In the 60’s and part of the 70’s Abbot Kinney really was not the street to be seen on. Frankly, it just wasn’t safe. But somewhere in the early 70’s Abbot Kinney started, “only started,” to evolve.

Of course, it was still named Washington Blvd then. Yah, it was unbelievably confusing. You think it was hard for you; consider the police and fire departments.

Meanwhile Main Street Ocean Park was building momentum.
Real Estate speculators thought it would be Abbot Kinney winning over Main Street Ocean Park but Main Street won … for a while.

The renaming of Abbot Kinney from Washington Blvd and the planting of the Palm trees in the 80’s brought new life to the quaint little street. Abbot Kinney started to accelerate.

Then along came a couple of chains that wanted a store front with the address of Abbot Kinney. It was a like a magic vacuum drawing in the big names. They remodeled their stores and put a new face on the street. Gentlemen’s Quarterly named Abbot Kinney the street … and it hasn’t stopped since.

But this crazy street named after the founder of Venice is still spinning the evolving door. It appears there is yet another chapter …

Would you believe that right now Main Street Ocean Park is getting Abbot Kinney’s castoffs? That is for those who can afford Main Street. All this morphing caused rents to rise and people to look for other places close by and it happened to be Main Street Ocean Park.

Does this mean there will be two chic shopping arenas for Venice shoppers?

Local resident Roxanne Brown has followed the transformation of Abbot Kinney and has compiled a list of shops that have moved on, and in many cases, where they have relocated.

Where Have All The Shops Gone
By Roxanne Brown
If you’re looking for shops that have left Abbot Kinney, some can be found in Mar Vista, Culver City, the Adams district, Ocean Park, Lincoln Blvd., Main Street, La Brea and elsewhere. We miss them and wish them well in their new locations. LA Times just wrote an article regarding this subject.

Floral Art – Culver City
Just Tantau – Adam’s District
Colcha
Surfing Cowboys – Mar Vista
Jin Patisserie – Culver City
Plantation – Main Street
Digs
Stansbury Collection – Main Street
Mini T’s – Ocean Park Blvd.
Koola
Glencrest Bar-B-Que
Euphoria
10 Women Gallery – Main Street
Madley
Stroh’s
Altered Space
Double Vision
Lily’s
Equator
Alderly Edge Furniture Design
Wabi-Sabi
Pamela Barish – Main Street
Mona Moore – Main Street
AK 1114
L Frank – Main Street
Koko – Main Street
Axe
Neptina
Bountiful
Hals
Casa Linda
El Vino
Xo A + R – La Brea
Nick Fouquet Hat Maker – Lincoln Blvd.
Sunya Currie – jewelry available online

If we’ve missed some shops or locations, please let us know.

And Now Sunya Currie

By Roxanne Brown

Note:Roxanne received this notice in the mail. This building must have many a tale to tell of Abbot Kinney.

SUNYA CURRIE COLLECTION
1130 Abbot Kinney Boulevard

Our doors will be closing June 21!

Dear Friends,

My grand old dame of a building was built in 1932 by the Elks Club of Venice. In the exciting productive years that followed, she was occupied by candy makers, glass blowers, film-animators, and artists of all kinds.

I came along in 1968, and was lucky enough to buy her in 1970. I opened an antique shop, which evolved into a studio and showcase for my jewelry designs. As the years passed, the sleepy street outside my window woke up, became livelier, edgier. Palms were planted and as they grew, the street changed too… and even changed it’s name from West Washington to Abbott Kinney Boulevard. Then, with the new century, Dot-Coms moved in, and a new name was added to the bustling location… “Silicon Beach”.

A great old song proclaims “Everything Must Change”… and I find myself changing, too. Although I will continue to create and promote my jewelry collection, (www.sunyacurrie.com) I find I no longer require so much space and will be leasing it out soon.

It’s with a heavy heart and a sense of hopeful anticipation, that I confess both I, and my beautiful grand old dame of a building are ready for a new creative adventure. Thank you all for your friendship, patronage, and good times over the years.