08/14/2026
Much ado about nothing, apparently…
Via WEHO TIMES:
It turns out nothing is happening at the former French Market space...
The new round of activity at the long-vacant former French Market space in West Hollywood has come to an abrupt halt after the city ordered construction crews to stop work over unpermitted improvements to the building’s windows and facade.
The City of West Hollywood’s Code Compliance Division posted a Stop Work Order at the property at 7985 Santa Monica Blvd. dated Aug. 1. The notice states that work was being performed without the required permits and orders the owner and contractor to stop all work immediately.
The notice specifically cites “work to windows & facade” as the unpermitted work and identifies the violation as construction without a permit under the West Hollywood Municipal Code and Los Angeles County Building Code provisions.
A permit identified as BCOM26-0141 had not been issued, according to the notice, which states: “Stop all work until permit is issued.”
The shutdown comes just as the property appeared to be showing signs of life for the first time in years.
Last month, WEHO TIMES first reported that construction workers were seen removing plywood panels that had covered the patio area for years. Crews began installing new window panels around the patio, creating the impression that a long-awaited transformation of the space was finally underway.
One worker at the property told WEHO TIMES that crews were preparing the space for a restaurant but said he could not provide additional details.
But Jake Stevens, vice president of Faring, the real estate firm that owns the building, offered a different explanation.
Stevens said nothing was happening in the space in terms of a new restaurant and that Faring was simply cleaning up the property and making improvements to beautify the area.
Whatever the intended use, the city’s Stop Work Order makes clear that Faring and its contractors did not have the necessary permit in place for the work being performed.
For now, the improvements have come to a complete halt.
