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Southwest Mobile Storage - Best Mobile Storage & Office Containers In North Hollywood, CA

Southwest Mobile Storage is a family-owned shipping container business founded in 1995. Our strength for more than 25 years comes from the specialized knowledge and passion of our people, along with serving over 24,000 commercial, construction and residential customers. Our facility and expertise in maintaining, manufacturing, and delivering corrugated steel containers is unrivaled in the industry.

While the rental side of our business is regional with branches throughout the Southwest, our container sales and modification operations are nationwide and becoming global. North Hollywood, CA offers a wide selection of portable offices and mobile storage containers you can rent, buy or modify.

Our experts in container rental, sales and customization are committed to providing you the highest quality and best experience from service to delivery - our reputation depends on it.

Whether your need is for storage, office space, moving, multi-purpose or custom use, we've got your back. Here's how:

Storage Containers North Hollywood, CA
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NO MATTER YOUR NEED, WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK.

STORE AT YOUR LOCATION

We bring your storage container to you for convenient, easy access at your home, business or jobsite. Plus, you'll get more choice in storage space and better security, for a fraction of the cost of a pod or add on building, saving money and energy.

STORE AT OUR LOCATION

Not enough room to keep a storage container at your business, home or construction site? No problem - we can store it for you. Plus, you get 70% more space and better security, for a fraction of the cost of public storage units.

CUSTOM STORAGE

Need a permanent storage solution for your business, residence or construction? We sell new and used shipping containers in many sizes with a variety of add-ons. Or customize a container to your specific storage needs with our certified fabrication experts.

LOCAL MOVE

Take your time packing with our moving containers. We'll deliver to your business or home and pick it up whenever you're ready to move. So, you don't have to stress about moving or making multiple trips in one day, like if you rented a moving truck.

LONG-DISTANCE MOVE

Our moving container solutions ensure the long-distance move of your home or business is highly efficient and affordable throughout the southwest. In fact, we usually cost 20%-40% less than full-service movers.

MOVING & STORAGE

We understand move-in and move-out dates might be different. We can store your moving container at our highly secure facilities until you're ready to move to your new home or business location, and you can conveniently access it at any time.

OFFICE USE

Whether you need a workspace, conference room, or other office requirement, our ground-mounted mobile offices meet any and all of your business needs. Plus, it's faster and easier than building additions.

BUSINESS USE

If you need your shipping container to serve multiple uses, such as office-storage combos, breakrooms and even utilities, we've got you covered. We'll modify a custom container to fit your business needs and bring your business to the next level

CUSTOM USE

We'll create a custom container to fit your unique needs anywhere in the US. With our container modification expertise, we make any idea a reality. From pop-up stores to multi-story structures, our unrivaled facilities and fabrication experts do it all.

You'll get your own dedicated storage and container expert to serve as your one point of contact for easy, convenient service you can trust.
With our wide selection of intermodal containers for sale and rent, you'll find exactly what you need, from size, to type and condition.
We maintain our rental fleet to the highest standard - our integrity depends on it.
Our certified, experienced Conex container modification experts have more than 500 years combined experience modifying ISO containers.
All of our containers come with high security dual-locking system for no additional charge, so you can rest assured your stored items stay safe and that you don't have to pay extra for it.
icon-scale
At our unrivaled 90,000 sq ft indoor fabrication facility, ensuring your custom shipping container is made exactly to your specifications.
With our level of service, quality and expertise, you won't find a better value anywhere else.
Our portable offices include lighting and electrical outlets, internet hookups, HVAC and were crafted by our in-house steel container fabrication experts for top-quality construction.

Premium Quality - High Security

With Southwest Mobile Storage, you get much more than a POD or typical Conex box. You also get high security, unparalleled service and unmatched container modification expertise and facilities. No other company offers that much.

