The 1920s vintage diner designed by Charles Amend served customers of all types for decades until subway construction and redevelopment changed the neighborhood surrounding its Chandler Boulevard location and the workers who were it's primary customers disappeared.For a short time in the late 90s, now retired restraunteur Ned Forman (who created Ned's on Magnolia, now recast as EAT) joined with the Hallenbeck family who turned an old office
building on Cahuenga into a historic recreation of an 1800s general store to restore and re-open the diner. For the same reason the previous owners couldn't make it go, the Hallenbecks and Forman had to shut down the restaurant.Phil's was located where NoHo Commons parking garage sits now. It was boarded up, placed on blocks and now sits on undeveloped land owned by the JH Snyder company over on Weddington Street next to the Television Academy.
Talk has been that Phil's could be part of the next phase of NoHo Commons which will include a movie theatre, additional retail, housing and office space. In the meantime those of us around long enough to remember Phil's hope it comes back. It would be a great touch to incorporate this piece of history into everything new and wonderful in NoHo.
