The Neighborhood News Online

Fred's Utopia Barber shop at 5276 w. Pico Blvd. has been in our community for 44 years. Recently I was invited to come by and attend their annual Christmas celebration. When I stepped in the front door  I was transported back to the days when I accompanied my dad to his barber shop with it's relaxed and welcome atmosphere, the conversations, the lived in environment. Fred's wall was covered with pictures that remind guests of the long history of this popular community center.  I was directed to the back where Fred was fussing over the delicious food that was being offered up. I grabbed a plate and went and joined the crowd in the hairdressers rooom and listened to the easy  flow of conversation between the patrons and the hairdressers. On my way out I stopped in the front room where the two barbers, Fred and Jerry were getting customers presentable for holiday festivities. One customer was playfully chiding Fred for 'getting in his business".  I laughed and added, "Isn't that what goes on in the barbershop?"

Shoobie, Patricia, Mary, Jerry,         Saezon, Alease, Fred

The Atomic Cafe Takes Off

One block west of La Brea sits the Atomic Café, a beautifully designed vision of restaurateur, Tony Shibata. Open, airy windows framed by shiny steel, allow you to view patrons eating, talking and creating the kind of community a good local restaurant provides.  Finding himself the owner of a popular local eatery is as much a surprise to Tony as it is to the neighbors discovering this oasis of good food.

“I was always more of a ‘microwave a meal between television commercials’ kind of guy.   Opening a can of Ranch Style Beans with a steamed chicken breast from COSTCO, and a piece of wheat bread, washed down with a cold beer was my idea of living.”

He enjoyed good food but only if some one else was cooking. Graduating from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a degree in architecture, Tony went on to establish a career in construction, eventually remodeling his own properties. Three years ago he purchased the building at the corner of Washington Blvd. and Mansfield Ave. with 3 commercial units downstairs and a living unit upstairs.   Tony moved in and began remodeling the home
immediately.  Downstairs the upholstery store, barbershop and “Big Daddy’s Kickin’ Chicken”, were barely making ends meet.  One by one they left, leaving a building that had fallen into disrepair.

There's a reason this neighborhood Greek Restaurant has been in business 60 years.

Did you grow up in a gregarious home where whatever came out of the kitchen was delicious and everyone was welcome? Well, if you didn’t, you’re lucky to have Papa Cristo’s C&K Importing nearby as a second home – a homestylye atmosphere with food that can’t be missed.  It opened in 1948 as an import store by Sam Chrys to bring authentic Greek products to Los Angeles. His son Chrys Chrys “Papa Cristo” expanded it to include a restaurant. He has kept up the tradition of low prices for high quality and friendly service. A refreshing departure from the norm of paying sky-high prices for imported foods in specialty stores (Do you hear me L’ Occitane?).

Nutritionists have been increasingly recommending a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, fish, vegetables. While this is news to the average American diet of processed substances and saturated fats that pass as food – the Greeks and their neighbors have known the health benefits of their diet for … well, since the years ending with B.C. If you want to prepare your own meals and forego the restaurant, you aren’t limited to the variety of imported goods that line the shelves....You can step up to the deli counter and buy freshly baked bread, Greek feta and yoghurt, varieties of bulk olives, skewers of kababs, dips, spreads, pastries. I could go on and on!