Shipping containers and storage containers come in a range of sizes. The most common external lengths are 20ft and 40ft with a width of 8ft. ISO Containers are typically 8ft 6in tall, but high cube containers are 9ft 6in tall. We also have steel containers in a variety of sizes from 10ft long to 45ft long to rent or buy, and we can modify shipping containers into any size you want.

 Rent Storage Containers North Hollywood, CA

SMS Mobile Storage Containers have these high quality features:

1/8" thick steel plate bottom side rails
High strength steel supporting cross members
1 1/8" thick hardwood floor with galvanized self-tapping screws
16-gauge corrugated steel walls
16-gauge roof
270-degree swing cargo door(s)
High security dual-locking system*
Spot-grinded, primed & repainted with a beige high-grade water reducible alkyd direct-to-metal enamel*
* Comes standard on all rental units

SMS portable workspace containers have these structural features:

High security window bars, lever & deadbolt set with lock box
Studs & R-19 Insulation covered with wood paneling
1 1/8" marine board floor is covered with a durable single part gray epoxy coating
Dual pane low-E horizontal sliding windows with screens and miniblinds
18 Gauge steel polystyrene core 3-hour fire rated personnel door
All of our workspaces are manufactured in-house and arrive new or restored to factory specifications
Exterior load center operating on 100 Amp single phase 230 Volt power
Light switch, receptacles and 4' light fixtures; all wiring is Romex 12/2
CAT-6 voice and data lines with electrical junction box
HVAC units ranging from 1 ton to 2 ton on rentals; ability to customize up to 10 tons of cooling

Having flexible storage containers options is important, but security is crucial to protect your peace of mind and your possessions.

At Southwest Mobile Storage, we don't believe in leaving things to chance. We want you to rest easy knowing your inventory, documents, tools, equipment and other items are safe 24/7. That is why we equip SMS high-security slide bolt locking systems and lockboxes on our entire fleet of rental freight containers.

EVERY ONE OF OUR MOBILE STORAGE CONTAINERS FOR RENT IN North Hollywood, CA, INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING SAFETY MEASURES:

High-security slide-bolt locking system and extra-long lock box, giving you twice the security and peace of mind.
No holes to ensure your rental shipping container is wind and water-tight.
No rust for your safety.
14-gauge corrugated steel for strength and reinforcement.

Contact us to speak with a helpful, friendly representative to better understand our full range of capabilities. We are happy to answer any questions you have, go over pricing and set up a time and place to deliver your Conex box. Our quotes are 100% free and you are under no obligation to pay for your consultation.

COMMERCIAL STORAGE CONTAINERS TO RENT, BUY OR MODIFY IN North Hollywood, CA

When you own a business or manage one, it's crucial to have efficient, affordable ways to store inventory and supplies, whether it's to grow your business or adapt to changes in the market, like the many caused by the pandemic.

Renting storage containers to keep at your business eliminates the cost and hassles of sending your staff to offsite storage facilities. Steel containers with roll up doors make storing and retrieving items faster and easier. Auto repair shops and other businesses that need easy access throughout the workday to secure storage for tools, parts, equipment or supplies find renting shipping containers to be the best solution for their business storage needs. Southwest Mobile Storage has your back.

 Storage Containers For Rent North Hollywood, CA

Renting portable offices gives your business more workspace, breakrooms, pop up stores, security booths and more, without the cost and red tape associated with constructing building additions. Plus, a steel storage container fits neatly into one parking space and provides much stronger security than Pods and way more convenience than self-storage units.

If you have a specific need, we can modify shipping containers to build whatever you need to grow your business. Whether it's a portable workspace to run your business, like a pop-up container bar, or a durable facility for scientific research, like a container laboratory, or even a container gym, our unrivaled fabrication facility and modification experts got you covered. Our full-time, in-house staff of certified welders, engineers, electricians, carpenters and painters have over 500 years combined experience modifying thousands of container projects for just about any business use you can imagine.

