West Hollywood, California, August 31, 2025
News Summary
A roundup of recent moves in West Hollywood’s design and hospitality scene: a local interior design studio is hiring a senior Project Manager to oversee coast-to-coast projects; a chef-driven restaurant with a vinyl-only listening lounge is opening in the Design District at 631 N. Robertson Boulevard; a stretch of Melrose Avenue is being marketed as a design retail corridor amid mixed public reaction; the city approved changes to the Pacific Design Center plan to broaden tenant and event uses; and a major hotel completed a large redesign that rethinks public and event spaces.
West Hollywood design and hospitality roundup: major hires, a new restaurant and lounge, Melrose debates, Pacific Design Center plan, and a hotel refresh
West Hollywood is seeing activity on several fronts this week in design, dining and development. At the top: a local interior design studio is hiring a senior project manager to run coast-to-coast commissions; a James Beard Award–winning chef is launching a restaurant and hi‑fi listening lounge in the city’s Design District on August 31; debates over the character and stewardship of a key Melrose Avenue retail stretch continue; the Pacific Design Center has secured a plan to broaden its tenant mix; and a major hotel underwent a full redesign that nods to Los Angeles culture.
Adam Hunter Inc. seeks experienced Project Manager
West Hollywood–based Adam Hunter Inc., known for bold, modern interiors for homes and high-profile commercial work across the country, is recruiting a Project Manager. The role is aimed at someone with at least five years of construction or project-management experience and strong familiarity with the full design process, construction administration and FF&E procurement.
Responsibilities include managing day-to-day operations for multiple nationwide projects, keeping timelines and budgets on track, coordinating with contractors and fabricators, preparing schedules and progress reports, leading client meetings, and building contingency plans into every phase of work. The studio values meticulous attention to detail, innovation and a drive to bring bold designs to life. PMI certification or equivalent is preferred. Software skills asked for include Gantt charts, Asana, Slack and the Adobe Creative Suite, with AutoCAD or Revit a plus. Candidates are asked to submit a resume, cover letter and portfolio to hello@adamhunter.com.
Chef opens restaurant and vinyl listening lounge in Design District
A new food-and-music venue called darling opens on Sunday, August 31, at 631 N. Robertson Boulevard, the former home of Soulmate. Led by a celebrated chef known for elevating Southern food traditions, the project pairs live-fire cooking with California produce. The menu is built around 12 dishes that rotate monthly and will be overseen by the chef and a chef de cuisine with experience at noted Southern kitchens.
Opening dishes include Shigoku oysters with melon juice and borage, venison tartare with lovage and zucchini cornichon, and citrus wood-grilled Wolfe Ranch quail with huckleberries and an avocado-nasturtium purée. A daily limited run of 24 dry-aged steak burgers will be offered. The bar program follows a hyper-seasonal approach, led by a bar director with experience at several notable Los Angeles programs. Opening cocktails on the list include a pisco-based melon drink and a rum-based cocktail that features roasted eggplant and coconut cream. Two rotating zero-proof cocktails will be available each month.
Adjacent to the dining room is a hi‑fi listening lounge built in collaboration with a DJ and speaker artisan. The sound system mixes seven custom speakers, vintage Tannoy equipment and a Swiss-made mixer. The lounge runs vinyl-only programming that ranges from Blue Note jazz to obscure cumbia, much of it drawn from the chef’s personal record collection of more than 5,000 records. The space design uses raw walnut, hand-cut ceramic tile and artworks by a range of artists. The dining room features a 23-foot mural called Legal Tender that depicts California farmworkers and was recently returned from a university exhibition. Reservations will be handled through Resy.
Melrose Design District: growth, debate and divided views
A stretch of Melrose Avenue running from La Cienega to Doheny is widely discussed as a trendy retail and dining corridor. The area has been labeled by some as Melrose High Street, a brand promoted by a developer who is reported to own a large share of commercial properties along the block. The city has not formally adopted the Melrose High Street name, though the developer continues to use it in branding.
Supporters point to wide, clean, walkable streets and a mix of coffee shops and specialty retail that now includes multiple brand showrooms, fashion boutiques and eateries. Coffee options cited on the stretch include five local or regional cafes and a busy kiosk at the Pacific Design Center. Retail names and restaurant anchors are part of the appeal, and the corridor is known to draw paparazzi and celebrity visitors.
Critics and readers commenting on the transformation counter that some buildings are empty and in poor repair, that unhoused people remain present in parts of the area, and that changes to the streetscape have created traffic problems and visual clutter. Further controversy centers on a specific streetscape redesign where long-standing community input and earlier plans were reportedly altered to remove trees at a public walkway. Opinions among residents and readers remain split, with some urging car-free pedestrianization and others defending the corridor’s improvements.
Pacific Design Center specific plan changes aim to reactivate campus
The Pacific Design Center, the multi-building complex whose first section opened in 1975 and whose three colorful towers now total 1.6 million square feet, has faced long periods of vacancy. In March, the West Hollywood city council approved amendments to the PDC’s specific plan meant to widen the pool of possible tenants, remove minimum size requirements for showrooms and expand permitted uses in restaurant spaces that had previously been limited to banquet operations.
