Norms on La Cienega, L.A.’s icon of coffee shop architecture, will give way to a fast-food chain
Norms on La Cienega, L.A.’s icon of coffee shop architecture, will give way to a fast-food chain
by liverichly
34 Comments
liverichly
Since might be paywalled for some, here is a summary:
> The iconic Norms coffee shop on La Cienega Boulevard, a hallmark of midcentury Googie architecture in Los Angeles, may soon be transformed into a Raising Cane’s fast-food chicken outlet. Raising Cane’s, which owns the property, plans to replace the retro diner’s famous neon sawtooth sign with their own branding when Norms’ lease expires in 2027. Despite pledges to preserve the landmark’s historic Googie-style architecture, the proposal has sparked backlash from Angelenos who value the site’s cultural and historical significance.
> Norms La Cienega, designed by Louis Armet and Eldon Davis in 1957, has been a 24-hour staple in L.A., earning historic monument status in 2015. The location holds a special place in L.A.’s history, immortalized in Ed Ruscha’s painting Norm’s, La Cienega, On Fire and praised as a quintessential example of futuristic Googie design.
> Raising Cane’s proposal, set to be reviewed by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission on December 5, faces criticism for altering the space’s function from a family-friendly diner to a fast-food establishment. Advocates, including historian Damian Sullivan and L.A. tour guide Kim Cooper, urge the community to oppose the change, emphasizing the diner’s unique role in the city’s identity.
> While other Norms locations will remain open across Southern California, the La Cienega site’s potential transformation marks the end of an era for a beloved institution that has been part of L.A. life for 67 years.
Raising Canes sauce is pretty legit, tho. I can’t be mad
Delicious-Sale6122
Norms is a fast food chain…
GDub310
I personally am not a “Caniac”. I do love fried chicken, but RCs just isn’t it for me.
Cane’s could take a look at some of the Starbucks out there that have converted former businesses, or even Prince Street Pizza retaining the Arby’s sign. Hopefully, RC will retain as much of the building and sign as possible. If not for the nostalgia/aesthetics, then maybe for the visibility it provides. I’m also in restaurant marketing and signs of that size are few and far in between. Many cities don’t allow new ones, so if the old one comes down, you can’t replace it.
_mattyjoe
There’s a difference between “may” happen and “will” happen.
SickerThanYourAvg24
I can’t believe people eat that unseasoned chicken. I dare you to eat it without the sauce!
tranceworks
To the barricades!
ZSforPrez
Jesus H. Is there a Change,org thing that people can protest on?
VaguelyArtistic
Back in the 80s I had a co-worker who became a good friend. He had just moved here from Michigan, and lived in the valley. He would rave about this place by him where here went for breakfast all the time, a place called Orms, which I’d never heard of. Then one day he came to work and said the place was actually called Norms, but the ‘N’ had been burnt out.
I know this is just a personal anecdote that means nothing and is one of those “you had to be there” things but every once in a while I think of him and hope he’s doing well.
BigJSunshine
God dammit
Runtheranch
I’m not huge on RC but I do have the occasional craving. I can’t say the same for Norms though so I’m excited.
hldnmsk
Nooooo! 👎
abuelabuela
The amount of memories I have here. Family breakfast treats when I was a kid, seeing Omarion surrounded by bodyguards in the booth near the restrooms, that claw machine that felt like even more than a ripoff than most. Sigh.
Mid-CenturyBoy
THis place sucks. I lived next to it and ordered food for onliune pick up. Walked over when it said it would be ready and it was chaos. Many people waiting bags everywhere and employees fully ignoring people when they asked questions. I got anxiety just watching the way they handled everything and I am not an anxious person. I ended up waiting an additional 45 minutes.
