Little Joy/Photo by Kathleen Klein-Wakefield
Little Joy–the Echo Park dive bar that has in recent years taken turns catering to Spanish-speaking gay men, the post-college crowd and Dodger fans–is now preparing for a change of ownership. Echo Park bar hoppers and passersby have noticed that a black grate has been frequently slammed shut across the front doors of Little Joy on recent nights, a sign of the transition underway as Joaquin Reyna-Donaldson, who has worked and managed the bar at The Echo nightclub for about a decade, and business partner Donald Andes prepare to take over the place. What does Reyna-Donaldson, who lives in Echo Park, and Andes have in mind for Little Joy? A new drink line up? A bathroom remodel?
A person speaking on behalf of Reyna-Donaldson and Andes said the new owners of the bar at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Portia Street, will be ready to talk more about their plans in coming weeks after the deal is finalized. For now, Little Joy, which has, depending on who you speak to, been known as Little Joy Jr. and Little Joy Cocktails, may or may not be open during the transition.
No one has ever called this place Little Joy Jr.
Actually, we did call it Little Joy Jr’s a long time ago, mid-90′s, before all the losers started frequenting the place. Back when silver lake/echo park wasn’t infiltrated with dumb asses in range rovers and benzes. Back when it really was a dive bar.
Here here, Mr. Nap. Great luck to the new owners. I’ll be back.
I have a feeling this place is gonna be GREAT!!!!!
I second this!
That corner was the first home of World’s Finest comics back in the late 80s, early 90s. Before that I can’t recall.
What started out as country night ever other tuesday turned out to be Hipster gold! Though it got crazy and out of hand at times, a cheers to Joe for good times and bad. Best of luck Joaquin, i know you’re going to make great!! Lot’s of JOY!
There’s always a couple knuckleheads ruining the fun. Wish the new owners goodluck , I’m sure they’ll go through a couple shots fired,stabbings,homicides. Great way to prevent thugs from entering is play some indie music some cage the elephant, Lumineers, Awolnation stuff like that ..Party onn
Great way to prevent thugs from entering is to not buy drugs off them.
Oh, snap.
Great way to keep me out too is to play some “cage the elephant”… How about something from either of the Elvisi?
Holy Jeez.
Cage the Elephant & Lumineers is what passes for “Indie” music now?
Smoething tells me Stroker may hit up Little Joy for a drink and some “indie” tunes after he gets back from attending this year’s KIIS FM Jingle Ball.
As long as they stay away from loud bad hip-hop with accompanying videos playing on 10 TV screens, my friends and I might just return.
Yes!!!!! Finally!!! So excited for the new owners of the little joy!! I haven’t been back since the mgmt change a few years back, I’m looking forward to having a bar I’m the neighborhood I actually want to go to!
Haven’t been there in years… but as long as they keep the pool tables, I’m optimistic.
Amen.
“in recent years taken turns catering to Spanish-speaking gay men”?
That’s what it was like for years, until Joe started the country nights.
wow….a a crazy drug addicts paradise
more hippies and hipsters right
I don’t care what type of bar it becomes now, as long as the billiard tables remain.