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Harlem Place Cafe Keeps Its Soul

By Pamela Rouse and Jenni Simcoe
Published: Wednesday, October 20, 2010, at 09:56AM
Harlem Place Cafe Pamela Rouse

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — When Lost Souls Cafe first opened in January of 2006, it was the newest stage of development for business partners Vincent Barrios and Justin Cubeb. The duo opened it as a place to grow the art shows they had held previously in their loft in the Hellman Building.

The duo closed Lost Souls the week of September 20 and reopened as on October 4. “Lost Souls really isn’t going anywhere, it’s evolving,” said Barrios. “We’ve been struggling since we opened (Lost Souls). We had never turned a profit,” he said.

Barrios says the struggle was primarily location. “We were the first to open in Harlem Alley and take a risk in that location,” he explained.

While the alley is still intended to become a fully-activated pedestrian space, those plans have taken far longer to come together than expected. That can make the tucked-away cafe hard to find. “If we didn’t walk, we would have completely missed the alley that led to Lost Souls Cafe,” notes a recent Yelp review by Edren S.

For Harlem Place Café, Barrios and Cabebe brought in new partner Ray Hodget to help with the rebranding and transition. “He’s someone I’ve worked with in the past. He’s a graphic designer and contractor,” said Barrios.

Programs and elements that Lost Souls was known for will continue in the new concept. What once was the “Verbally Loud” open mic event on the last Fridays is now the “Speakeasy Open Mic” every other Monday at 9pm. Comedy Night is on Wednesdays from 8-930. Barrios says they hope to feature afternoon events in the future, and possibly bring back something like the “Talking Drums” event that used to occur on Sundays.

Art Walk shows will continue in the space on a rotating basis. “The idea is to create the back lounge area as a specific gallery space,” says Barrios.

The new cafe is meant to have a speakeasy vibe, and changes included updating the table seating with newspaper graphics of the Prohibition era, interior waist-high walls that may eventually sport high-top counters and stools — creating extra seating for those wanting to grab a coffee and work on their laptops — new ceiling fans, repositioned track lighting, fresh paint and partitioned-off areas for the gallery space.

The menu, which is hung from the ceiling behind the counter, has different names, but if you look closer you’ll see many of the favorites are still there.

A happy hour menu is offered weeknights from 6 - 10pm and includes $2 off beer, wine & sangria. Food items include $1 tacos and half-price”Smarty Bites” sandwiches. Despite the “Speakeasy” theme, there are no plans to apply for a full liquor license. Lost Souls Café had applied for and received a wine and beer license in 2007. Wine and beer is still offered, focusing on draft beers from California craft breweries with plans to create a full wine list and offer wine by the glass.

“Ideally, the plan is to open another Lost Souls Cafe,” Barrios said. The search for new space will hopefully keep Lost Souls Downtown, but they are also looking in areas like Silver Lake.

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Conversation

Ricardo Galindo on October 20, 2010, at 10:04AM – #1

So sad to see such a great name go! and it looks way too organized inside. The crepes taste equally delicious though.


Guest 1

Guest on October 20, 2010, at 10:28AM – #2

Would love to see a blade sign above the door. I've directed quite a few people staring down the alley looking for Lost Souls, but they don't want to venture down the alley for nothing. Yes, it's cool to have "our" spot that feels hidden, but it can't be good for business. Get a neon blade sign above the door in the alley!


Guest 2

Guest on October 20, 2010, at 10:36AM – #3

Gilmore owns the alcohol license, so this must be a case--like Urban Noodle--where he contracts with people to operate the place for him.


User_32

() on October 20, 2010, at 10:53AM – #4

Lost Souls isn't going anywhere, but operating as a separate entity, presenting events at Harlem Place Cafe and hopefully pop-ups around downtown.. Eventually they would like to open in another location as stated at the end of the article.

The owners are the same and the new partner is a friend of Vincent Barrios..


Guest 3

Guest on October 20, 2010, at 11:35AM – #5

Guest 2, you are mistaken. If you took the time to look up the you'd see that the licensee is Victor Barrios.


Guest 3

Guest on October 20, 2010, at 11:42AM – #6

Correction, you'd see that the licensee is Vincent Barrios.


