In 1992 I met Bill Clinton, had my first (legal) cocktail and was a regular at Kelbo’s enjoying Joey Cheezhee under the Coco Bowl. I also discovered the craziest, most wonderful coffee house called Motor On In, which opened twenty years ago today. I quickly became friends with owner Ginny Glass, who created the green and gold curlicued wonderland on a side street near Culver City. The pre-Starbucks coffee house invasion in Los Angeles was inspired by the original beatnik joints like Venice Beach’s Gas House and Pandora’s Box on the Sunset Strip, which were long gone by the grunge era. Motor On In burned brightly for a short time, but disappeared back into the ether like Jabberjaw, Pik Me Up, Café Onyx and so many others. Which were your favorites? Here are twelve survivors that still sport mismatched furniture, wacky art and sometimes even board games with missing pieces. A dozen chances to caffeinate yourself… ‘90s style.
212 Pier (Formerly Novel Café)
Catalina Coffee Company (Formerly Yesterdays)