WHETHER YOUR BUSINESS IS COMMERCIAL, HEALTHCARE, GOVERNMENT OR EDUCATION, OR YOUR INTEREST IS TO RENT, BUY OR MODIFY SHIPPING CONTAINERS, SMS HAS YOU COVERED:

One
Offsite storage alternatives cause a mess of hassles and headaches. Expanding office space and storage capacity at your location saves time, money and hassle of making multiple trips offsite.
We offer more choice in security, size and features in steel Conex boxes or ISO shipping containers than a public storage unit or Pod for less cost and far greater service.
We offer flexible, month-to-month rental agreements and prorate by the day after your first 28-day billing cycle.
With us, you get a dedicated account manager you can rely on, so you can focus on running your business than waste time with a different person every time you call that doesn't know or care as much.
While other companies may have some staff for modifying containers, most outsource the work, so you don't know who is actually doing the modifications or how much they're marking up the price.
 Mobile Storage Containers North Hollywood, CA
When you modify a shipping container for your business, you won't have to worry about expensive, lengthy and complicated construction.
We have modified thousands of containers nationwide and internationally for more than 25 years for NASA, US Navy, GCP Applied Technologies, Helix and Sundt to name a few. And rent containers to Amazon, Walmart and many of other nationally recognized brands.
Our extensive staff makes it possible to custom build multiple projects simultaneously and our 90,000 sq ft indoor fabrication facility prevents contaminants from interfering with fabrication, which delivers better quality and precision.

HERE'S WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE US TO RENT, BUY OR MODIFY A SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR YOUR HOME:

With an extensive in-house staff and 90,000 sq ft container modification facility, we're able to deliver consistently high quality and work on multiple projects simultaneously for a fast turnaround.

Other companies don't have the facility, staff or resources to modify shipping containers and will outsource the work to various shops who may not have the special experience or tools needed to modify the right way.

You can rest assured knowing your custom container is safe in our hands. Our certified weld and quality control inspectors ensure everything is structurally sound and built to your specifications through every step of the process.

Renting a moving container from us makes your move much less stressful because you won't have to rush to pack your whole house into a moving truck in one day. Instead, you can take your time packing over the course of a month.

Our ISO shipping containers are weatherproof and come with vault-like security, so you don't have to worry about theft or damage to your belongings.

You won't get that level of security from U-Haul or other moving truck companies.

Renting a storage container at your home keeps your belongings close and gives you convenient 24/7 access, so you're always able to retrieve the contents of your container when you need to.

We know move in and move out dates don't always line up. We can store your packed rental container at our secure facility until your new home is ready.

With our mobile storage containers for rent in North Hollywood, CA, you can save up to 40% when compared to full-service long-distance movers, while gaining more flexibility in your schedule.

MOBILE STORAGE CONTAINERS & PORTABLE OFFICES TO RENT, BUY OR MODIFY IN North Hollywood, CA

We know your needs may change suddenly. With our extensive inventory and variety of sizes of portable offices and shipping containers to rent, buy or modify in North Hollywood, CA, we provide fast service and the best value possible so it's easy for you to get whatever you need when you need it.

Renting storage containers and portable offices from us gives you more flexibility when it comes to your schedule and options. If you don't have enough space at your current location or simply would prefer offsite storage, you can keep your rental storage and office containers at your location or ours - whichever is most convenient for you. You also get more options to choose from when it comes to size and features, like portable offices with divided rooms for private meetings or office/storage combos for storage and office space in one container. All while costing a fraction of the price of a pod or self-storage facility.

You can also buy new or used freight containers from us and choose from a variety of add-ons, including lights, electricity, doors and windows. Or fully customize a shipping container to save time, money and energy by skipping the expensive, lengthy process of constructing building additions. We can modify a Conex box into whatever you can imagine for any use you need, from construction tool cribs to office buildings, monitoring stations, mobile communication towers and much more. The possibilities are endless.

HERE'S HOW WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK:

You'll never face hidden fees or surprises with us. We give you transparent billing up front at the best prices.