User_32

DavidAC on October 20, 2010, at 01:33PM – #7

I used to go there for breakfast, but I couldn't stand listening to ranty talk radio on Pacifica Radio while I tried to read the newspaper - that was a $4/day x 5days/week x ~40 weeks/yr = $800/yr revenue loss for them, all because of a harsh radio station choice. If they opened early, had gentle morning music and had a better selection of pastries and bagels then I'd be in there every morning. Simple and reliable is the key to the morning trade.

I think these guys have a big financial opportunity here, but they need to focus on what their customers/community want them to do, and not so much on what they want to do. I only critize because I respect what they're doing

Excellent atmosphere, good wraps, great coffee, etc... I'm glad they've stuck around. I pledge to give them more business..


Jamie DeFrisco on October 20, 2010, at 05:31PM – #8

I really liked this place. I'm so happy to hear that it's still being run by the same people. I was concerned that the name change was because someone else took over. This is my favorite cafe in downtown.

I will say that I miss the old vibe of this place. I don't know if it's the people working there or the change of the interior, but it doesn't feel the same. The drinks and the food are good, so I keep coming back. The happy hour is great too. Good to see they extended the hours.


Guest 4

Guest on October 20, 2010, at 10:05PM – #9

It's impossible to find truly good pastries in downtown except for Bottega Louie.

The coffee has gotten better but our offerings of pastries is on par with county hospital cafeterias. LA Cafe, etc. all offer ridiculously stupid bad breads and pastries. If ever I wanted a French invasion downtown, it would start at breakfast.


User_32

DavidAC on October 21, 2010, at 09:11AM – #10

Absolutely! We really need better pastries - breakfast is a sadly overlooked meal in in DTLA.

Another place that still has good pastries is Spring for Coffee, but they have no seating. The Banquette also has good pastries sometimes, but they're sporadic. Lot 44 had good pastries at the beginning too, but that didn't last long.

I'd love to hear any other suggestions for good morning pastries..


Guest 2

Guest on October 21, 2010, at 11:03AM – #11

DavidAC, for fantastic pastries, try First Cup Cafe at 333 S. Spring St. They are open weekdays from 6 am to 6 pm. Phone .

They bake their pastries every night so they are fresh first thing in the morning. They have great lunches too.

It's a bit hard to spot from the street, but it's in the walkway next to the bank that connects Spring St. with Biddy Mason Park.


Jamie DeFrisco on October 21, 2010, at 11:19AM – #12

Breakfast/pastry options:

My favorite is Yamazaki in the Village in Little Tokyo. It is fresh, but not what I would consider typical.

Syrup Deserts has some good donuts, but I haven't tried the other pastries. (The deserts in the refrigerated case are okay, but IMO aren't as good as they look.)

Nickle Dinner has some good deserts and breads. Although their menu seems to change in that department, so I'm not sure what they have in terms of pastries.

There's also a bakery place in Grand Central Market, but I haven't tried it yet.

There's one bakery in Chinatown that is decent. I only had one pastry there and it wasn't quite what I was expecting, but good.

According to one of the other articles, Clifton's is going to be bringing back the bakery part.

Ralph's has pastries available too.

There's also a place called The Croissant Store on 9th and San Pedro. I haven't been there in years, so I don't know if they are still open or if the quality is still good. It's a bit out of the way, so I haven't been there. This a tiny place, but the croissants were great. It's the type of place you pick up what you want and take it home.

I should also say that I don't drink coffee. My opinion of coffee shops/cafes is based on the non-coffee/cappuccino/espresso drinks and food. Everyone has a different opinion of what they like.


User_32

on October 21, 2010, at 02:47PM – #13

Also check out Hygge in South Park, on Hope @ 11th, especially if you like marzipan (almond paste) -- they're a Danish bakery (as in, from Denmark, not necessarily a fruit-filled flaky item).

They open @ 0700 on week days and bake their own bread, too; I love their dense "seedy" rye. They have pastry + coffee combos, and make big sandwiches for lunch. You can also order cakes from them for special events.

I loved the "pan de sel" sandwiches @ Los Souls, and the laid back vibe, and I'm curious how the feel may have changed. Guess it's time to stop back in.


User_32

Nancy Richardson () on October 21, 2010, at 07:40PM – #14

Homeboy has great pastries!


Brian Blackwell on October 25, 2010, at 11:37PM – #15

The bakery in Grand Central Market is both cheap and awesome. The pastries are subtly spiced and not overly sweet (unlike the pastries in most cafes, which tend to be very starchy and sugary).



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