WOODLAND HILLS, CA — Tinhorn Flats in Burbank remains closed after a battle with the city during the height of COVID-19. For Chicago Bears fans, this restaurant closure means they have lost their ‘Bears Bar’ in Los Angeles. These fans adopted Tinhorn Flats as their home years ago, and it became a place for transplants from the Chicagoland area to meet other people from ‘back home,’ watch games, and build relationships.
The city of Burbank puts barriers up in 2021 so the restaurant could no longer continue to open for business. (Photo Credit: A Martinez/LAist)
During the pandemic, the owner of Tinhorn Flats, Baret Lepejian, refused to close the restaurant when COVID restrictions for non-essential businesses were put in place. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health shut it down in early 2021 by revoking the establishment’s health permit. The Burbank City Council then revoked its conditional-use permit. A public nuisance suit was filed against the business by the county, seeking civil penalties.
Just last month, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Maureen Duffy-Lewis dismissed Lepejian’s countersuit.
“The spread of COVID-19 is a compelling interest and it is rational to make distinctions among businesses based on the risks of COVID transmission attendant to each business,” said Duffy-Lewis.
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The continued closure has affected these Chicago Bears fans, perhaps more than others in the community.
Most people realize Los Angeles is a city people from all over the world migrate to. Some choose it to pursue their dreams of ‘making it’ in the entertainment industry, and others simply move because of the sunny SoCal weather. It can be challenging for people to find others who have moved here from the same place they did. When they do, that sense of community can create strong bonds.
“This was my largest group of friends who I only saw 16 weeks in a row. Then we didn’t see each other for 36 weeks, and [when] we got back together again it was just like no time had passed at all,” said Robert McClinton, a longtime Tinhorn Flats customer.
Chicago Bears fans pose outside of Tinhorn Flats after a game on December 29, 2019. (Photo Credit: Jenilee Borek)
The establishment was a second home during every football season for many of these loyal supporters for years.
“I have been going to the Tinhorn Flats for 20 years, just as of last year. Big anniversary, couldn’t celebrate it, but 20 years,” said Louie Pradt.
Louie Pradt (center) celebrates with a group of Chicago Bears fans at Tinhorn Flats on December 16, 2018. (Photo Credit: Jenilee Borek)
Those who considered themselves veterans of Tinhorn even had a system of how they would bring new people into the mix.
“There were different zones in the bar, based upon where the [main] TV was. Right in front of the TV was called ‘downtown,’ so building off the Chicago theme, and you’d have to earn your way into ‘downtown,’” said McClinton. “Once you got a seat in ‘downtown,’ it became your seat. So, now [you] no longer have to worry about if [you’re] going to have a seat when [you] get there. Starting something like that at another bar is mind-boggling.”
Finding a new home and bringing some of the old traditions is exactly what these fans are attempting to do. Mrs. Robinson’s, in Toluca Lake, is the place these Bears diehards are trying to adopt as their football sanctuary.
The front of Mrs. Robinson’s Irish Pub in Toluca Lake, CA. (Photo Credit: DoLA)
There’s some Chicago history that ties into why this place was chosen.
“I was here for game seven of the World Series. So, that was a good memory. I figure if the Cubs can win a World Series while I’m sitting here, anything can happen in this place,” said Louie Pradt.
The word has spread that this is the new place, and some have started going regularly to create as much of the old atmosphere as they can. Others have resisted the change so, the group who attends weekly is small compared to how large it was at Tinhorn Flats. At their old home, over 100 people would be there sometimes to experience a little bit of Chicago in Los Angeles. Part of the connection is missing because fewer people are going to Mrs. Robinson’s.
“We were like family. I miss every one of them. Every face that ever came through there, those guys I miss. The camaraderie, the rowdiness, the craziness, every little bit of it,” said Louie Pradt.
These fans are in a rebuilding process, similar to the one their actual team is going through. Transitions can be a tough part of life, and this is one that this group is trying to navigate together.
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By: Jenilee Borek
Contributions: Los Angeles Daily News
Photo Credit: A Martinez, LAist, Jenilee Borek, DoLA
Video: Jenilee Borek, ABC 7 Chicago
Audio: Jenilee Borek, WGN News, AndWhat83
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