Cook's Double Dutch to move to the Eastside

After 11 years in business caterer and restaurateur Jennie Cook is being forced out of her current Culver City location at 9806 Washington Blvd. by skyrocketing rent. August 8 will be the restaurant's last day. She will relocate her catering business, Jennie Cooks, to the Silver Lake area (3048 N. Fletcher, near San Fernando) in late August.

"I'm trying not to call my landlord names in public any more," says Cook who recently sent a strongly worded e-mail blast about her current predicament to the 2,100 customers on her e-mail list.

When Cook first opened Cook's Double Dutch on once sleepy Washington Blvd. her rent was $3,500. She's currently paying $7,000 and she says her landlord is angling to up her rent to $9,000. Last year she says he refused to renew her lease and she has been dealing with swiftly escalating rent ever since.

"I mean, seriously, how greedy can one person be?" asks Cook. "He's asking $5 a square foot and I'm not in that little buzz zone that's turning into the Grove," she says referring to the section of Culver City surrounding the Culver Hotel that houses popular restaurants such as Ford's Filling Station, Fraiche and Tender Greens.

Cook's landlord John Byers of Byco Inc. says that Cook is currently paying about 75 percent of market rent and that he's allowing her to do that since she is renting on a month-to-month basis. "I have two tenants that just went in a $5 a square foot," Byers says. "The situation with Jennie is that she wants to run a catering business, not a retail business like a restaurant and right now she's paying too much rent for a catering business. No one is holding a gun to her head telling her she has to stay where she is--she can go and find a catering location whenever she wants."   

Which is just what she did. "I've found a new place and I'm busting a move," Cook says, adding that from now on her only business will be wholesale catering (with a focus on sustainable home-style food) and she won't re-open the restaurant. "I've had enough. I don't feel that the world right now is a nice place for independent restaurant owners. My life with my family is way too important. I have three kids, I've been married for 30 years, I'm so happy with what I've built."

-Jessica Gelt

Photo by Cliff Lipson

Comments

[Kim Crabtree]

I thought the article could be more in depth about the situation, but I'm glad to know that Jennie is moving on which was the focus of the article.....which is good.

I have a reservation for 2 at 5:45pm for Double Dutch on Friday (Aug. 1). The Dutch is super close to where we live and we eat there about once a month, we will miss the Dutch. But I'm glad Jennie is moving on and she will always be my number one catering referral. I've used her three or four times on varied events (on vegetarian) and she is top notch and affordable.

Whenever we get around to it, she's going to cater our wedding!

[Staci Valentine]

Jennie, you rock and you will continue to inspire where ever your heart sets sail. Continued success always. Hope to see you for some fruit and veggie picking in the near future!

[Judy Prather]

The greed has taken over the world! More power to you Jennie for getting out and only doing your catering business. You catered our daughter and son-in-law's(Michelle and Dan) wedding reception - and YOU R THE BEST!

Keep smiling and enjoy life more.

[Kathleen Murphy]

Touche, Jennie!!!!!
So wonderful that you will be HERE on the east side with friends and family, bringing us all together and back to the good earth.
It is truly CC's loss and our gain!!!

[Doug Cost]

You have only a few days to enjoy the best cooking in Los Angeles at the Double Dutch. The catering business will of course continue to flourish but you will be missed in Culver City. This is a good move though. You have an amazing family and so many interesting side projects that you will be just as busy. You are simply diversifying the portfolio. I love the Cooks unabashedly. Keep eating. Jennie Cooks making dishes come true.

[Chef Scott Bassin]

I'm thrilled and delighted that she is moving onward and upward. Moreover I'm really excited she is moving closer to where my wife & I live. Now I can enjoy her famous Brisket, without the two hour drive from the Crescenta Valley to Culver City. Just the lack of commute time will make Jennie happier...(If that's even possiable). Congrat's Jennie, here is hoping that you make ton's of money.

[Lunch goer]

I humbly predict that this is the "Westwooding" of Culver City. Remember how popular Westwood was in the 90s? And remember how expensive and trendy it got? And remember how it was all about fast cars and bling? And remember how it died in a fiery crash (almost literally)? Well, we're off to the races again here in Culver City.

What was once a great little oasis is about to become a mecca for the trendy. I saw it last week at Rush St., the new meat market in Culver City (VALET PARKING?? FULL PARKING LOTS?).

I also wonder how much Mr.Byers' involvement as Treasurer of the Culver City Downtown Development Association is swaying the outcome of this unfortunate affair. Interesting that this is not part of the article.

Who do we lose next? S&W? Too bad Southern Californian's have no sense of taste or tradition.

Good luck, Jennie, whatever it was you were doing in CC, it sure tasted good.

[Ellen Hilburn]

Skyrocketing rent in a horrible economy makes no sense. Landlords should be happy to have a stable renter. It all comes down to greed. Good luck in your new location, Jennie! Continued success.

[CC Business]

We too have a business near Jennie's and while the main emphasis of Culver City Business is downtown, other businesses off of Washington are dealing with break-ins and glass tagging and still expecting rents to go higher because of the downtown area. While rents go higher there is little money for external improvement to make the area even more attractive, and in this economy more and more businesses are closing. The last writers strike hurt many businesses in the area being so dependant on the Studios nearby Jennies is not the first catering business off of Wasington to close this year. We all hope to find a happy medium with everyone. Businesses mean jobs and even more successful businesses mean even more jobs.

[Terry Mason]

Jennie, we'll miss you in Culver City! Always been the best food, the nicest staff, and the warmest environment. So grateful that you'll be catering on into the days and nights ahead, though -- you'll be hearing from us every chance we get!