Second Shuttering For Schwab's

BUT WHERE WILL LANA SIT???

Looks like Schwab's has seen its second coming... and now, closing.

While the Hollywood Thoughts staff took a lunchtime stroll down Sunset boulevard last week, one of our sharp-eyed interns noticed that the windows at Schwab's were all covered with butcher paper. At the time we guessed that filming might be going-on inside, and that a crew was trying to keep lookie-loo's at bay by blocking the view from the sidewalk.

That was a week ago. The windows remain covered-- but they've taken-on a creepy, 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore' patina (as in: "We had a Denny's-style-menu-with-Patina-prices-and-that's-why-we-went-belly-up").

If, in fact, it's time to say, 'buh-bye' to Schwab's, it would come as no surprise: the decor was cold, and so was the demeanor of many of it's staff. If some smart lad with a deep pocket wants to buy the rights to the name, they'd be best advised to try and do a faithful knock-off of the original Schwab's decor & layout. Make the new place homey... install a fun counter... and make reasonably priced comfort food (Gimme a chocolate shake!). Think: Johnny Rocket's but with an honest-to-god pedigree.

Speaking of the original Schwab's, it's original location was at Crescent Heights & Sunset boulevard-- roughly where the Virgin Megastore is located today (BTW: The famous 'Garden of Allah' hotel was located across the street where the McDonalds now sits. Like the old Joni Mitchell song says, 'They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.'). And, no, Lana Turner was NOT discovered at the Schwab's soda counter... she was spotted by a talent scout at a soda counter near her Hollywood High School campus.

We've tried calling Schwab's everyday this week, with no avail. A property management spokesperson told HT that they thought Schwab's ownership was considering a "re-think" on its concept.

I think, kiddies, it's time to look around for a new lunch spot.