Helms Design District

Ambitious Culver City Destination Helms Bakery Is Closing After Only 1 Year | Eater LA

"Set inside a historic Culver City building that housed a wholesale bakery from 1931 to 1969, this ambitious 14,000-square-foot daytime cafe, bakery, and shoppy-shop reopened on November 1, 2024 under chef Sang Yoon with executive chef Nanor Harboyan and head baker Jacob Fraijo, drawing crowds for impeccably laminated croissants at the coffee bar, sourdough country loaves nestled in wood baskets, and seasonal fruit tarts dotted with sliced figs and blueberries. From the back-corner deli counter, fried chicken emerged at 11 a.m., while a long refrigerated section held soft drinks, gimbap, and pints of Thrifty ice cream, and the center of the room displayed knick-knacks and other shelf-stable goods; heartier plates like pastrami sandwiches and chicken pot pie rounded out the menu. Conceived to bring back a beloved piece of Los Angeles history for Angelenos after nearly 12 years of delays, the Helms Bakery complex is now closing on December 14, 2025 amid the mounting challenges facing independent restaurants and shifting dining habits; a planned standalone restaurant, Dinette, has not come to fruition." - Rebecca Roland