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Horrible News: The Wiener Factory Is Closing
2007-11-05 09:38
by Jon Weisman

I'm actually enough of a commoner to like Pinkberry, but I may have to rethink that with the news that the one and only Wiener Factory, a beloved dive from my childhood (and adulthood, for that matter), is being replaced on Ventura Boulevard by yet another Pinkberry franchise, according to Steve Hymon of the Times. (Link via L.A. Observed)

I guess I didn't see the writing on the wall - and if you've ever been to the Wiener Factory, you'll know what I'm talking about.

"The good news," Hymon writes, "(is) Kevin Lentz, the Wiener Factory's owner, says that he's knee-deep in offers from fans of his restaurant to help relocate."

Comments
2007-11-05 09:48:37
1.   Bob Timmermann
This must be big news if you took Joe Torre off the top!

I've never heard of the place, but it's the wrong end of the Valley for me.

2007-11-05 09:51:47
2.   Brent is a Dodger Fan
NOOOOOOOOOO!
2007-11-05 09:53:11
3.   Jon Weisman
1 - The mid-south end?
2007-11-05 09:53:16
4.   Brent is a Dodger Fan
If they relocate, will they transport the whole shack, or at least re-use the drywall?

Have they still not painted over the Mad Magazine artist's addition to the walls?

2007-11-05 09:54:38
5.   Bob Timmermann
I lived in the mid-north end.
2007-11-05 10:04:01
6.   Jon Weisman
I lived in the southwest Valley. I probably wasn't much closer to the WF than you.
2007-11-05 10:04:29
7.   Sam DC
Say about me what you will, but this post is the first time I've ever heard of Pinkberry.

The Wiener Factory, I know from the Wiener Factory.

2007-11-05 10:12:23
8.   Bob Timmermann
Going from Granada Hills to Ventura Boulevard in my day was like moving to New York.
2007-11-05 10:12:25
9.   Xeifrank
huh?
vr, Xei
2007-11-05 10:23:37
10.   Bob Timmermann
9
Long trip. Almost like visiting a strange new land.
2007-11-05 10:29:03
11.   Penarol1916
7. Yeah, I had to google Pinkberry after reading this post. I had absolutely no idea what it was, I couldn't even come up with a reasonable guess, and never would have thought of frozen yogurt in a million years. I would have probably guessed something to do with blackberries instead.
2007-11-05 10:36:30
12.   Disabled List
Hearing that the Weiner Factory is closing is good emotional preparation for me, so that I'm better acclimated to handle the eventual news of Matt Kemp's trade away from the Dodgers (if that ever happens).

They both rank about the same on the personal devastation scale. This sucks.

2007-11-05 10:44:06
13.   Bluebleeder87
I'm kind of surprised NedCo hasn't talked yet.
2007-11-05 10:51:13
14.   Bluebleeder87
watching ESPN, Vin Scully keeps him self in great great shape, it's really nice to see.
2007-11-05 10:54:09
15.   underdog
anything else of interest, from joe's press conference? for those of us following on our crappy treos...

off subject, but, man, have you seen pics of kansas' football coach mark mangino? not trying to be a fatophobe, but the man's a house. pic on cover of usa today's sports today.

2007-11-05 10:57:02
16.   jasonungar07
Did Joe wear his 4 WS rings or does he have class?
2007-11-05 11:09:20
17.   Dave G
I worked for the summer in the building right next to The Wiener Factory. You could tell it was one of those really historic places, not to mention fantastic dogs. I'm kind of surprised there's no historic-cultural monument designation on it or something (as I'm sure there is at Pink's)... such a pity.
2007-11-05 11:09:30
18.   Jon Weisman
New post up top.
2007-11-05 11:10:40
19.   Jon Weisman
Pink's is so overrated. The Wiener Factory might not be the best, but it runs circles around Pink's.
2007-11-05 14:15:50
20.   LAT
Pink's sucks. I can't believe the line around that place.

As for PinkBerry, ours is a house divided. Daughter loves Pinkberry, wife likes Red Mango and I am partial to the Big Chill. One would think that as the head of my house, the guy who is paying and the one who rarly makes a fuss we get to go to the Big Chill whenever I ask but Nooooooooo. Welcome to fatherhood.

2007-11-05 14:30:25
21.   player to be named later
4 I'd forgotten about the Sergio Aragones drawing. It fits -- fit -- the place perfectly. Sigh. If a Pinkberry replacing The Weiner Factory isn't some kind of metaphor for the decline of Western civilization...
2007-11-05 15:57:46
22.   al bundy
I haven't lived in LA in years. I wasn't familiar with the Wiener Factory which surprises me because my dad loved a good dog and Sherman Oaks was within our range. I grew up in Hidden Hills and Calabasas and have great memories of Flooky's on Ventura somewhere. They used to have batting cages. Good dogs though probably not great as my palate was still young. Memorable fries, though. But the batting cages...!
2007-11-05 16:51:56
23.   greenchris
NONONONOOOOOOOOO!!!
I live in NYC now, it's my favorite hot dog spot, better than the ones here! I can't believe it!!!!!
2007-11-05 16:57:27
24.   Jon Weisman
23 - I'm not sure it's better then Grey's Papaya on the Upper West Side, though I like the atmosphere better.
2007-11-05 17:03:34
25.   greenchris
there's a gray's about 2 blocks from my house, The Factory is better...Sabrette weiners, love the cole slaw cheese dog. Any idea on the closing date? Planning on going back home for the holidays, hopefully it's still around.

To me, this is second to when Jay-Burger's closed a couple of years ago.

2007-11-05 17:09:07
26.   Jon Weisman
25 - Which Gray's? I think one is worse than the other.
2007-11-05 17:14:49
27.   greenchris
my bad, I confused with another Papaya spot...i'm going to Gray's this w/end and will report back
2007-11-05 19:13:13
28.   Robyn
Jon, I'm so sorry. And I agree that Pink's is overrated and frankly awful.
2007-11-05 20:58:02
29.   LAT
Jon you and I seem to cross paths on either side of the country. We live a mile from each other in LA and I used to live on 71st St. between Broadway and CPW, near Gray's.
2007-11-05 21:36:10
30.   Jon Weisman
29 - My sister-in-law used to live on Broadway in the low 80s. When I visited there, in the late '90s, my wife gave me my first exposure to Gray's and Krispy Kreme. Not to mention H&H. It was impressive.
2007-11-05 22:01:31
31.   LAbits
Not familiar with TWF, sorry, but it sounds much like the loss of Tail o' the Pup (the hot dog shaped hot dog stand) on La Cienega by the (now) Beverly Center. Of course, three home runs distance from there, at La Cienega & San Vicente, we also lost the original Fatburger location (where you had to stare down the cook to get your order taken).

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