Business

December 8, 2011

Kosher Club to close its doors after 30 years

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax

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Kosher Club, a warehouse-style kosher market on Pico Boulevard, near La Brea Avenue, will close its doors on Friday, a victim of the competitive kosher retail industry in Los Angeles.

“After 30 years in business, the Kosher Club has decided to close its retail operation,” management wrote in an email sent to customers Wednesday. “As many of you know, we have struggled these last few years, and we decided to make a change.”

Owner Daryl Schwartz was not available for comment Thursday morning, but customers and employees at the market said they were saddened but not shocked to hear the news.

Kosher Club lies proximate to, but not within, the heavily Orthodox neighborhoods of Pico-Robertson and Beverly-La Brea. While loyalists insisted the easy parking and friendly service were worth the drive – less than 10 minutes from both neighborhoods – most customers preferred to patronize markets closer to their homes, which have proliferated in recent years.

Additionally, some customers agreed that prices at Kosher Club were slightly higher than at kosher markets on Pico, most of which also offered a lusher produce section than Kosher Club.

This week, prices for all merchandise (except the meat) were marked 30 percent off to clear the shelves, which by Thursday morning were mostly empty. A Chanukah display held only a few remaining puzzles and some chocolate. The bakery shelf offered some day-old loaves of bread and bags of pita. The meat case – renowned among kosher connoisseurs—sat nearly empty, opposite shelves with a jarringly sparse selection of wines.

Loyal customers, many of whom found out about the closing when they showed up to shop on Thursday, were distressed by the closing.

“I come here once a month from South Bay to do all my shopping. I’m just devastated. Where will I go now?” asked one customer, who identified herself as M. Averch.

“This is home to me,” said Baruch Littman, a long-time customer and friend of the owners. “When I leave my house to go to a kosher market, I have never gone anywhere but here. Never. They have the best meat case in the entire city. Rosie is the best butcher in the entire city.”

Littman, vice president of development at the Jewish Community Foundation, said when he opened a restaurant in 1981, Mickey Schwartz, father of owner Daryl Schwartz, was the only one to extend him credit. Schwartz and a partner owned West Pico Foods, Inc., a distribution company. When they sold the company, Schwartz opened Kosher Club at the property in 1987.

Kosher club was early to develop online shopping and home delivery, but that wasn’t enough to compete with stores farther west on Pico Boulevard. Three large kosher markets and a handful of smaller ones do a brisk business on the stretch of Pico between La Cienega Boulevard and Roxbury Drive.

Angel Soto, who has worked for the Schwartzes for 30 years, most recently driving the home-delivery truck, witnessed the volume of customers at other kosher markets, and said he was concerned about Kosher Club.

Soto, along with about a dozen other employees, were told of the closing this week. Soto said customers have already offered him jobs, so he’s not worried about himself.

Averch, from South Bay, stood talking to other customers, extolling the service and products at Kosher Club, and wondering where she would shop now.

“And,” she added, looking at the newspaper rack near the register, “now where am I going to find my Jewish Journal?”

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The Kosher Club was the our first kosher market of choice when we decided to keep a Kosher home.  I am indeed saddened that the Club is closing.  I have seen several markets open to the west, closer to Robertson.  Even Trader’s Joe in competing in the market now and one will shop where is more convenient and less expensive.  The Kosher market food industry has become very competitive Los Angeles.

Comment by Aaron on 12/08/11 at 4:08 pm

That’s too bad. It was a good place to shop.

I’m not sure as to the prices of the other places along Pico Blvd. but for those living in the Valley, there’s Cambridge Farms in Valley Village. Their prices seem to be in line with other Kosher places, and they have a good variety. However, for me, MOST cashiers lack common courtesy and friendliness, but if you don’t mind that…... and for the person who wondered where she’ll pick up the Jewish Journal, they have it there!!

There is also COSTCO, which carries quite a nice amount of Kosher Foods, especially close to the holidays, with GREAT prices.

Comment by bill on 12/08/11 at 8:34 pm

Perhaps the owners want to take a look at an auction coming up for the Heavenly Fresh Market Place in West Hills.  This Israeli market closed in August and the neighbourhood is in dire need of a kosher store! No competition within miles!

Comment by Frederique on 12/09/11 at 11:08 am

This may be an indicator of stable or declining numbers Jewish kosher consumers, primary Orthodox and Conservative Jews.

Without adequate updated Jewish populations surveys, business owners are flying blind.  Whats to say that any of the above locational suggestions are more than anecdotes. Business owners should hesitate basing major investments solely upon anecdotes. Kosher Club was my closest store too.

Comment by Pini Herman on 12/10/11 at 10:52 am

So sad it’s closed. Best meat in town anywhere! Was well worth the drive.
Staff always friendly and helpful, store was always clean. Great wine selection.
Our family will miss it. Best of luck to you all.

Comment by Debra on 12/13/11 at 1:15 am

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