Schrager Brings in Gjusta and Gjelina Alumni for New West Hollywood Public Hotel

Ian Schrager is getting ready to flip the script on the Sunset Strip. This July, his Public hotel brand lands in West Hollywood with Public West Hollywood, a 137-room reinvention of the former Standard that promises minimalist interiors, a social lobby, and a rooftop geared for long summer nights. The property pairs Schrager’s stripped-down style with a locally minded food program powered by Venice restaurant veterans. When doors open this summer, guests and neighbors will find an all-day bakery-cafe, a day-to-night pool bar, and an open-air pool deck serving California coastal snacks.

Who's running the kitchens

Schrager developed the hotel’s food program with Shelley Armistead, the former CEO and partner of the Gjelina Group, and Nicky Pickup, the former head of Gjusta Bakery, while the operating team also includes Miles Shorey and Lucy Cogswell-Stewart, with Jess Arndt overseeing the beverage program, as reported by Eater LA. The lineup of outlets features Louis, an all-day bakery-café serving laminated pastries, bagels, and a smoked salmon plate; a Pool Bar that runs from crudo and a Comté-and-caramelized-onion burger to gelato sundaes; and a Pool Deck offering meze, salads, and sandwiches. Menus are described as leaning into California coastal flavors with options tailored to both hotel guests and casual walk-ins from the neighborhood.

Design, rooftop, and the Standard's legacy

The 137-key property was reimagined by Schrager alongside British architect John Pawson and includes a roughly 16,000-square-foot rooftop terrace, per Hospitality Design. Public West Hollywood takes over the Standard’s former Sunset Strip address, a location that closed in 2021, according to the Los Angeles Times. Schrager’s team is positioning the new hotel as both a destination for out-of-towners and a neighborhood hub for locals, with programming and daytime offerings designed to draw in nearby diners.

What it means for West Hollywood

The arrival of Public marks a notable moment for the Strip as operators and city officials wrestle with rising costs and a shifting dining landscape; West Hollywood rolled out a one-time restaurant grant earlier this year as many small businesses face tight margins. The opening also follows Schrager’s broader move to scale the Public brand via partnerships that industry coverage says will convert select properties under the Public flag, according to Hotel Dive. For residents, the hotel promises new daytime and evening dining options on the Sunset Strip while bringing an iconic building back to life with a fresh dose of high-design hospitality.