Ever since La La Land opened last November at the corner of San Vicente and Barrington, it has transformed one of Brentwood's most recognizable intersections into the buzziest spot in town. On any given morning, lines stretch down the block, parents stop by after school drop-off, friends grab post-workout lattes and neighbors spill out onto the sidewalks. Amidst all the activity, one detail sets this location apart from every other La La Land in the country. Above the entrance is a single name: "Charlotte." Most guests assume it's simply a cute part of the branding. In reality, it tells a deeper story.
Charlotte is the six-year-old niece of La La Land founder and CEO Francois Reihani. Her mother is Reihani's sister, Chloe, and Brentwood is very much the center of Charlotte's world—where she goes to school, takes dance classes and spends much of her time. "Charlotte is my everything," says Reihani. "She has such a personality and cares so much about others. She is a prime example of purity in its rarest form. It made perfect sense to name this location after her." When the opportunity to open on this prominent corner arose, Reihani knew immediately it would be different. Guests will find photos, drawings and other personal touches throughout the café, along with an exclusive menu item found only in Brentwood: Charlotte's Cookie Butter Latte, served hot or iced with espresso or matcha, spiced cookie butter sauce, whipped cream and cookie crumble on top.
The tribute feels fitting, since family, kindness and community have always been at the heart of the brand. Born in Mexico and raised in Los Angeles, Reihani attended USC before transferring to Southern Methodist University in Dallas. At 21, he launched Pōk The Raw Bar, a concept that quickly became a local success. But another idea would ultimately define his career. In 2019, he founded La La Land with a mission that went beyond coffee, envisioning a hospitality company built around optimism and human connection—one where customers might hear "I love you" instead of the usual "have a nice day," and where social impact was woven into the business model.
Today, La La Land operates nearly 30 locations across Texas, Arizona, Tennessee and California, while its La La Cares initiative provides mentorship, internships and employment opportunities for foster youth aging out of the system, as well as individuals with special needs. Through paid internships, life-skills training and career development programs, the company aims to create meaningful opportunities beyond the coffee counter. "We are not just working with foster youth rights," Reihani says. "At the Americana in Glendale location [owner Rick Caruso is a mentor], we're working with people who have special needs, so we have a variety of programs." The foster youth program runs during the summer and is based on where participants live and which store is closest to them. "That's normally how the stores get selected, but there is usually one flagship in each city," he adds.
For Reihani, Brentwood was never just another expansion opportunity. Long before La La Land existed, he spent countless hours on that very corner waiting for his sister, who worked across the street. The siblings shared a single car at the time, and while she finished work, Reihani would sit nearby before heading to his own job at a Santa Monica Volkswagen dealership. "We were just building our lives at that time," he recalls. "I always believed I would have something big, but I wasn't sitting there thinking it would be hospitality—and especially right there on that corner."
The address itself has long occupied a special place in Brentwood history. Many locals know it as the longtime Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, where countless first dates, business meetings and neighborhood catch-ups took place. Before that, the site gained Hollywood fame as the location of the actual All American Burger featured in the cult classic film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Today, the corner has entered yet another chapter.
"I always knew I wanted to open a store in Brentwood," says Reihani. "When I first walked the streets, I saw a community that reminded me of everything La La Land is built on: neighbors who actually know each other, people who take pride in where they live and a genuine sense of warmth. The support, the loyalty and the way people have made La La Land part of their daily lives means everything to me personally."
Designed as a "dream-state" environment, La La Land was built to feel different the moment guests walk through the door. While the brand is known for its trademark bright yellow aesthetic, the Brentwood location was intentionally designed to reflect the understated character of the neighborhood. "If you look at the design of Brentwood, it's actually completely different than most of our stores," says Reihani. "It's not bright yellow but more muted, with bright white, wood accents and pops of yellow. Any human being that walks up to that feels a sense of joy. Yellow is an energy. It brings happiness. But that location is really special—you feel it in the people, the store and all of the white flowers."
Behind the cheerful atmosphere is the same philosophy that has fueled the company's rapid growth: invest in people, and they can build extraordinary things. It's a lesson Reihani understands personally. The crowds may come for the matcha lattes and the social media-worthy aesthetic. But look above the door, and you'll find the real heart of the brand: a little girl named Charlotte, and the values that inspired it all.
La La Land Brentwood
11698 San Vicente Blvd.
424-256-2774
lalalandcafe.com
"Charlotte is my everything. She is a prime example of purity in its rarest form. It made perfect sense to name this location after her."