Johnie’s Coffee Shop, a landmark diner in the Los Angeles area, has reopened its doors to the public after 26 years – but not as a restaurant.
The instantly recognizable restaurant with googie-style architecture ran as a diner off Wilshire and Fairfax from 1966 through 2000. Though it closed to the public 26 years ago, the building remained as a filming location and a community organizing space. Some of its most recognizable roles include The Big Lebowski and Sean Kingston’s “Beautiful Girls” music video.
Johnie’s was quietly restored just in time for the L.A. Metro extension down Wilshire Ave – and is now open as an art pop-up. Artist Gary Baseman opened his exhibition, Off The Menu, in mid-May 2026. The activation includes 40 original drawings created on menus of beloved L.A. restaurants.
“I was able to activate Johnie’s to have an exhibition to celebrate L.A. dining culture,” Baseman tells Secret Los Angeles, “and doing it through my art.”
If you want to stop by Johnie’s, go quickly! The installation concludes on Sunday, June 14, 2026. It’s open Thursday through Sunday, from 12 pm to 7 pm.
📍6101 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048