With us, you get a reliable, dedicated point of contact, who keeps you updated every step of the way. You can rest assured knowing you'll always get what you need, when you need it.

No other company has the breadth and depth of staff and experience that we do when it comes to modifying shipping containers. Our certified welders, engineers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters and painters have more than 500 years of combined experience in fabricating custom steel containers.

We prorate your rent by the day after the first 28-day billing cycle, so you don't have to pay for a full month when you only have your mobile containers and offices for a few days.

While other companies may be able to do small container modifications, most don't have an in-house fabrication staff or 90,000 sq ft fabrication facility like we do. As a result, they outsource the work on your custom container, so you don't know who's actually building it.

Rest assured knowing your modified shipping container will be built to the highest quality standards. Our certified weld and quality control inspectors check every step of the fabrication process to ensure everything is structurally sound and built to your specifications.

HOW RENTING A STORAGE CONTAINER AND MOBILE OFFICE WORKS

Whether you're in need of a storage container for your commercial business, a portable office for your construction site, or a moving container for your home, our process is simple and straightforward.

Choose Your Container

Choose the mobile storage solution that works best for your needs. In this step, you will let us know the number of containers you need, their sizes and what types of doors to equip.

Choose Your Options

Let us know if you would like to add any of our rental options, like a folding table or shelving.

Choose Your Security

Choose from padlocks, puck locks and other enhanced security options. All of our storage containers come standard with dual-locking, vault-like security.

Choose Your Delivery Timeframe

You can expect standard delivery within 3-5 days of your order. If you need expedited delivery, we will do everything in our power to accommodate your needs.

Pick-Up Planning

Do you need to keep your shipping container at our location? Prefer to have our team deliver your packed container to a location of your choice? Let us know, and we'll be by your side to work out the logistics.

HOW RENTING A STORAGE CONTAINER AND MOBILE OFFICE WORKS

1

DETERMINE DESTINATION

Let our team know where we should deliver your mobile storage container for rent in North Hollywood, CA. Be sure to let us know if there are any special conditions that might prevent our drivers from entering your chosen destination. Before you schedule your delivery, let us know which direction you would like the doors of your container to face.

2

SCHEDULE DATE & TIME

Our drivers can deliver your storage container Monday-Friday, between the hours of 6AM and 2PM local time. Our two-hour delivery window is the most precise in the industry. If you desire another delivery time outside of our standard delivery options, we will do our best to accommodate your needs. As a courtesy, our driver will call you at least 30 minutes before they arrive at your drop-off destination.

3

PREPARE FOR YOUR MOBILE STORAGE CONTAINER DELIVERY

Before we deliver your Conex box, prepare your delivery area by ensuring that there are no low overhangs, arches, wires, trees or any other obstacles that could interfere with your delivery. It's a good idea to mark the space where you would like your steel container placed.

4

DELIVERY & SETUP

When our driver arrives, they will back our truck into the space where you would like your shipping container placed. Once we arrive, we will ensure that your container is delivered safely and securely. If placed on asphalt or pavement, we will use wood dunnage pads to make sure your ground surface is protected and the container is level.

HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MOBILE CONTAINERS TO Rent, Buy OR Modify IN North Hollywood, CA?

Check out our FAQ page or reach out to our helpful customer service team today @

909.948.7700

Latest News in North Hollywood, CA

Halloween 101: How To Avoid Becoming The Haunted House Of North Hollywood-Toluca Lake

This post is sponsored and contributed by Thumbtack, a Patch Brand Partner.Seasonal & HolidaysTaking care of your home can be scary! Tackle those household demons with professional help this fall.The arrival of fall not only marks a change in season, but also reminds us of spine-chilling spider webs, ghoulish decor, and the thrill of Halloween. While many of us like our homes to be festively scary this time of year, w...

This post is sponsored and contributed by Thumbtack, a Patch Brand Partner.

