Century-old LA store gets dramatic transformation amid community complaints

A beloved Los Angeles corner store has traded dusty shelves for designer vibes — and some longtime Venice residents say the makeover has stripped away a piece of neighborhood history.The century-old building at 1915 Penmar Ave., home to the neighborhood market since 1935, has reopened as Bodega & Palms after an extensive renovation that transformed the once-humble convenience store into a bright, boutique-style market stocked with artisanal eats.The revamped shop sits in the same historic building that housed generations of corner stores, most recently Mitchell’s Little Market, a neighborhood institution where locals stopped for everything from snacks and groceries to beer and wine.Over the decades, the market changed hands and names — first Jack’s, then Gilbert’s and eventually Mitchell’s.New owners Phil and Kaila Neuville moved to Venice in 2021 and purchased the market three years later after longtime owner Mr.Woo died.

They said they promised Woo’s family they would preserve the store’s legacy while giving it new life.After two years of renovations, the dark, roughly 800-square-foot market now features skylights, exposed ceilings and a fresh coat of paint.A new mural is also in the works honoring Woo and the store’s past, the message on the side of the building reads, “The little market since 1935.”“A small reminder of the history we get to continue,” the owners wrote on social media.California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story “We will also have a mural drawn of Mr.Woo and the original Mitchell’s and hang it in the new market,” they told YoVenice.The store officially reopened Wednesday, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner items from local vendors alongside specialty drinks and upscale grocery items.“We will also ...