BetterArugula5124
This is me when I see the horrible drive thru
messy_mortal
This really stinks. We already have a dearth of 24-hour places for a city our size. Norm’s isn’t winning any Michelin stars, but it’s a fun place to get a patty melt after a show at Largo. We don’t need another drive-thru.
twoheartedthrowaway
I’m sorry but raising canes is the most low IQ food chain and I do not get the appeal
(Caveat: i know people I respect who love raisin canes and I do not believe that IQ is a meaningful measure of anything)
TDSBritishGirl
We can fight this. They tried it once before. Please please let’s fight this.
Easy_Potential2882
Absolutely sickening.
trojanusc
On one hand, Norm’s has been there forever so there’s a lot more history than if this were a Denny’s. On the other, Norm’s has increasingly felt like every other chain restaurant lately, in terms of both quality, pricing and food. I think this would be a lot sadder if this was a one-off or two-off location.
It’ll never happen I do wish is that Cane’s could some how use this to innovate something beyond their typical restaurant with unseasoned chicken, frozen fries and mushy toast. Partner with Norm’s to offer Cane’s chicken plus some Norm’s staples.
revocer
I am boycotting all Cane’s locations if this Norm’s makes way for a Cane’s.
lennon818
So many memories of this place. Rocky Horror at Nuart followed up by Norms. It was the only place open. I miss what LA use to be and who I use to be
tornait-hashu
I’d rather go to any other chicken place that has bone-in chicken, even KFC. At least those places actually season their chicken.
BalognaMacaroni
Maaaan this is depressing
zoglog
people upset chain restaurant replaced by another chain restaurant… ok dudes…
RandomGerman
Daaamn. That is the only Norms I go to. Because it looks like the 60s. That makes me sad. Not many places left like that. If any. 🫤
eblade23
Like LA needs more fried chicken places… Ugh
T-MoneyAllDey
Norms is garbage though
North-Drink-7250
Canes is trendy overhyped garbage…
Entire_Animal_9040
They replaced a Coco’s on Hawthorne in Torrance with a Raising Canes as well. No drive thru, and a big dining room for bland fried chicken…
chttybb
Aw this sucks. My husband and I were just talking about how cool that Norms is – it’s like a time machine. The new one in Hollywood/Western is meh.
Capybara_99
No
Maleficent-Studio154
Dennys and ihop are still open. Nothing to miss
nnnope1
Ok if Norms is closing can we at least get French Marketplace back? I mean the place is just sitting empty.
34 Comments
Since might be paywalled for some, here is a summary:
> The iconic Norms coffee shop on La Cienega Boulevard, a hallmark of midcentury Googie architecture in Los Angeles, may soon be transformed into a Raising Cane’s fast-food chicken outlet. Raising Cane’s, which owns the property, plans to replace the retro diner’s famous neon sawtooth sign with their own branding when Norms’ lease expires in 2027. Despite pledges to preserve the landmark’s historic Googie-style architecture, the proposal has sparked backlash from Angelenos who value the site’s cultural and historical significance.
> Norms La Cienega, designed by Louis Armet and Eldon Davis in 1957, has been a 24-hour staple in L.A., earning historic monument status in 2015. The location holds a special place in L.A.’s history, immortalized in Ed Ruscha’s painting Norm’s, La Cienega, On Fire and praised as a quintessential example of futuristic Googie design.
> Raising Cane’s proposal, set to be reviewed by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission on December 5, faces criticism for altering the space’s function from a family-friendly diner to a fast-food establishment. Advocates, including historian Damian Sullivan and L.A. tour guide Kim Cooper, urge the community to oppose the change, emphasizing the diner’s unique role in the city’s identity.
> While other Norms locations will remain open across Southern California, the La Cienega site’s potential transformation marks the end of an era for a beloved institution that has been part of L.A. life for 67 years.
Couple other articles:
* [Property Owner Raising Cane’s seeks to evict Norms La Cienega after 67 Years] (https://esotouric.substack.com/p/norms) Esotouric.substack.com
* [Norms faces closure](https://wehoonline.com/2024/11/26/norms-faces-closure/) WeHoOnline.com
Raising Canes sauce is pretty legit, tho. I can’t be mad
Norms is a fast food chain…
I personally am not a “Caniac”. I do love fried chicken, but RCs just isn’t it for me.
