Letters: Buried treasure in downtown L.A.

Re “Old shop reveals an L.A. treasure,” Column One, Aug. 2

In the late 1950s I worked at the Security Bank at 5th and Spring streets in downtown L.A. The Dutch Chocolate Shop (which was open then but under another name that I can’t remember) was our favorite spot for a morning or afternoon break. I knew nothing of tile maker Ernest Batchelder then, but I thought his creation was cute and different.

One night I was driving by and saw workers hosing down the interior (all chairs and tables were on the sidewalk), which bothered me a bit. But at least I knew the place was clean when I would go in the mornings.

I’ve always wondered what happened to the shop, hoping that the tiles were not destroyed. I can’t wait to go back and see what new proprietor Charles Aslan has done. Good luck to him.

Jean Shiner

Pasadena

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