Cengiz Karachua expects to open Papa’s Place by early August, in the Los Feliz storefront that housed his father’s Golden Needle Tailoring for 23 years. The fast casual restaurant at 2044 Hillhurst Avenue will feature Turkish and German food, since that’s Karachua’s heritage, plus “good burgers” and fries.
Karachua owned The Unique Deli in Upland, but sold it 17 years ago to work in graphics. He soon added embroidery to his repertoire, which he call “graphics in stitches.” He capitalized on the “Titanic” craze in 1996, producing embroidered memorabilia related to the blockbuster. However, even after finding stitching success his father always encouraged him to open a restaurant. Papa passed away about a year-and-a-half ago, and Karachua decided to follow his father’s wishes, dedicating the restaurant to his memory. Papa’s Place will focus on takeout, but you will find some seating along the wall, and dad’s old work table will serve as a communal table.
Papa’s Place should be open daily from at least 11 AM – 9 PM, with weekend hours potentially extending until 1 AM. [Feast LA]
