rico sent the following out to people on her old Weeneez email list:
"Weeneez closes and the Stray Cat Cafe Opens with an Exhibition of work by Michael Maas Our cherished Weeneez restaurant had to reform into a new restaurant. Just not enough hot dog lovers downtown. The new restaurant in the space is called the Stray Cat Cafe.
Featuring a wide array of breakfast menu items, such as Chef David McGraths twist on eggs benedict called Feline Casanova, 2 poached eggs on a nice fluffy toasted muffin with a bernaise tomato charon sauce, salmon and american sturgeon caviar topping this delectable wonder. Also, a new pancake called Lemon Scented Cakes made with cottage cheese. This is a very good dish.
There will of course be hamburgers, sandwiches, the famous Weeneez chili stays on the menu. There is also another Chef named Benny who has already shown his genius yesterday at the soft opening. The place is running like a top now. With a full waitress staff. I promise you will love it. I am in love with it already.
The lounge in the back is going through a makeover too. It will be open in a few months. But please join us in the celebration of the opening of the Stray Cat Cafe and the beautiful paintings by artist, Michael Maas. http://www.michaelmaas.com/
The artwalk http://www.downtownartwalk.org/page/2/ is scheduled for today. It is always crowded so plot out your parking options before you get here. If we do not see you today then I hope we see you sometime next week. The restaurant will have regular hours beginning in about a week. Julie Rico will curate the spaces."
Dixon on August 12, 2010, at 06:32PM – #19
Is this Julie Rico's new chef David McGrath? This review was on Taro restaurant at Hollywood Park Casino from the Huffington Post:
"As I mentioned, I may be the only person who goes to Hollywood Park mainly for the food, but it's true...Taro hired talented Chef David McGrath some years ago and he sees to it that the gambling patrons are well-fed with tableside service for breakfast, lunch or dinner 24 hours a day!
You can dine from special trays that roll right up to the table...and players enjoy an extensive food and drink menu at deeply discounted prices."
Dixon on August 12, 2010, at 07:04PM – #20
Here's the artist statement from artist Michael Maas, who is opening at Stray Cat Cafe tonight:
"These paintings, primarily acrylic on panel or canvas, are from an on-going series started in July 1997.
Although the forms are imaginary, the illusions of depth, light and surface, along with the allusions to botany and biology, give people a strong sense that the paintings portray something very “real”.
The powerful emotional response expressed by viewers ranges from maternal to religious to sexual, and seems to cut across most of the usual boundaries of age, culture or education.
The artist’s intention with these open-ended relationship images is to allow each viewer to experience his or her own personal and sometimes unexpected feelings."
skidrowdude on August 13, 2010, at 09:24AM – #21
I highly doubt any "locals" were in the Stray Cat last night- the locals were at the Rosylyn showing support for The Must employees. I hope The Must can do more "Pop Up" events while they get the permits and build-out the new location.
The Stray Cat will be the Lonely Pussy as it dies a death befitting of it.
Guest on August 13, 2010, at 09:25AM – #22
this David McGrath was named along with Julie & Sid... funny he is the chef? and why is no one choosing to remember that Julie herself said that she sold the business and was no longer a part of what was going on. now, all of a sudden, she is head of "Stray Cat"??? more people should be outraged. the city should look into the fraud she continues to commit- i wonder how the irs feels about her "musical chairs" cafe's and restaurants?
Downtownster on August 13, 2010, at 05:32PM – #23
Seems David McGrath was the chef at Hollywood Casino in Inglewood. There also was a connection with hot dogs since Pink’s Hot Dogs were a big part of their menu.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jay-weston/ponies-poker-and-platters_b_639534.html
However, when you enter David McGrath and Hollywood Park, you also get these interesting posts:
http://ccvalliance.blogspot.com/2009/08/blog-post.html
http://ccvalliance.blogspot.com/
http://ccvalliance.blogspot.com/2009/12/david-mcgrath-is-ruining-this-boards.html
http://ccvalliance.blogspot.com/search/label/Playa%20Del%20Rey%20Condo
And if the restaurant was sold by Julie, why is she working the Stray Cat all last night at their opening and all day today?
derblut on August 14, 2010, at 10:16AM – #24
"Weeneez restaurant had to reform into a new restaurant. Just not enough hot dog lovers downtown"
Open between 10am and 4pm Monday-Friday doesn't give any local with a job the opportunity to visit your establishment. There are enough residents, and more every week, to support some evening and weekend hours. If the food is good and reasonably priced people will come just out of convenience.
