clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

The New Map of Twenty-First Century Los Angeles Landmarks

By Curbed Staff
20 comments / new
View as Map
By Curbed Staff
20 comments / new

Los Angeles is a city that moves forward, never settling on one definitive identity or style. Phases come and go, cherished and esteemed institutions disappear. Land and buildings are repurposed to freshen the landscape. The Ambassador Hotel became a school. Chasen's is a grocery store. Trolleys were ripped out for freeways. As years go by, more and more Los Angeles stalwarts may find themselves on the chopping block. But what of LA will be left for the future generations of Huell Howsers or Ralph Storys to sing the praises of? If nothing is off limits, what symbols will remain as the legacy of Twenty-First Century Los Angeles?

With the Sportsmen's Lodge soon to be demolished and Norms just narrowly missing the wrecking ball, it's clear that developers lack an affection for the landmarks of Los Angeles that others revere. That in mind, we've decided to loosen the definition of "landmark" a bit and hedge our bets on some new icons with a little more staying power. —Jeff Wattenhofer

Read More

The Oldest Chipotle in Los Angeles

Copy Link

Years ago, Los Angeles was a barren wasteland, void of indigenous cuisine of any kind. Bravely, the Chipotle corporation opened franchise #158, and Angelenos got their first taste of guacamole. Sure, this location isn't the nicest or biggest Chipotle, but its historic significance elevates it to landmark status.

4718 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292

The Brunch Line at Sqirl

Copy Link

Forget Pink's, this is the new eternal food line in Los Angeles. Put on your floppy hats and wait in line for some eggs. [Image via christian hilton]

720 North Virgil Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90029

Ghost Target

Copy Link

You can't tear down what's never been built. Target was flying high in 2014, with locations in Beverly Hills and Downtown. But like Icarus, they flew too close to the sun with an attempt to place a store at Sunset and Western, halted dead in its tracks by a NIMBY lawsuit. Let this serve as a reminder to all shopping chains (ahem, Walmart): there are limits to your power.

5600 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Jennifer Lopez Nature Preserve

Copy Link

Sure, we can drought shame celebrities OR we can embrace their lush lawns as a sanctuary for grasses and plants too water hungry for the rest of us. In 20 years, we're all going to thank Jenny from the block for the sight of our old friend, grass.

Jim Bridger Road, Hidden Hills, CA 91302

The New NFL Stadium

Copy Link

Maybe.

1050 S Prairie Ave, Inglewood, CA 90301
(310) 419-1500
(310) 419-1500

North Hollywood Toyota Mannequins

Copy Link

Anyone who has ever driven on the 134 past North Hollywood late at night may have remarked "Hey, why are people shopping for Toyotas in North Hollywood at this hour?" Well, they're not, but North Hollywood Toyota has a brilliant/creepy marketing tactic: dozens of looming mannequins! [Image via Stephen Falk]

4606 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91602
(818) 508-2967
(818) 508-2967

Lemmy at the Rainbow Bar & Grill

Copy Link

If the Rainbow Bar and Grill were Cheers, Lemmy Kilmister would be it's Norm. When the Motörhead frontman isn't on the road, you can catch him at the end of the bar, spending "Ace of Spades" royalty money on drinks and bar trivia. [Lemmy via Ed Vill]

9015 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

The Marriott's Big Screen

Copy Link

All this hubbub about normal-sized digital billboards scattered around the city doesn't make much sense when the Marriott Courtyard/Residence Inn is home to "the largest, full-motion media facade in Los Angeles."

901 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015

The New NFL Stadium

Copy Link

Details Pending.

Jim Dear Boulevard & Stamps Drive, Carson, CA 90745

The Eiffel Tower at the Americana

Copy Link

Rick Caruso has made a career out of making trips to Disneyland obsolete. In 2008, he made traveling to Paris obsolete by placing his own Eiffel Tower above the parking structure at the Americana at Brand. Bad news for France, ours is laced with neon lights that sync up with a dancing fountain. Vive la Americana! [Image via Michael Locke]

889 Americana Way, Glendale, CA 91210

The Woman in a Tank at The Standard

Copy Link

It's often said that anything can be a job in Los Angeles. The Standard Hotel in Hollywood has exemplified that sentiment.

8300 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069
(323) 650-9090
(323) 650-9090

Marc Maron's House

Copy Link

With a Barack Obama interview under his belt, Marc Maron has secured his place atop the podcast kingdom. With luck, he'll throw the cats in a back room, install a grotto, and turn his place into a Playboy Mansion for the eastside of LA.

Phillips Way, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Magic Johnson's TGI Fridays

Copy Link

Magic Johnson has a history with storied franchises in LA. He led the Lakers to five NBA championships and helped purchase the Dodgers from the troubled McCourt family. But in between all that, he did Los Angeles the great favor of bringing the TGI Fridays franchise to the city of angels.