Seasonal & Holidays

Taking care of your home can be scary! Tackle those household demons with professional help this fall.

The arrival of fall not only marks a change in season, but also reminds us of spine-chilling spider webs, ghoulish decor, and the thrill of Halloween. While many of us like our homes to be festively scary this time of year, we certainly don’t want it to give our neighbors the creeps year-round. Fortunately, Thumbtack, a home services app used by millions, has North Hollywood-Toluca Lake residents covered.

Burst water pipes, the dryer that shakes, and creaks in the floorboards are household woes that can turn up the scary factor in your home. But with a reliable partner like Thumbtack, these house horrors can be handled — no exorcist required!

Thumbtack connects homeowners with local professionals who can fix malfunctioning appliances, tame unruly landscaping, and repair structural troubles that haunt your everyday life. Whether you're looking for a one-time home improvement project or regular lawn maintenance services, Thumbtack makes it simple to search for and hire a professional who caters to your specific needs.

The North Hollywood-Toluca Lake community has plenty of pros ready to handle the horror and help with:

You can contact pros and request free cost estimates, allowing you to compare prices and choose the professional that best fits your budget. You can also read reviews, view how many times a business has been hired by others, and identify how long a business has been open.

Find out what's happening in North Hollywood-Toluca Lakewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Remember: It may be Halloween, but that doesn’t mean your home has to be scary! With regular, proactive maintenance, Thumbtack can help you continuously care for your home so it’s in perfect shape all year long.

Caring for your home can be scary! Find and hire top-rated North Hollywood-Toluca Lake area pros to tackle even the most haunting of home projects.

This post is sponsored and contributed by Thumbtack, a Patch Brand Partner.

LA snow dusts Hollywood sign as winter storm tightens grip

By Max MatzaBBC News, SeattleSnowflakes have been falling in Los Angeles, including around its iconic Hollywood sign, as a winter storm tightens its icy grip on southern California this weekend.San Francisco broke a 132-year record low temperature, dipping to 39F (4C) on Friday morning.Tens of millions of residents in the Golden State are under blizzard, wind and flood warnings.The storms have blacked out nearly a million properties from coast to coast.The West Coast's main motorway, Interstat...

By Max Matza

BBC News, Seattle

Snowflakes have been falling in Los Angeles, including around its iconic Hollywood sign, as a winter storm tightens its icy grip on southern California this weekend.

San Francisco broke a 132-year record low temperature, dipping to 39F (4C) on Friday morning.

Tens of millions of residents in the Golden State are under blizzard, wind and flood warnings.

The storms have blacked out nearly a million properties from coast to coast.

The West Coast's main motorway, Interstate 5, was partially closed south of the Oregon border.

Los Angeles - a city famed for its palm trees and sun-kissed boulevards - is under its first blizzard warning in more than three decades.

On Friday people in the city marvelled at the unfamiliar sight of a snow flurry around the Hollywood sign on Mount Lee.

But elsewhere in Los Angeles, flooding trapped cars in North Hollywood, and officials warned of widespread flooding in neighbourhoods throughout the surrounding county.

The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that "significant mountain snows are likely Friday night into early Saturday, with major impacts to travel and infrastructure.

"Downed trees and power lines are possible. Lower elevations may experience significant snowfall over areas where snow is unusual."

The NWS warned swimmers on the state's world-famous beaches to beware of "strong rip currents and high surf".

Mountain communities can expect snowfall between 2ft and 7ft (60cm and 2.1m). Avalanche warnings have been posted in some areas.

Some weather forecasters around Los Angeles witnessed thunder snow, reports the LA Times.

The rare phenomenon - combining lightning and blizzards - sometimes accompanies intense winter storms.

Other parts of California that will see a rare blanketing of snow include the Mojave Desert, the Santa Clarita Valley and the Inland Empire.

Earlier in the week, the storm dumped snow farther north along the West Coast, including in the city of Portland, Oregon, which saw one of its snowiest days on record.

