Schmitty’s, the neighborhood bar on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, has gone dark after the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control temporarily suspended its alcohol license. A notice taped to the front door calls for a 10-day suspension from April 16 through April 25. Owner Jay Krymis says the break will give him time to sort out the license issue and squeeze in a quick round of remodeling before swinging the doors open again.
State notice orders 10-day closure
According to WEHO TIMES, the posted "notice of suspension" cites a violation of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act and spells out the April 16–25 timeline for the temporary shutdown. With that notice in place, Schmitty’s at 8737 Santa Monica Boulevard had to halt service while the situation is resolved.
Owner blames pandemic-era fees; bar to get a facelift
Owner Jay Krymis told WEHO TIMES, “We’ve had some financial troubles since the COVID shutdown,” pointing to overdue state fees as the reason the license was suspended. On the bar’s Instagram account, Schmitty’s said it is using the downtime “to complete remodeling and upgrades,” listing new booth seating, more TVs, a new sound system, expanded draft beer service, guest Wi-Fi and a refreshed cocktail menu. The post adds that the bar expects to reopen during the week of April 26 (Schmitty’s Instagram).
Programming relocations and past enforcement
Regulars will not be entirely out of luck while the bar is on pause. Schmitty’s weekly karaoke, a staple for its crowd, is scheduled to run on Tuesdays at Mic’s Bar in Los Angeles until the home base on Santa Monica Boulevard is back in action. The current shutdown is the latest chapter in a series of licensing and collections issues tied to the business’s operations. As reported by the Long Beach Watchdog, related ventures and their owner have previously dealt with enforcement actions and collection holds, and the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control outlines how unpaid fees and tax holds can result in administrative suspensions (California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control).
What to expect
Fans of the neighborhood spot are being told the hiatus will be brief. Schmitty’s lists April 16–25 as the official suspension window and plans to reopen the following week once the licensing matter is settled and the upgrades are complete. We will be watching for any further word from ABC along with updates on the bar’s social channels as the planned reopening date approaches.
