Old World Village
Old World Village | |
|---|---|
Neighborhood | |
Entrance sign to Old World Village | |
Old World Village | |
| Coordinates: 33°44′05″N 117°59′49″W / 33.7347096°N 117.9969182°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Orange County |
| City | Huntington Beach |
| Founded | 1978[1] |
| Founded by | Josef Bischof[1] |
| Government | |
| • Body | Old World Owners Association[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 8 acres (3 ha) |
| • Land | 8 acres (3 ha) |
| Population | |
• Total | 150 (approx.) |
| ZIP code | 92647 |
| Area code | 714 |
| Website | visitoldworld |
Old World Village is a German enclave in Huntington Beach, California. It features shops, restaurants, a chapel, and a hotel.[1][2] Many of the proprietors of its businesses live above their establishments. This live-work arrangement is unusual for Orange County.[3][4]
About 40 families live in the village.[5] When it opened in 1978, the proprietors were primarily from Germany and Austria, but the Village has become more ethnically diverse over time.[6]
History
In 1952, Josef Bischof emigrated from Germany to the United States.[1] He was inspired by Ports O' Call Village in San Pedro, to create the shopping center Alpine Village in Torrance in 1965.[1] Wanting to have spaces to both live and work in the same place, he split with his business partners from Alpine Village to found Old World Village in 1978.[1][7]
Ownership of the 53 live-work units is distributed among private owners, with governance administered through a homeowners association. As of 2007, the Bischof family continued to own several of the commercial and residential properties.[8]
Controversies
In the 1980s, the village experienced an internal feud, with owners of the live-work establishments accusing Bischof of a "reign of terror".[7] An initial $2.1 million judgment in favor of the merchants was later reduced to $1.25 million (equivalent to $3,590,000 in 2024).[9]
In a separate case, Cathy Justine Adams, who operated the "Old World Psychic Reader" from 1985, was arrested and charged with grand theft after defrauding clients of over $400,000 in cash, jewelry, and vehicles. She pled guilty in 1991 to three felony counts and agreed to repay $150,000 in restitution to avoid prison time.[10][11][12]
In the early 2000s, the village experienced a series of antisemitic incidents reported by the owners of a Jewish gift shop, including vandalism, threatening phone calls, and hate-related graffiti. These incidents were part of broader tensions among some residents and businesses, and although they gained media attention, others in the village described the community as generally peaceful.[13]
Description
Old World Village is active with various shops, cafes, and event venues. Its architecture evokes a stylized version of Europe, with cobblestone streets, stucco facades, and painted murals contributing to its distinct ambiance.[14]
Festivals
The Village holds annual German events, including an Oktoberfest[15] and dachshund races.[16] Over time, events for other ethnic and cultural groups have been held at the Village, including Greek,[17] Irish,[18] Scottish,[19] and South American[20] festivals. The village also hosts weddings[21] and quinceañeras.[22]
Legacy
Old World Village was parodied in the television series Arrested Development as the fictional English enclave "Wee Britain".[23] The village has also served as a filming location, often doubling for European settings due to its Bavarian-style architecture. It has appeared in television shows such as Hell's Kitchen and Welcome to Chippendales, and is part of Huntington Beach's broader efforts to attract film and television production.[24]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Burris, Annie (March 18, 2008). "What's to become of Huntington's Old World Village?". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on March 22, 2008.
- ^ Lee, Gregory (1993). The Best of Orange County California. Jasi. ISBN 978-1-881409-05-2.
- ^ Young, Karen (June 10, 1988). "Old World Village Captures Bavarian Flavor". Los Angeles Times. p. OC_E5.
- ^ O'Dell, John (February 23, 1991). "Piggyback Apartments Work Elsewhere in County". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, Calif. p. 5.
- ^ "Old World Village". Los Angeles Times. September 16, 1989. p. OC_G2.
- ^ Westcott, John (September 22, 1988). "Old World village brings a taste of Europe to OC". Orange County Register. Santa Ana, Calif. p. b02.
- ^ a b Lucas, Greg (April 29, 1986). "Old World Village Suit to Go to Jury: Business Owners Accuse Developer of 'Reign of Terror'". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Burris, Annie (August 9, 2007). "Who Owns Old World Village?". Orange County Register. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
- ^ Spano, John (June 18, 1986). "Shopping Center Award Excessive, Judge Rules". Los Angeles Times. p. OC_A2.
- ^ Horton, Kristina (September 7, 1991). "Psychic Pleads Guilty in Theft". Orange County Register. p. B02.
- ^ Gollner, Phil M. (March 23, 1994). "Fortuneteller Repays Clients to Keep Jail Out of Her Future". Orange County Register. p. B05.
- ^ "Future's Bleak for a Seer Who Admits Fraud". Los Angeles Times. September 7, 1991.
- ^ Kornhaber, Spencer (March 19, 2009). "Old World Village's Rep as a Haven for Skinheads Is the Least of the Huntington Beach Oddity's Problems". OC Weekly. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
- ^ Michaud, Anne (June 24, 1993). "Huntington Beach's Old World Village: Easygoing Vendors, Hard-to-Find Wares". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
- ^ Kinsler, Robert (September 29, 1995). "Old World's Oktoberfest a Deutsch treat". Orange County Register. Santa Ana, Calif. p. 63.
- ^ "Corrections". The Orange County Register. Santa Ana, Calif. October 28, 1994. p. A02.
- ^ "Old World Village". Los Angeles Times. June 8, 1990. p. OCF22.
- ^ Perry, Susan (March 17, 1988). "Ways to Go for the Green: Irish-Heritage Celebrations Take a Festive Turn". Los Angeles Times. p. G12.
- ^ "Old World Village Scottish Festival (advertisement)". Los Angeles Times. February 14, 1988. p. OC_A6.
- ^ Pasles, Chris (July 20, 1988). "Harpist Taps a Multi-Ethnic Background to Make His Music". Los Angeles Times. p. EOC13.
- ^ "Old World Village Serves as Wedding Center". Los Angeles Times. February 14, 1992. p. OCE12.
- ^ "Heels over head". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, Calif. March 29, 2000. p. 5.
- ^ Coker, Matt (May 23, 2013). "Arrested Development's Orange County". OC Weekly. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
- ^ Fletcher, Jaimee Lynn (January 24, 2013). "Hollywood Zoning in on Huntington Beach". Orange County Register. Retrieved April 7, 2025.