October 28, 2004 04:42 PM US Eastern Timezone

After 84 Years of Rock Solid Patronage in West Hollywood, Barney's Beanery Opens Its Doors on Third Street Promenade

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 28, 2004--

Barney's Beanery, the third oldest restaurant in Los Angeles and legendary roadhouse/famed celebrity hangout, is christening a second site, just a little further "down Route 66," on Third Street in Santa Monica.

Couched in a four-star corner of the Santa Monica Promenade, Barney's Beanery-West is a near replica of the original Beanery's rowdy roadhouse atmosphere -- complete with road signs and movie mementos on the walls, loungy booths and a ceiling of battered old license plates. The food, as always, is pure American comfort, with breakfast served at all hours, world-famous burgers, pizza, burritos, and their claim to the fame, "The Second Best Chili in Los Angeles."

The original Barney's Beanery boasts a history to impress even the best of name-droppers. Remembered as the gathering place for early glamour days stars like Greta Garbo and Clark Gable, and later counterculture musicians like Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, the West Hollywood venue is still going strong with regulars like Drew Carey, Adam Sandler and Quentin Tarantino, and a whole slew of notables that reads like the current guest list for "The Tonight Show."

For those who pull up a chair, there is a mega menu of 700 items that defies the latest diet trends and refuses to change. "We're not concerned about dieting, carb counting and all that because this is where you go to get away from it all," said Houston. To quench thirsts, Barney's Beanery boasts a choice of close to 200 imported and domestic beers with 40 available on tap.

Because time does march on, however, the new venue has pumped up the amperage on user-friendly technology with nearly 100 television screens strategically placed throughout the eating area, bar and upstairs pool area, so that no one will miss "the catch," a slam dunk, or that amazing slide home. A colorful drop-lamped interior provides subdued lighting and is geared toward a very casual meal with friends and/or watching almost any kind of sport or event that satellites can beam in.

To break the place in, the doors did swing open a few weeks back at the newly finished restaurant and the customers have been pouring in. To date, weekends mean waiting lists and so far management has been happy to report that the restaurant's revenue has been 15% higher than projected.

Barney's Beanery gets its name from the original depression era road house in West Hollywood when the restaurant used to serve its mainstay -- beans -- to customers on Route 66 (now Santa Monica Blvd.).

Barney's Beanery-West is located at 1351 3rd Street, just off of Santa Monica Blvd. on the Promenade, 310-656-5777. The restaurant is open Monday through Friday 11:00 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Sat from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.; and Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Reservations are recommended for groups of 10 or more.