Shared Tables May Be the Way to Go

One of the better-known community tables was established by the Chatham restaurant in Westwood Village back in the late ‘40s or early ‘50s. The Chatham was a favorite lunch spot for local professionals and the staff and faculty of UCLA. The community table was well utilized for 30 to 35 years.

The community table seated 14 and had its own waiting area at each end. It was not limited to singles, but 80% to 90% of its diners were by themselves. The procedure was to sit in the first chair that became vacant. Early arrivals, well before noon, had a choice of chairs. When there was a wait of 30 or more minutes for a table or a booth, the wait for the community table was seldom more than 10 minutes.

As pointed out in the article, there was much more to the community table than just convenience. Many lasting friendships were established, and probably more than one courtship started there.

The criterion for a community table may be convenience, but the value quickly becomes social. The Chatham closed several years ago. (I don’t know) whether another community table has been created in Westwood Village.

KEN JEWETT

Marina del Rey