Gentrification Continued

Ocean Park's Talking Stick Coffee Lounge is yet another casualty of Santa Monica's policy of gentrification, aka blandification, or the destruction of neighborhood character in favor of McDevelopments.

A cherished hangout for local artists and musicians, this independent coffee house is scheduled to close in June, as it is forced to move out by the landlord, who is planning a renovation and a future chichi bean boutique. [more in SMDP]

With so much renovation going on in Santa Monica, when will we reach the tipping point, where our beautiful city is turned into another insipid Grove or Universal Walk? Good for city revenue, but so much for The People's Republic of Santa Monica.
[related: The end of Dogtown]
photo Andre Mayis/SMDP