Chasen's facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chasen's |
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Chasen's entrance from Beverly Blvd. October 1997
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1936 |
| Closed | April 1, 1995 |
| Previous owner(s) | Dave Chasen (1936–1973) Maude Chasen (1973–1995) |
| Food type | American |
| Dress code | Formal |
| Street address | 9039 Beverly Boulevard |
| City | West Hollywood |
| State | California |
| Postal/ZIP code | 90048 |
| Country | US |
| Known for | Favorite of Hollywood elite and other celebrities |
Chasen's was a super famous restaurant in West Hollywood, California. It opened in 1936 and was a favorite spot for movie stars, singers, politicians, and other important people. Located at 9039 Beverly Boulevard, it was known for its delicious chili and often hosted parties for the Academy Awards. The restaurant closed its doors permanently in 1995.
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A Hollywood Hotspot
Chasen's quickly became a legendary place where many of Hollywood's biggest stars would gather. It was a fancy restaurant with a formal dress code.
The Famous Chili
One of the most famous things about Chasen's was its amazing chili. It was so popular that actress Elizabeth Taylor had it flown to her while she was filming movies far away. For example, she had orders of Chasen's chili sent to Rome, Italy, in 1963 when she was making Cleopatra. She also had it sent to Oroville, California, in 1974 during the filming of The Klansman.
Special Booths for Stars
Many of the restaurant's regular customers had their favorite booths named after them. This made them feel even more special! The booth used by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan is now on display at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. It's famous because it's where Reagan proposed to his wife, actress Nancy Davis.
Other well-known celebrities who had their own special booths included Frank Sinatra, Alfred Hitchcock, James Stewart, and Groucho Marx.
The Story of Chasen's
The restaurant was started by a comedian named Dave Chasen. He opened it in December 1936. At first, it was just a small place called "Chasen's Southern Pit." It was even described as a "shack."
How it Grew
Dave Chasen got advice from director Frank Capra to open the restaurant. The New Yorker magazine's editor, Harold Ross, helped fund the project. Even though it started small, Chasen's quickly became famous for its chili. Soon, it was a favorite spot for Hollywood stars. Frank Capra even lent Dave Chasen his own silverware to help the restaurant get started!
Who Visited Chasen's?
Many famous people enjoyed dining at Chasen's over the years.
A Star-Studded Guest List
Some of the early customers included Walt Disney, Marilyn Monroe, Shirley Temple, Cary Grant, Jack Benny, Jackie Gleason, W. C. Fields, James Cagney, Clark Gable, and writer F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Even as new restaurants opened, many loyal customers kept coming back. Later regulars included Ronald Reagan, Frank Sinatra, James Stewart, Richard Nixon, Gregory Peck, Bob Hope, Don Rickles, Milton Berle, Kirk Douglas, and Jack Lord. Newer stars like Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson, John Travolta, and Mel Gibson also became regulars.
Ed McMahon and Johnny Carson were frequent visitors. From 1967 to 1978, Carol Burnett would often treat guest stars from The Carol Burnett Show to dinner at Chasen's after their Friday night tapings.
A Unique Payment System
Chasen's had an interesting way of handling payments: it did not accept credit cards! Instead, regular or well-known customers could simply sign for their meals. The restaurant would then mail them a bill later.
The End of an Era
Over time, Chasen's faced challenges as newer, trendier restaurants became popular. Business slowly declined.
Closing Down
Chasen's closed its doors for good on April 1, 1995. After it closed, the building was sometimes used for private parties. In 1997, all of its contents were sold off in an auction. This included pictures, bars, booths, and even the wall paneling.
Some of the original items from Chasen's can still be found today. Many photos, artwork, ten of the booths, and the barstools are now in Santa Paula, California, at the Mupu Grill on Main Street. Comedian Brian Haley bought the famous Frank Sinatra booth, the bar, and the front awning.
The original Chasen's building was mostly torn down, except for the side facing Beverly Boulevard. A Bristol Farms grocery store was built in its place. The cafe inside this grocery store even features some of the original booths and paneling from Chasen's!
A New Attempt
After the original Chasen's closed, an investor named Grady Sanders bought the name from the Chasen family. He opened a new Chasen's restaurant in Beverly Hills in 1997. However, this new restaurant also closed down in 2000.
