Business & Tech
Celebrities Join Campaign to Save Henry's Tacos
Sarah Hyland, Elijah Wood, Chris Pine, Tony Danza and others get the word out on social media. Aaron Paul from 'Breaking Bad' calls for an eat-in.
Hollywood is beginning to rally behind the movement to save Henry's Tacos.
When Chris Pine (the new Kirk in Star Trek) was making People Like Us, he told director Alex Kurtzman that he wanted to have a scene at his family favorite—Henry's Tacos. He grew up in the area. (See the video clip.)
"I've been going to Henry's since I was 7 years old," Pine said.
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Pine was at the taco place on Saturday night with a group of friends when the management told him of the impending closure. He rallied his friends in support of the taco stand.
Sarah Hyland, the oldest daughter in Modern Family, tweeted that she hopes "you sign petition to help save Henry's Tacos" and Tony Danza, who lives in the area, named it his favorite taco (see here.)
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Gilles Marini, of Sex and the City also tweeted his distress: What ? @HenrysTacosis closing out :( How can this happen? It's been there for 50 years. Should be an untouchable institution! #Sad "
Also, Elijah Wood (Frodo from The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings movies), tweeted out the "very sad situation" from his Twitter account (a publicist confirmed that it was his).
That, in turn, was re-tweeted by Tom Hanks's son Colin Hanks and Paul Feig, who directed the movie Bridesmaids and The Office on TV.
The full tweet from @woodelijah reads: "Los Angeles institution, Henry's Tacos to shut: http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2012/12/henrys_tacos_announces_it.php … please retweet. very sad situation."
Brad Pitt has leaned over and ordered through the window screen, Larry King and his wife Shawn come to sit on the outdoor table. Richard Roundtree's daughter Kelly used to work there.
Ambassadors, governors, writers have used it in their works.
TV shows such as Adam 12, Police Story, Up All Night and Scarecrow and Mrs. King were shot there. Movies such as Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke featured it. Jennifer Jason Leigh wore a Henry's Tacos shirt in Ben Stiller's Greenberg movie.
A new show named Mistresses that hasn't yet aired also shot there recently.
Owner Janis Hood recalls when she saw Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (when they lived in the area), come to the shop regularly and they even told Oprah Winfrey in a special “favorite foods” segment that Henry’s has “the most incredible hard shell tacos I’ve ever had.”
"The show called me to say that they were going to do that and for a few weeks we were busy as all get out," Hood said. She saw the sisters not long ago, and gave them some extra hot sauce to bring home.
"I love that the celebrities love the place, too, but we treat everyone the same," Hood laughed.
The website IamNotAStalker.com compiled these star fans of Henry's:
Bruce Boxleitner, Larry King, Michelle Branch, James Marsden, Adam Levine, Marla Sokoloff, Jason Reitman, Adam Carolla, Tom Hanks, Andy Griffith, George Lopez and many others.
Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul, who lives in the area, suggested a rally this coming Sunday.
He wrote from @aaronpaul_8 account: "We must save @HenrysTacos from closing! Come join me for lunch this Sunday at 2pm!! Join the masses and eat some tacos!! Tell your friends."
Meanwhile, there's a petition online at:
http://www.change.org/petitions/help-save-historic-henrys-tacos
Add your comments here: Henry's Tacos: What's Your Reaction?
Follow the full story at: Henry's Tacos Plans to Close
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