Doughnut eaters and Boba drinkers alike were shocked and
disappointed as they discovered that Stan’s Donuts and
Lollicup Coffee and Tea were both closed due to a vermin
infestation.
The two businesses share a space on the corner of Broxton and
Weyburn Avenues and were closed down on July 15, by the order of an
officer of the County of Los Angeles Department of Health
Services.
The signs placed on the entrance read that the closure was made
on the grounds of vermin infestation and vermin harborage. A second
sign was more specific in naming roaches.
Stan Berman has managed his shop in Westwood since 1965 and over
this time, he has been recognized for his work, by many different
organizations.
“If you’ve been here for 40 years, you might be
doing something right,” Berman said, adding that this is the
first time in forty years that an incident of this nature has
happened.
Over the weekend, many passersby noticed the two signs and
stopped and looked inside the store. The place looked empty,
stripped clean of its normal abundance of food and drink items.
Robert Bigman, a Santa Monica resident and a regular visitor to
Westwood, stopped abruptly as he saw others discussing Stan’s
closure.
He recalled Stan’s being in that same location for
decades.
On Saturday, he approached the shop to find its doors
closed.
“I’m stunned beyond belief … I’ve never been
to Westwood without (getting) a doughnut,” Bigman said.
He explained that it is “part of a ritual” for him
to see a movie at one of the theatres and grab a doughnut at
Stan’s.
Bigman said this incident will not stop him from coming back to
Stan’s the next time he is in Westwood.
After “all these years” of eating doughnuts, nothing
has happened to him, he said.
Other patrons had similar reactions about returning and said the
closure would not effect their decision to come back.
Some regulars jokingly said they are even willing to wait there
until the store reopens.
Others, including Westwood resident, Geoffrey Pincus-Brimble,
were more skeptical about the county shutdown.
“It won’t affect my coming back,”
Pincus-Brimble said. At the same time, he then added that he is not
likely to eat the doughnuts anymore since food items, rather than
drinks, are what he believes attracted the vermin.
In light of these reactions, it’s evident why Berman, the
owner of the doughnut shop, is not worried about losing
business.
Berman said the customers have been supportive and their
reaction has been “unbelievable.”
“They say, “˜Don’t worry about it, you’ll
be in action soon,'” Berman said.
He has been personally involved in cleaning the store and hopes
to have the store ready and back in business, possibly as soon as
Monday afternoon.
The businesses cannot reopen until county officials reinspect
the space and give it approval.
The management from Lollicup Coffee and Tea could not be reached
for comment.