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Metro-adjacent development slated for 5519 N Elmer Avenue in North Hollywood

A block from Metro's North Hollywood Station, a roughly 109-year-old residential building is poised to make way for multifamily housing, according to an application submitted this month to the L.A. Department of City Planning.Dariyoush Kohanof of Elmer 26, LLC, the applicant behind the proposed project at 5519 N. Elmer Avenue, is seeking entitlements for the construction of a new six-story building featuring 44 studio and on...

A block from Metro's North Hollywood Station, a roughly 109-year-old residential building is poised to make way for multifamily housing, according to an application submitted this month to the L.A. Department of City Planning.

Dariyoush Kohanof of Elmer 26, LLC, the applicant behind the proposed project at 5519 N. Elmer Avenue, is seeking entitlements for the construction of a new six-story building featuring 44 studio and one-bedroom apartments above semi-subterranean parking for 28 vehicles.

California Development & Design, Inc.

The proposed project will require the approval of Transit Oriented Communities incentives permitting a larger building than otherwise required by zoning rules. In exchange, 5 of the new apartments would be set aside for rent as affordable housing at the extremely low-income level.

California Development & Design is designing 5519 Elmer, which is portrayed in a series of renderings a contemporary low-rise structure capped by a rooftop amenity deck. The project is nearly identical in concept to the firm's numerous other projects within the City of Los Angeles.

Google Maps

The new project is one of a handful now in the works surrounding North Hollywood Station, including a 127-unit mixed-use project from Richman Group which is now wrapping up work and a proposed 128-unit complex from Grubb Properties.

Those infill projects serve as a prelude to a larger multi-phase development planned for the adjacent subway station's park-and-ride lot, where Trammell Crow Company intends to spend $1 billion to construct high-rise housing, office space, and retail.

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The Laemmle NoHo 7 theater in North Hollywood is up for redevelopment, according to an application submitted last week to the Los Angeles Department of City Planning.

Grubb Properties, a North Carolina-based real estate development firm which acquired the property at 5240 Lankershim Boulevard for $9.5 million in May 2021, is seeking approvals to raze the existing theater building, clearing the way for the construction of a new seven-story building featuring 128 rental apartments above 5,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space and semi-subterranean parking for 71 vehicles.

Grubb Properties

The developer's entitlement application relies on Transit Oriented Communities incentives to permit a structure that is larger than otherwise permitted by zoning regulations. In exchange, 13 of the proposed apartments would be set aside for rent as affordable housing at the extremely low-income level.

Urban Architecture Lab and MJS Design Group lead the design team for the project, which is called the Link Apartments NoHo.

According to an informational brochure created by Grubb Properties, the company expects to spend $68.1 million on the North Hollywood project, or roughly $582,000 per unit.

Completion is expected in 2025, per the brochure, which also indicates that Grubb Properties is working to secure Chipotle as an anchor tenant for the ground-floor retail space.

Google Maps

The project is one of a number of new mixed-use developments in the works surrounding North Hollywood Station, which serves as a terminus for both the G Line busway and the B Line subway. Construction is already in progress for a 127-unit development from Richman Group adjacent to the transit hub, and a $1-billion high-rise complex is slated to replace the station's surface parking lots in the near term future.

Grubb Properties is planning several similar projects in the City of Los Angeles, including one development already in entitlements at 950 S. Berendo Street in Koreatown.

When to Schedule Garage Door Tune-Ups

This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.North Hollywood-Toluca Lake, CALocal ClassifiedAnnouncementALL Garage Doors and Gates, NeighborYour garage door is more than just an entryway to your home; it's a crucial element of safety and security. However, like any mechanical system...

This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

North Hollywood-Toluca Lake, CALocal ClassifiedAnnouncement

ALL Garage Doors and Gates, Neighbor

Your garage door is more than just an entryway to your home; it's a crucial element of safety and security. However, like any mechanical system, it requires regular maintenance to function at its best. Garage door inspections and tune-ups are essential to ensure that your garage door operates smoothly and efficiently, providing you with peace of mind. In this article, we will explore when to schedule garage door tune-ups to keep your garage door in top-notch condition.