David McBane on August 15, 2010, at 06:26PM – #25
Not enough hot dog lover downtown? Wurstkuche would beg to differ.
Russell Brown on August 16, 2010, at 08:13PM – #26
Moving truck at The Must this afternoon taking the rest of The Must property from the premises.
David was supervising the move out.
Carry Schultz on August 19, 2010, at 09:02PM – #27
I believe the cafe will do great. I ate there wednesday. The food was awesome fresh and HOT! The service was on point followed with a smile. I enjoyed it ALOT. We all jump to judge but u never know what goes on behind closed doors. Be good to those girls.
Bert Green (@bgfa) on August 20, 2010, at 12:34AM – #28
Actually we DO know what goes on behind closed doors. And it ain't pretty.
You ate there Wednesday "Carrie"? Well then you must have been the only one. The place is deserted all the time because the community knows better than to patronize Stray Cat, which is responsible for wantonly destroying the Must and putting 20 people out of work.
Dixon on August 20, 2010, at 09:57AM – #29
Well, Carry, I'm sure one gets good service when you're the only diner in the place....and those "girls" who waited on you were probably smiling because they were so unused to seeing a customer. They must be lonely.
Did you order the house special, Carry, the eggs benedict with salmon and caviar thrown on top? Be careful eating that---both eggs and caviar are high in cholesterol and caviar is high in sodium. If you had a stroke and died in there, Carry, you may get dragged into the kitchen and, well, end up on the menu!
Please give us more Stray Cats dining reviews, Carry. You have such sharp insight!
Nancy Richardson (@nanorich) on August 20, 2010, at 11:30AM – #30
It is noted that Julie is the one who refers to adult women who ran The Must as "girls."
I can think of no one who has lived past the 70's who would refer to wait staff as minor children.
Carry Schultz on August 20, 2010, at 05:41PM – #31
This is SILLY! I have never heard of the must and I just started working around the corner 7 months ago. So when I do go out for lunch I would like to have something of good quality... And I walked by the kitchen on my way to the restroom and it was clean and thats whats important. I met a man on the corner who told me about this blog. And stop me from eating there. I HAVE read some of the comments. :( what a sad world.
The only reason i said."u never know what goes on behind closed doors " Because it's true. AND MY NAME IS CARRY! I know that's not the normal way of spelling it but it's short for my full name. But I will have everyone in my office eat there. Plain and simple it's good food. Thanks for reading have a better day then the last xxxxxxx
Graciela on August 22, 2010, at 12:46PM – #32
Carry, if you never heard of The Must and you never went there, then I can see why you don't care about what's going on and boycotting the Stray Cat. That's fine, but the reason people are is because of the love they have for The Must and the sour way that they were forced to close and shoved aside to open the Stray Cat and whatever other place will take The Must's former spot.
I'm sure the Stray Cat does great food or it has the potential to but it's not about that. It's about boycotting to send a message that it's not okay for landlords to just walk into an establishment that is being leased from them in the middle of the night, close down the place without any notice, hijack their equipment, and leave people out of a job. There were better, more civilized ways, to go about this closure that could've left The Must in a better position to plan ahead.
So you never went to The Must, ok, but if you end up falling in love with the Stray Cat and something like that were to happen to it, I'm sure you'd understand and would have a sense of camaraderie to stand by it.
sabine on August 30, 2010, at 07:55PM – #33
What a great restaurant! Plus there is going to be a great beer and wine store right next door. And a gourmet market is coming too. Plus a gourmet Mexican restaurant and a small sandwich place. Plus the Bolt Barber boys are there too. This is going to be the hottest corner in L.A. for sure. The food is delicious, the ceasar salad, the grilled cheese-yeah I know I should not eat that cholesterol laden sammy but mmmmmm its good. Happy people I will meet you at the Stray Cat.
cealygirl on September 25, 2010, at 04:58PM – #34
Just "yelped" to check the reviews of the The Stray Cat Cafe. Just as you might have guessed, there were only three. The first two were stellar reviews extolling the food, the service, the atmosphere, blah, blah, blah... What I found interestingwas that both "reviewers" were first time reviewers (never having written a yelp review before) and they were both from Rancho Palos Verdes. One was even extolling the virtues of their delivery -- to Rancho Palos Verdes? I think not. Seems someone needs some business....
