WeHo’s The Standard Hollywood Hotel Bids Farewell After 22 Years on The Sunset Strip

After over two decades, The Standard Hollywood Hotel, located at 8300 Sunset Boulevard, bids a fond farewell.

“It is with a heavy heart that we must announce the closure of The Standard Hollywood, which will shut its doors indefinitely on Friday, January 22nd,” Reads a statement on the hotel’s website and Instagram account. “Despite 22 years of unconditional love for our hotel, our guests, our team and our community, the hotel was unable to prevent a significant increase to its lease, which makes operating the property impossible.”

The quirky Standard Hollywood Hotel, opened on West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip in 1999. It was developed by Andre Balazs Properties. The structure was originally built in 1962 as the Thunderbird Motel. A lot of West Hollywood residents may remember when it was retirement home before Balazs purchased and remodeled it.

The hotel, famous for the upside down sign, offered a restaurant, bar, spa and it was home to several LGBT events and pool parties overlooking the city, hosted by WeHo personalities like Billy Francesca.

The hotel was also known for random and bizarre art. It was the kind of place where you’d find an attractive person laying in a glass box behind the registration desk, doing absolutely nothing, but looking beautiful. It was so West Hollywood.

“Alive with personality & personalities, and the backdrop of countless legendary tales, Hollywood was the birthplace of The Standard’s culture,” reads their farewell message. “It came to life through its timeless design, live music performances at Desert Nights, blue Astroturf pool scene, living art in ‘The Box,’ and the many late, hazy nights at our nightclub incarnations: Purple Lounge, Mmhmmm and Giorgio’s. While there are and will be more Standard hotels, there will never be another Standard, Hollywood. And though it is painful to say goodbye, we know that the community we inspired will live on.⁣⁣”

They website is asking its former guest to share memories on their Instagram account and and to DM photos of their time there. They plan to compile photos into a digital scrapbook, “to enjoy whenever you could use a little California sunshine. Thank you for everything. We are eternally grateful.”

The future of the space is not yet known as hotels remained shut down during Los Angeles County Stay at Home orders, to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Did you ever stay at the Standard Hotel? What are some of your favorite memories?