Council members said these changes will help activate the campus and avoid leaving large blocks of space empty. The agreement also allows the city to hold more events there and secures additional public parking at night and for special events. Current occupants include specialty showrooms for kitchens, textiles and furniture, plus a ground-floor coffee shop that has become popular. The campus also hosts a mobile food operation serving breakfast and lunch. The changes included a temporary 15-minute parking adjustment on the Melrose circle drive to support the coffee shop’s customer flow.
Rockwell Group redesigns W Hollywood
A New York design firm reimagined a 300,000-square-foot West Coast flagship hotel set against the Hollywood Hills. The redesign draws from the city’s cinematic and musical history and introduces dramatic interiors across public spaces, guestrooms and rooftop venues.
Key features include a triple-height Living Room with undulating green velvet seating and a conversation pit, a bar beneath hundreds of translucent acrylic rods facing a monolithic fireplace framed by 35-foot tall 3D-printed concrete drapes, and an intimate courtyard wrapped in native plants. The hotel offers 319 guestrooms and suites with a palette of blue, yellow and cream and Venetian-plaster inspired wallcoverings. Twelve suites are arranged like residential units with separate dining areas and built-in wet bars. The rooftop WET Deck hosts two destination bars with distinct color palettes, and a Loft venue includes a bespoke 3D spatial sound system. Meeting and event space totals more than 40,000 square feet, and the fitness center adopts a high-design aesthetic with natural wood and mirrored accents.
Why this matters
Together these developments show how West Hollywood’s design, dining and hospitality scenes are evolving. Hiring moves at design firms signal ongoing high-end residential and commercial work. New restaurants with immersive music and design elements add to the city’s cultural offer. Debates over Melrose reveal tensions between private development, public space and neighborhood character. And changes at the Pacific Design Center along with high-profile hotel redesigns aim to keep major design assets active and relevant.
FAQ
How can I apply for the Project Manager role at Adam Hunter Inc.?
Submit a resume, cover letter and portfolio to hello@adamhunter.com. The studio seeks candidates with 5+ years of project management experience, strong organizational skills and familiarity with construction administration and FF&E procurement.
When does darling open and where is it located?
darling opens Sunday, August 31. The restaurant and hi‑fi listening lounge is at 631 N. Robertson Boulevard in West Hollywood. Reservations will be available through Resy.
What are the key features of the Pacific Design Center plan change?
The specific-plan amendments expand allowable tenant types, remove showroom size minimums, broaden restaurant uses, allow more city events at the campus and secure additional public parking for nights and special events.
What is the controversy around Melrose Avenue?
Debate centers on branding, property ownership and changes to streetscape design. Supporters highlight retail growth and walkability. Critics point to empty or poorly maintained buildings, continued presence of unhoused people in some areas, and design choices they view as problematic.
What are some design highlights of the W Hollywood renovation?
The redesign includes a triple-height Living Room with dramatic seating and lighting, a grand fireplace framed by 3D-printed concrete drapes, 319 guestrooms with custom finishes, rooftop bars with distinct palettes, a Loft with a 3D spatial sound system and more than 40,000 square feet of event space.
Key features at a glance
| Topic | What to know | Action or date |
|---|---|---|
| Adam Hunter Inc. hiring | Project Manager role for nationwide design and architectural projects; 5+ years experience preferred; software skills include Asana, Slack and Adobe Suite | Apply to hello@adamhunter.com |
| darling restaurant and lounge | New live-fire restaurant + vinyl-only hi‑fi lounge; limited daily burgers; 7 custom speakers and vintage Tannoy gear in the lounge | Opening August 31 at 631 N. Robertson Blvd; reservations via Resy |
| Melrose Avenue debate | Stretch from La Cienega to Doheny branded by a developer as Melrose High Street; mixed views on maintenance, public space and retail mix | Ongoing public discussion and reader comments |
| Pacific Design Center plan | 1.6 million sq ft campus; plan amendments allow broader tenants, restaurant uses and more city events; added public parking for events | Council-approved amendments enacted in March |
| W Hollywood redesign | 300,000 sq ft hotel refresh with dramatic public spaces, 319 guestrooms, rooftop bars and a Loft with 3D sound | Design completed by Rockwell Group; project open to guests |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- Canyon News: Award-winning chef to open restaurant in West Hollywood Design District
- Wikipedia: West Hollywood, California
- WeHo Times: Chef Sean Brock to open Darling restaurant in West Hollywood
- Google Search: Sean Brock Darling West Hollywood
- WeHoOnline: Design District emerges as WeHo’s trendiest street
- Wikipedia: Melrose Avenue
- Beverly Press: WeHo council approves expanded use of Pacific Design Center
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Pacific Design Center
- Hospitality Design: W Hollywood renovation
- Google News: W Hollywood renovation
Author: Construction NY News
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