The Importance of Regular Garage Door Inspections

Your garage doors perform a tough job, opening and closing multiple times a day, often with heavy loads. With time, parts can wear out, and components may become misaligned. Regular inspections are essential to identify any issues before they turn into major problems, potentially leading to expensive repairs or even safety hazards.

Signs Your Garage Door Needs a Tune-Up

A well-maintained garage door should operate smoothly and quietly. If you notice any of the following signs, it's time to schedule a tune-up:

Seasonal Garage Door Inspections

It's wise to schedule seasonal inspections to keep your garage door functioning optimally throughout the year. Consider these timings for your tune-ups:

Professional Inspection vs. DIY

While there are some basic maintenance tasks homeowners can perform, such as lubricating moving parts and cleaning the tracks, a professional garage door inspection is essential for a comprehensive evaluation. Garage door technicians have the expertise and tools to identify hidden issues and perform the necessary adjustments or repairs.

Benefits of Regular Tune-Ups

Investing in regular garage door tune-ups offers numerous benefits:

Conclusion

Your garage door is a vital part of your home, providing convenience, security, and protection for your belongings. Don't wait for problems to arise; schedule regular garage door inspections and tune-ups to keep it functioning flawlessly. Remember, a well-maintained garage door adds value to your property and ensures the safety of your loved ones.

ALL Garage Doors and Gates

12740 Oxnard St unit 105, North Hollywood, CA 91606, United States

(747) 261-0570

West Hollywood will have the nation’s highest minimum wage. Business owners are not happy

Thanks to a bump in his pay last summer, Norberto Ruiz was able to afford a $150 air conditioner to keep his family’s two-bedroom home in North Hollywood from feeling like a furnace when temperatures soared.The Honduran immigrant, who works at a liquor store in West Hollywood, saw his hourly pay jump by $1 to $16. For the first time, the 53-year-old, his wife, two daughters and in-laws could enjoy the simple pleasure of a slightly chilled living room, due chiefly to a small pay raise.“I don’t think people unde...

Thanks to a bump in his pay last summer, Norberto Ruiz was able to afford a $150 air conditioner to keep his family’s two-bedroom home in North Hollywood from feeling like a furnace when temperatures soared.

The Honduran immigrant, who works at a liquor store in West Hollywood, saw his hourly pay jump by $1 to $16. For the first time, the 53-year-old, his wife, two daughters and in-laws could enjoy the simple pleasure of a slightly chilled living room, due chiefly to a small pay raise.

“I don’t think people understand how much an extra dollar or two can change people’s lives,” Ruiz said. “We’ll never be a rich family, but at least we can be happy.”

Ruiz and many low-wage workers will see another increase Saturday, when West Hollywood will officially have the highest minimum wage in the nation: $19.08 an hour. That puts the city of 35,000 people ahead of Seattle, San Francisco and Denver.

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The increase comes at a time of rising rent, gas prices and inflation.

Employers facing financial hardships can apply for a one-year delay via a waiver with the city. Still, many small-business owners in West Hollywood are speaking out against the higher wage, saying they are reaching a breaking point and need relief to avoid closing.

“These pay increases are about superficiality and about opportunistic politicians who are just trying to make a name for themselves,” said West Hollywood restaurateur Lucian Tudor, a Romanian immigrant. “They don’t make any sense for small businesses who were never consulted. If we go out of business, that means workers will lose their jobs too.”

Tudor is the chief executive of La Boheme, a French and Japanese upscale restaurant on Santa Monica Boulevard that relied on an expanded outdoor seating area to survive the COVID-19 lockdowns, when many other businesses were forced to close.

