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: hiring, a new restaurant-lounge, Melrose debates, Pacific Design Center plan and a hotel refresh
In a busy week for West Hollywood’s design and hospitality scene, a leading interior studio is hiring a senior project manager, a high-profile chef is opening a new restaurant and listening lounge, neighborhood debates over a renamed Melrose corridor continue, planners moved to revitalize a large design complex, and a major hotel unveiled a full redesign. Below are the key developments, arranged from most to less immediate.
Adam Hunter Inc. seeks an experienced Project Manager
West Hollywood–based interior studio Adam Hunter Inc., known for bold, modern luxury interiors on projects across the U.S., is actively recruiting a Project Manager. The role will manage all phases of custom residential and commercial projects, from early concept through final installation. The studio says the position offers the chance to work on widely published, high-profile commissions.
Core duties include day-to-day oversight of multiple projects nationwide; detailed management of timelines, budgets and deliverables; coordination with design teams, contractors, vendors and fabricators; preparation of project schedules and progress reports; and leading client meetings. The job requires proactive troubleshooting, contingency planning, and ensuring design intent and quality standards are maintained.
Required qualifications include at least five years of construction or design project management experience, familiarity with FF&E procurement and construction administration, and strong command of project tools such as Gantt charts, Asana, Slack and Adobe Creative Suite. PMI certification is preferred and familiarity with AutoCAD or Revit is a plus. Applicants should send a resume, cover letter and portfolio to hello@adamhunter.com.
Sean Brock opens a restaurant and hi‑fi lounge called darling on August 31
Chef Sean Brock is launching darling, a restaurant and vinyl-only hi‑fi listening lounge, in the city’s Design District. The venue opens Sunday, August 31, in a space formerly occupied by another local restaurant at 631 N. Robertson Boulevard. The new concept merges live-fire cooking with a California seasonal approach, with the menu led by Brock and Chef de Cuisine Ben Norton.
The initial menu features a rotating slate of 12 dishes that will change monthly. Opening items include oysters with melon juice, venison tartare, and citrus wood-grilled quail. A daily limited run of 24 dry-aged steak burgers is planned. The bar program takes a hyper-seasonal approach and will offer creative cocktails and two rotating non-alcoholic drinks each month. Reservations will be handled through a popular booking platform.
Adjacent to the dining room, the venue includes a listening lounge built with custom speakers and vintage equipment, and a vinyl collection largely drawn from the owner’s personal archive. The interior design uses raw walnut, hand-cut ceramic tile and original artworks, anchored by a large 23-foot mural depicting farmworkers.
Melrose Design District debates and local reaction
A stretch of Melrose Avenue running from La Cienega to Doheny, promoted by one developer as Melrose High Street, remains a flashpoint for discussion. Supporters point to wide, walkable streets, a mix of fashion, cafes and restaurants, and a concentration of trendier retail tenants and coffee shops. Critics and reader comments counter that many buildings are empty or poorly maintained, that the area has traffic and design problems, and that some public-space changes were made over community objections.
The debate includes claims that the developer who promoted the brand owns a majority of commercial property along portions of Melrose and has influenced streetscape decisions. Comments from readers include sharply different views: some say the stretch is cleaner and safer than before and attracts celebrities and shoppers; others say the retail mix has declined and that unhoused people remain visible in some parts. Suggestions from the public include experimenting with car-free zones and traffic limits to improve the pedestrian experience.
Noted retail and dining names and a cluster of coffee shops have helped shape the area’s identity. The corridor has also become a place where paparazzi and celebrity sightings are common, according to local observers and commenters.
Pacific Design Center plan aimed at activation
City leaders approved amendments to the Pacific Design Center’s specific plan to give the 1.6 million–square-foot complex more flexibility for tenants and uses. The center, known for its red, green and blue buildings and a history dating back to the opening of the “Blue Whale” building in 1975, has seen long periods of underuse in recent years.
Changes remove some showroom size rules, expand possible restaurant uses, and allow the city more opportunities to hold public events on the campus. Officials said the revisions will help avoid large swaths of vacant space and will open the complex to a wider mix of retail and public activities. A recently opened ground-floor coffee spot and a small food service trailer have already increased daytime foot traffic, and temporary short-term parking adjustments were approved to support that traffic.
W Hollywood receives a theatrical redesign
A New York design firm completed a sweeping redesign of a 300,000–square-foot hotel property positioned against the Hollywood Hills. The hotel’s public spaces now emphasize cinematic and musical references, with a triple-height lobby lounge featuring curving green velvet seating, a mirrored installation and a large fireplace framed by tall 3D‑printed concrete drapes.
Guest rooms and suites were refreshed with a palette of blue, yellow and cream, new custom furniture and playful material choices. Rooftop bars and a rooftop venue with a bespoke 3D spatial sound system aim to create daytime and nighttime destinations. The property also expanded its meeting and event offerings and refreshed its fitness space.
Where to find more information
- To apply for the Project Manager job, send application materials to hello@adamhunter.com.
- Reservations for the new restaurant-lounge are available through a restaurant booking platform.
- City planning documents about the Pacific Design Center specific-plan amendments are available through municipal records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is hiring and what is the role?
Adam Hunter Inc., a West Hollywood interior design studio, is hiring a Project Manager to oversee national custom residential and commercial projects from concept through installation. Applicants should have at least five years of project management experience and strong software and organizational skills.
When does the new restaurant open and what is the concept?
The restaurant and hi‑fi listening lounge called darling opens on Sunday, August 31. The concept mixes live-fire, seasonal cooking with a vinyl-only listening lounge and a hyper-seasonal bar program.
What changes were approved for the Pacific Design Center?
The city approved amendments that loosen showroom size rules, expand tenant categories, allow restaurants more broadly, and enable the city to hold events on the campus. The goal is to activate long-vacant space and provide more public parking during events.
What are the main points of debate about Melrose?
The Melrose discussion centers on branding as Melrose High Street, ownership and maintenance of storefronts, streetscape changes, the presence of unhoused people, traffic and retail mix. Local opinions vary widely.
Who redesigned the W Hollywood hotel and what changed?
A major design firm reimagined the hotel with theatrical interiors, new public lounges, refreshed guest rooms and rooftop venues that highlight Los Angeles’ cinematic and musical identity.
Key features at a glance
| Topic | Key points | Action / Date |
|---|---|---|
| Adam Hunter Inc. hiring | Project Manager role, nationwide projects, 5+ years experience, PM tools proficiency | Apply to hello@adamhunter.com |
| darling restaurant & lounge | Live-fire menu, 12 rotating dishes, vinyl-only listening lounge, hi‑fi system | Opens Sunday, August 31; reservations via booking platform |
| Melrose Design District | Branding debates, retail mix, community comments about maintenance and public space | Ongoing discussions among locals and city |
| Pacific Design Center | Plan amendments to expand tenant types, loosen showroom rules, enable events | City plan amendments approved March 3 (recent municipal action) |
| W Hollywood redesign | Theatrical public spaces, refreshed rooms, rooftop bars, new sound system | Redesign completed; new public and event spaces open |
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 TX News
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