John on October 03, 2010, at 03:14AM – #35
Those reviews are likely writen by David McGrath. If villain David McGrath came in the middle of the night on behalf of Julie RICO, with a truck and took $50,000 worth of vine and equipment from the two nice ladies of “The Must” - NO ONE - should ever go to "Stray Cat" so we can get rid of that blight on Down Town LA. These two (McGraht and Rico) are obviously “Birds of the same feather who Flocks Together” and David A. McGrath is perfect match for Julie Rico, who according to your posts is one serious master con artist and “Brooklyn Bridge Salesman” just like David McGrath... well, I am curious if you allready checked this Blog: http://ccvalliance.blogspot.com/2009/08/blog-post.html#comments
Comments on some other sites suggest that this person (David A. McGrath) may be the Sadistic CROOK from Philadelphia, PA who likes to cheat and screw people up and was recently fired from Hollywood Park Casino, we don’t know for sure why, but the rumor has that allegedly Casino noticeed bottles of liquor was diapering... I wonder who took them. What do you think?
John Swartz on October 04, 2010, at 05:41PM – #36
Its about time a classier joint moves in. That corner deserves more than a hot dog restaurant.
John Varela on October 04, 2010, at 06:04PM – #37
Duh! John Swartz, The corner does have a new restaurant its called the Stray Cat Cafe. I am really sick of the trolls on this blogdowntown dissing this really nice restaurant. They have really good food. Friendly service and it is super clean. It is run very professionally. You really cannot ask for more in a downtown restaurant. Plus they serve breakfast any time of day or night. I heard that a Must fan has been stalking the employees. What is wrong with you people? I know there was a dispute but it was a private dispute between biz partners that went wrong. Grow up sometimes this happens in Business. It just happens. This blog site has been egging this activity on with the allowance of slanderous statements against the owners. In addition, Ed Fuentes has been blogging secretly as a troll against these good people. Really sad - all of you.
John on October 28, 2010, at 10:19AM – #38
Definitely, Stray Cat Café is not a classier joint. It is an expended hot-dog serving “Weeneez” all over again! I gave this restaurant a benefit of the doubt and I went one day with my friend to try their food.
I was unhappy with what I got for my money. The pancakes were too greasy and mushy. OMG, I think the cook is using lard in his recipe and is putting too much of that greasy stuff … When I politely asked him if he was using LARD the cook with very short hair and pesky attitude told me that “I don’t understand the good stuff” … Good Stuff? The pancakes tasted awful! I mean who is still using LARD in today’s cooking?
When I asked for the check David told me… wait a moment buddy, don’t you see I am busy… this was awfully rude. He was obviously unhappy about my cholesterol worry, which I raised previously. God, I don’t know how long the “Stray Cat” plans to stay in our neighborhood but I would never step my foot in that place again!
People on the Yelp are 100% right about Stray Cat Café. This is not the “joint” we need in Down Town LA. Hopefully, the “Stray Cat” will wander away and THE MUST will return.
Julian B on January 28, 2011, at 10:01AM – #39
As usual, it’s all about greed and hunger for more money. For those who hate Julie Rico and think she is evil, hey DTLA you have not seen anything yet!!! Wait until you meet the new owner, the infamous David A McGrath the ran-sacker of The Must and the former Pink Hot Dog cook at the Racetrack Casino. He in tandem with our "friend" Julie Rico crated the perfect storm for Coly, the owner of The Must, out of pure greed and of course out of pure evil. He (David A McGrath) being the purchaser and Julie beng the seller, they two conspired to destroy the beloved wine bar that many residents of DT loved at one point.
THE SOLUTION: In the interest of justice boycott the “Stray Cat Café”. David McGrath opened that place of The Must's expense and the expense of 18 employees. This bunch was making a lot of money for The Must’s owner Coly before David A. McGrath lurked and menacingly came from the dark, entered upon closing at 2:45AM and cleaned the place out.
HELLO LA! Meet the new owner DAVID A McGRATH, the character you will now have to deal with instead of dealing with Julie Rico. This gentleman wanted that success of The Must to become his own success. That’s why he did what he ransacked The Must in conspiracy with Julie Ricco with money of questionable background that is yet to be determined where it came from, as the fast bite cook at Racetrack Casino could not save $250,00. This is what he allegedly paid to Julie Rico for Weeneeezzz! Drama, drama and evil characters hunting good forces fuel this story!