Los Angeles, California: LA Police Academy Cafe and Gift Shop
Dine with cops in casual diner style, admire the police artifacts in cases and on the walls, then walk down the hall to the gift shop, the gun and uniform shop, and the shooting range. Rock garden terraces, waterfalls ponds -- created in the 1920s and used in Tarzan films.
- Address:
- 1880 N. Academy Dr., Los Angeles, CA
- Directions:
- Take Sunset Blvd to Dodger Stadium, drive to the north side on Academy Rd, then just before the gate turn north onto Academy Drive.
- Hours:
- Cafe M-F 6 am - 2 pm. Closed weekends. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 213-221-5222
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Visitor Tips and News About LA Police Academy Cafe and Gift Shop
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This place was so interesting! First of all, the entrance gate and Police Academy sign were used in the opening sequence of the original Charlie's Angels series, TJ Hooker and more. The officer at the gate was extremely friendly and welcoming; he told stories of the Academy's past. One interesting story was that the elaborate stone work, which was laid when the Academy was created in the late 1920s, was the work of men arrested for drunkenness on the previous Saturday night. The sentence for an out-of-control night was hard labor on the under-construction Police Academy grounds.
Inside, the cafe served typical diner fare at reasonable prices. Eating to the sound of gunfire from the nearby shooting range added a certain surreality. In the same building as the diner there is a gift shop (toy cop cars, stuffed bears in LAPD uniforms, mugs) and a gun shop. The gun shop was bizarre and surreal. All kinds of weapons and police gear were up for sale and it was open to the public.
Also there is an incredible and elaborately constructed (by Saturday night drunks?) rock garden to wander aimlessly in. This rock garden has multiple maze-like levels, waterfalls, ponds and many hidden seating areas.
[Nikki Kreuzer, 11/24/2012]
The folks in the diner and at the police academy are very friendly. There are lots of interesting pictures and artifacts on display, too.
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