Culver City’s Mandrake Bar is getting new owners.
According to Los Angeles County public records, there is a notice of intended sale from 2692 LA CIENEGA LLC (Mandrake) to No Smoking LLC, which states Mandrake’s intention to transfer its liquor license, lease and business assets. No Smoking LLC is owned by Ben Rojo, a master mixologist and hospitality consultant, and Shin Irvin, the founder of acclaimed design firm Folklor and co-owner of Shins Pizza.
Irvin confirmed that he and Rojo are in fact the new owners, but it is unclear whether they intend to keep Mandrake as it is or transform it into a new concept entirely. That said, No Smoking also appears to have applied for a Caterer Permit, so perhaps we can expect some new culinary options from the pair.
Since it was built in 1939, 2692 S La Cienega Blvd. has undergone many evolutions. The building has housed a myriad of bars, including a gay leather joint and an Irish pub. Its current iteration as Mandrake was opened in 2006 by artists Justin Beal, Drew Heitzler and Flora Wiegmann. The cozy hole-in-the-wall has become a central meeting spot for L.A.’s art world and has regular programming of exhibition after-parties, artists’ lectures, author presentations, book launches, screenings and discussions.
Luckily, there couldn’t be a more perfect duo than Rojo and Irvin to carry on 2692 S La Cienega’s legacy of pivotal watering holes.
