Though admittedly it's been years since I've been to the Benito's location on Santa Monica Blvd., I felt a tinge of sadness when I noticed it's no longer. It appears a hot wings joint has opened up in the modest structure on the northwest corner of Santa Monica and McCadden. The 3rd Street location immortalized in the Big Lebowski was razed a few years ago, and now the Hollywood branch once featured in a "This American Life" episode is also gone. Hard core taco lovers will hardly shed a tear, yet...
The Shakey's down street (where the "Ye Olde Public House" sign written in Gothic font are numbered, given the chain's recent rebranding efforts) and Benito's seemed to be the eateries of choice among some of Hollywood's tranny youth. Will H&W Express be embraced as an acceptable substitute?
ok i have seen some seriously creative sex work at both Benitos and Shakeys. I am just not sure what that stretch of Santa Monica will become now - can it really be gentrified? There is a building on the corner of Sycamore and Santa Monica that my needle exchange program used to work in front of that is currently undergoing massive renovations. Someone told me it is going to be a restaurant of some sort. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
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