Cane’s could take a look at some of the Starbucks out there that have converted former businesses, or even Prince Street Pizza retaining the Arby’s sign. Hopefully, RC will retain as much of the building and sign as possible. If not for the nostalgia/aesthetics, then maybe for the visibility it provides. I’m also in restaurant marketing and signs of that size are few and far in between. Many cities don’t allow new ones, so if the old one comes down, you can’t replace it.
There’s a difference between “may” happen and “will” happen.
I can’t believe people eat that unseasoned chicken. I dare you to eat it without the sauce!
To the barricades!
Jesus H. Is there a Change,org thing that people can protest on?
Back in the 80s I had a co-worker who became a good friend. He had just moved here from Michigan, and lived in the valley. He would rave about this place by him where here went for breakfast all the time, a place called Orms, which I’d never heard of. Then one day he came to work and said the place was actually called Norms, but the ‘N’ had been burnt out.
I know this is just a personal anecdote that means nothing and is one of those “you had to be there” things but every once in a while I think of him and hope he’s doing well.
God dammit
I’m not huge on RC but I do have the occasional craving. I can’t say the same for Norms though so I’m excited.
Nooooo! 👎
The amount of memories I have here. Family breakfast treats when I was a kid, seeing Omarion surrounded by bodyguards in the booth near the restrooms, that claw machine that felt like even more than a ripoff than most. Sigh.
THis place sucks. I lived next to it and ordered food for onliune pick up. Walked over when it said it would be ready and it was chaos. Many people waiting bags everywhere and employees fully ignoring people when they asked questions. I got anxiety just watching the way they handled everything and I am not an anxious person. I ended up waiting an additional 45 minutes.
This is me when I see the horrible drive thru
This really stinks. We already have a dearth of 24-hour places for a city our size. Norm’s isn’t winning any Michelin stars, but it’s a fun place to get a patty melt after a show at Largo. We don’t need another drive-thru.
I’m sorry but raising canes is the most low IQ food chain and I do not get the appeal
(Caveat: i know people I respect who love raisin canes and I do not believe that IQ is a meaningful measure of anything)
We can fight this. They tried it once before. Please please let’s fight this.
Absolutely sickening.
On one hand, Norm’s has been there forever so there’s a lot more history than if this were a Denny’s. On the other, Norm’s has increasingly felt like every other chain restaurant lately, in terms of both quality, pricing and food. I think this would be a lot sadder if this was a one-off or two-off location.
It’ll never happen I do wish is that Cane’s could some how use this to innovate something beyond their typical restaurant with unseasoned chicken, frozen fries and mushy toast. Partner with Norm’s to offer Cane’s chicken plus some Norm’s staples.
I am boycotting all Cane’s locations if this Norm’s makes way for a Cane’s.
So many memories of this place. Rocky Horror at Nuart followed up by Norms. It was the only place open. I miss what LA use to be and who I use to be
I’d rather go to any other chicken place that has bone-in chicken, even KFC. At least those places actually season their chicken.
Maaaan this is depressing
people upset chain restaurant replaced by another chain restaurant… ok dudes…
Daaamn. That is the only Norms I go to. Because it looks like the 60s. That makes me sad. Not many places left like that. If any. 🫤
Like LA needs more fried chicken places… Ugh
Norms is garbage though
Canes is trendy overhyped garbage…
They replaced a Coco’s on Hawthorne in Torrance with a Raising Canes as well. No drive thru, and a big dining room for bland fried chicken…
Aw this sucks. My husband and I were just talking about how cool that Norms is – it’s like a time machine. The new one in Hollywood/Western is meh.
No
Dennys and ihop are still open. Nothing to miss
Ok if Norms is closing can we at least get French Marketplace back? I mean the place is just sitting empty.