6721 LA Tijera Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045
(310) 337-1143
(310) 337-1143

The New NFL Stadium

Copy Link

Hey, why not?

Avalon, CA 90704
(310) 510-1520
(310) 510-1520

Loading comments...

© 2023 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Link copied to the clipboard.

The Oldest Chipotle in Los Angeles

4718 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292

Years ago, Los Angeles was a barren wasteland, void of indigenous cuisine of any kind. Bravely, the Chipotle corporation opened franchise #158, and Angelenos got their first taste of guacamole. Sure, this location isn't the nicest or biggest Chipotle, but its historic significance elevates it to landmark status.

4718 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292

The Brunch Line at Sqirl

720 North Virgil Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90029

Forget Pink's, this is the new eternal food line in Los Angeles. Put on your floppy hats and wait in line for some eggs. [Image via christian hilton]

720 North Virgil Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90029

Ghost Target

5600 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

You can't tear down what's never been built. Target was flying high in 2014, with locations in Beverly Hills and Downtown. But like Icarus, they flew too close to the sun with an attempt to place a store at Sunset and Western, halted dead in its tracks by a NIMBY lawsuit. Let this serve as a reminder to all shopping chains (ahem, Walmart): there are limits to your power.

5600 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Jennifer Lopez Nature Preserve

Jim Bridger Road, Hidden Hills, CA 91302

Sure, we can drought shame celebrities OR we can embrace their lush lawns as a sanctuary for grasses and plants too water hungry for the rest of us. In 20 years, we're all going to thank Jenny from the block for the sight of our old friend, grass.

Jim Bridger Road, Hidden Hills, CA 91302

The New NFL Stadium

1050 S Prairie Ave, Inglewood, CA 90301

Maybe.

1050 S Prairie Ave, Inglewood, CA 90301
(310) 419-1500
(310) 419-1500

North Hollywood Toyota Mannequins

4606 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91602

Anyone who has ever driven on the 134 past North Hollywood late at night may have remarked "Hey, why are people shopping for Toyotas in North Hollywood at this hour?" Well, they're not, but North Hollywood Toyota has a brilliant/creepy marketing tactic: dozens of looming mannequins! [Image via Stephen Falk]

4606 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91602
(818) 508-2967
(818) 508-2967

Lemmy at the Rainbow Bar & Grill

9015 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

If the Rainbow Bar and Grill were Cheers, Lemmy Kilmister would be it's Norm. When the Motörhead frontman isn't on the road, you can catch him at the end of the bar, spending "Ace of Spades" royalty money on drinks and bar trivia. [Lemmy via Ed Vill]

9015 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

The Marriott's Big Screen

901 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015

All this hubbub about normal-sized digital billboards scattered around the city doesn't make much sense when the Marriott Courtyard/Residence Inn is home to "the largest, full-motion media facade in Los Angeles."

901 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015

The New NFL Stadium

Jim Dear Boulevard & Stamps Drive, Carson, CA 90745

Details Pending.

Jim Dear Boulevard & Stamps Drive, Carson, CA 90745

The Eiffel Tower at the Americana

889 Americana Way, Glendale, CA 91210

Rick Caruso has made a career out of making trips to Disneyland obsolete. In 2008, he made traveling to Paris obsolete by placing his own Eiffel Tower above the parking structure at the Americana at Brand. Bad news for France, ours is laced with neon lights that sync up with a dancing fountain. Vive la Americana! [Image via Michael Locke]

889 Americana Way, Glendale, CA 91210

The Woman in a Tank at The Standard

8300 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069

It's often said that anything can be a job in Los Angeles. The Standard Hotel in Hollywood has exemplified that sentiment.

8300 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069
(323) 650-9090
(323) 650-9090

Marc Maron's House

Phillips Way, Los Angeles, CA 90042

With a Barack Obama interview under his belt, Marc Maron has secured his place atop the podcast kingdom. With luck, he'll throw the cats in a back room, install a grotto, and turn his place into a Playboy Mansion for the eastside of LA.

Phillips Way, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Magic Johnson's TGI Fridays

6721 LA Tijera Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045

Magic Johnson has a history with storied franchises in LA. He led the Lakers to five NBA championships and helped purchase the Dodgers from the troubled McCourt family. But in between all that, he did Los Angeles the great favor of bringing the TGI Fridays franchise to the city of angels.

6721 LA Tijera Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045
(310) 337-1143
(310) 337-1143

The New NFL Stadium

Avalon, CA 90704

Hey, why not?

Avalon, CA 90704
(310) 510-1520
(310) 510-1520