But the challenge brought by the pandemic, he said, doesn’t compare to his current financial headaches. Tudor said his business lost $100,000 in the first fiscal quarter this year, after the city in January implemented a $1 minimum wage increase for medium to large businesses, bringing it to $17.50 an hour.

He has cut his staff from 120 to 80 over the last 12 months and slashed 1,000 working hours in an attempt to trim expenditures.

Tudor, 36, said his business is “not a failure.” La Boheme averages sales of $600,000 a month, according to Tudor, and hosts 400 people for brunch and 400 for dinner on Saturdays, the busiest day.

Instead of an across-the-board raise in minimum wages, he would favor New York City’s wage policy. There, food service workers must make $15 an hour, but up to $5 can be made from tips, meaning owners can pay as little as $10 an hour.

Tudor said members of his staff easily clear $400 in tips a night and don’t need the same pay increase as hotel workers and others in the city.

Brett Latteri, 44, owner of the Den on Sunset, agrees with Tudor. Latteri said the staff at the bar and restaurant is down to 22 from 30, and the latest increase isn’t “just a few thousand dollars.”

“You can be laying out hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in extra payroll,” Latteri said. “It’s not just strictly wages.”

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The City Council’s wage increase in 2021 included a stipulation that restaurants provide a minimum of 12 days of paid personal leave time and 10 additional days of unpaid time, he said.

“Many employees are seasonal workers in this industry and now, whenever they quit, let’s say in six months, we’re going to have to pay for vacation every year,” Latteri said.

Part-time employees are provided leave on a pro-rata basis, according to Laura Biery, economic development director for West Hollywood.

Genevieve Morrill, chief executive of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, said businesses are too easily seen as villains.

“We believe in a living wage for all employees,” she said, “but we also need to correct the false narrative of how successful small businesses are doing.”

Councilmember John Heilman said the council is not likely to reconsider the wage increase soon but is willing to help small businesses in other ways, such as beefing up security. The city voted in May to fund four new sheriff’s positions after cutting funding a year earlier.

Some West Hollywood residents applaud the City Council’s action as progressive.

Resident Jorge Zeparak, 52, works at the Beverly Hills Hotel as a daytime room service server. He and thousands of Southern California hotel workers are planning to strike Saturday as their contracts expire.

He said many of his friends who work at hotels in West Hollywood have seen their livelihoods improve over the last few years due to salary increases.

“The minimum wage has been life-changing for workers in our city,” texted Zeparak, a native of Peru. “The reality is that hotel companies are making record profits while workers are barely getting by.”

Experts differ on what constitutes a living wage. The Economic Policy Institute estimates that an individual needs to make $49,000 a year to live in metropolitan Los Angeles. MIT’s living wage calculator lists an average for one childless adult at $21.53 an hour. A recent federal report said workers “earning the federal or prevailing state or local minimum wage” cannot afford a modest two-bedroom rental home at fair market rent anywhere in the United States.

Ellen Scott, a professor of sociology at the University of Oregon, said paying a living wage isn’t just an altruistic pursuit. She argued that the vast majority of increased wages are redistributed to the local economy.

“Utilities and rent are being paid in a more timely manner, and clothing that workers couldn’t afford for their kids is being purchased,” Scott said. “That’s also groceries now being purchased, and potentially the occasional luxury of going out with one’s family.”

L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who served as a West Hollywood councilmember in 2021, said she was delighted by both the wage increase and the paid time off.

“I’m very proud that we are looking for ways to ensure that people’s mental and physical well-being is protected in their jobs,” she said. “That we are not saying that people have to choose between being able to afford rent and taking time off to care for themselves or a loved one.”

Horvath, whose district includes much of the Westside and San Fernando Valley, said she understands that some small businesses are struggling. But she views the policies in West Hollywood as aspirational for other cities.

“That’s why you see communities like West Hollywood stepping up and saying, ‘We have to do better,’” she said, “not just in our talk, but in the actions and in the laws that we pass, and that was what was intended with this policy.”

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