Dutton S Brentwood Books

There was an Irish wake Sunday with white wine instead of whiskey and an open microphone in lieu of a coffin at Dutton's bookstore in Brentwood. The business, long considered the ground floor of the city's literary scene, is scheduled to close April 30, but owner Doug Dutton held an early party Sunday to say goodbye to his loyal customers and staff.

There was an Irish wake Sunday with white wine instead of whiskey and an open microphone in lieu of a coffin at Dutton's bookstore in Brentwood. The business, long considered the ground floor of the city's literary scene, is scheduled to close April 30, but owner Doug Dutton held an early party Sunday to say goodbye to his loyal customers and staff.

Poetry is in the front hall. Music in the living room. Books on books in the dining room. Science under the piano in the family room. Classics are in the little wooden bookshelf with glass paneled doors, but only run through Aristotle before they spill over into the den. There are 4,000 books inside the house, 10,000 more in storage. Once, the pantry held cans and plates and no books. Now, the shelves are filled with pages.

To the cheers of Brentwood residents, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to grant landmark status to the San Vicente Boulevard building that houses Dutton's Brentwood Books and has served as a community gathering spot for decades. The designation was approved on a 14-0 vote and was unopposed by Charles T. Munger, the property's billionaire owner.

Billionaire Charles T. Munger said Thursday that he has scrapped plans to build 60 luxury condos on San Vicente Boulevard in favor of erecting a two-story retail complex that would retain Dutton's Brentwood Books in a new and improved space. "I was wrong," Munger said of his plans, made public in January, to build high-end residential units as part of a mixed-use development at the property just east of Bundy Drive.

Few employers can match the resource center that Doug Dutton provides for his workers: It's called Dutton's Brentwood Books. Imagine an entire bookstore at your disposal to help you figure out why the baby won't sleep through the night, what to expect when an elderly relative has a stroke or how to get your puppy to stop chewing your shoes. That's just one of the unusual perks for the 40 full-time and part-time employees of Dutton's, where in among the books dwell actual babies.

For the Dutton clan, well-respected fixtures of the Los Angeles bookselling world, the last year has been a series of unfortunate events. Dutton's Books and Art on Laurel Canyon Boulevard closed last spring after almost half a century when Davis Dutton left for Washington state. Then, at the end of 2006, Dutton's Beverly Hills shut its doors because of a disagreement over finances with the city, which had lured owner Doug Dutton, Davis Dutton's brother, to the site after a long courtship.

To the cheers of Brentwood residents, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to grant landmark status to the San Vicente Boulevard building that houses Dutton's Brentwood Books and has served as a community gathering spot for decades. The designation was approved on a 14-0 vote and was unopposed by Charles T. Munger, the property's billionaire owner.

With architectural photographer Julius Shulman helping to plead the case for the home of Dutton's Brentwood Books, the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission voted Thursday to consider declaring the complex a historic-cultural monument. Four commissioners voted to follow a staff recommendation that the building warranted further investigation as a well-preserved example of mid-20th century California modern architecture.

Re "No one wants this L.A. classic to end," Jan. 17 I am dismayed to read about the possible closing of Dutton's Brentwood Books. It is the only bookstore I can walk into and simply say, "I need something to read," and someone will help me find just the right thing. It is the only bookstore where I can order a book and receive a phone call within three days telling me it is in and will be held for me for two weeks. Charles T. Munger, a multimillionaire and partner of Warren E. Buffet, surely does not need to wipe out this important neighborhood literary gathering place and symbol of community.

A Los Angeles City Council panel voted 2-1 Tuesday to recommend landmark status for the San Vicente Boulevard building that houses Dutton's Brentwood Books. The recommendation, strongly opposed by billionaire Charles T. Munger, the property's owner, paves the way for a vote by the full council whether to name the structure the city's latest historic-cultural monument.

Billionaire Charles T. Munger said Thursday that he has scrapped plans to build 60 luxury condos on San Vicente Boulevard in favor of erecting a two-story retail complex that would retain Dutton's Brentwood Books in a new and improved space. "I was wrong," Munger said of his plans, made public in January, to build high-end residential units as part of a mixed-use development at the property just east of Bundy Drive.

With architectural photographer Julius Shulman helping to plead the case for the home of Dutton's Brentwood Books, the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission voted Thursday to consider declaring the complex a historic-cultural monument. Four commissioners voted to follow a staff recommendation that the building warranted further investigation as a well-preserved example of mid-20th century California modern architecture.

Re "No one wants this L.A. classic to end," Jan. 17 I am dismayed to read about the possible closing of Dutton's Brentwood Books. It is the only bookstore I can walk into and simply say, "I need something to read," and someone will help me find just the right thing. It is the only bookstore where I can order a book and receive a phone call within three days telling me it is in and will be held for me for two weeks. Charles T. Munger, a multimillionaire and partner of Warren E. Buffet, surely does not need to wipe out this important neighborhood literary gathering place and symbol of community.

For the Dutton clan, well-respected fixtures of the Los Angeles bookselling world, the last year has been a series of unfortunate events. Dutton's Books and Art on Laurel Canyon Boulevard closed last spring after almost half a century when Davis Dutton left for Washington state. Then, at the end of 2006, Dutton's Beverly Hills shut its doors because of a disagreement over finances with the city, which had lured owner Doug Dutton, Davis Dutton's brother, to the site after a long courtship.

Poetry is in the front hall. Music in the living room. Books on books in the dining room. Science under the piano in the family room. Classics are in the little wooden bookshelf with glass paneled doors, but only run through Aristotle before they spill over into the den. There are 4,000 books inside the house, 10,000 more in storage. Once, the pantry held cans and plates and no books. Now, the shelves are filled with pages.

A Los Angeles City Council panel voted 2-1 Tuesday to recommend landmark status for the San Vicente Boulevard building that houses Dutton's Brentwood Books. The recommendation, strongly opposed by billionaire Charles T. Munger, the property's owner, paves the way for a vote by the full council whether to name the structure the city's latest historic-cultural monument.

In most days you can find Yetive Moss behind the nonfiction counter at Dutton's Brentwood Books, perched on a metal stool, phone in one hand, pen in another, calling customers about special orders. She uses a voice that, despite her 92 years, is less grandmotherly than authoritative; soft-spoken and formal, it causes people to pay attention. Her daily uniform, if one can call it that, consists of plain slacks, blouse and sweater vest.

Few employers can match the resource center that Doug Dutton provides for his workers: It's called Dutton's Brentwood Books. Imagine an entire bookstore at your disposal to help you figure out why the baby won't sleep through the night, what to expect when an elderly relative has a stroke or how to get your puppy to stop chewing your shoes. That's just one of the unusual perks for the 40 full-time and part-time employees of Dutton's, where in among the books dwell actual babies.

In most days you can find Yetive Moss behind the nonfiction counter at Dutton's Brentwood Books, perched on a metal stool, phone in one hand, pen in another, calling customers about special orders. She uses a voice that, despite her 92 years, is less grandmotherly than authoritative; soft-spoken and formal, it causes people to pay attention. Her daily uniform, if one can call it that, consists of plain slacks, blouse and sweater vest.