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Business & Tech

Should Boystown Get Official City Designation?

Resident and business owner Larry Block wants to see area of Santa Monica Boulevard between Robertson and La Cienega officially recognized.

Should Boystown get an official designation, along the lines of Koreatown or Little Ethiopia? That’s what Larry Block thinks.

“It’s like there’s an invisible bubble [along Santa Monica Boulevard] between Robertson and La Cienega,” said Block, a resident of West Hollywood since 1987. “They should officially designate it, put up signs announcing: ‘Welcome to Boystown.’”

Block has been talking about this idea amongst friends for a while, but went public with his desire during the public comment time at Monday’s City Council meeting. In the 24 hours since he made those comments, he said he has received nothing but praise for his idea.

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“Boystown is as a part of the city, just like the Sunset Strip,” said Block, who owns the clothing store located in the old A Different Light bookstore building. “We need to acknowledge that.”

Block points out that Los Angeles has areas named for the ethnic populations living in areas like Thai Town and Little Ethiopia. He wonders why West Hollywood has not followed suit for its gay population.

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“It will attract our culture,” he said. “Let people know we belong here. It’s about the preservation of the core of what put West Hollywood on the map.”

Block acknowledges this is also an effort to stave off the ever encroaching gentrification and increasing straight presence seen in Boystown.

“The day that goes straight, the day that goes straight, that’ll be the end of Boystown,” Block fears. “We need to protect Boystown while it’s still here.”

Block hopes the city will create a Boystown business improvement district similar to the Sunset Strip business improvement district or The Avenues fashion, art and design district along Robertson and Melrose. “It’ll help all the Boystown businesses work together,” Block said.

Along those lines, he also wants to see Boystown marketed as a brand. “The city is missing an opportunity,” he said, noting that he will soon have Boystown t-shirts and flip-flops for sale in his store. “This is a place where gay was born. It’s a gay city. Why aren’t we marketing that to the world, letting everyone know?”

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