Save Henry's Tacos

Nearly 6,000 have already signed the petition, but another 2,000 signatures are needed, as enthusiasts of post-WWII design, San Fernando Valley historians and fans of gringo-style tacos band together in an attempt to keep Valley institution Henry's Tacos alive.

The L.A. Times has the details:

To its fans, there is something quintessentially L.A. about Henry's Tacos, which was opened in 1961 by a white guy from Nebraska, had bit parts in movies and TV shows like "Adam 12" and boasted loyal customers ranging from working Joes to Hollywood celebrities.

So when the owner announced earlier this month that Henry's Tacos would close at the end of year, fans rose up in protest.

Suddenly, long lines started forming around the modest midcentury stand at the corner of Moorpark Street and Tujunga Avenue. Celebrities such as Aaron Paul and Elijah Wood showed up to buy tacos and lend their support. And a Web campaign has taken off, including Facebook groups like "Occupy Tujunga" and hundreds of Twitter posts with the hashtag #SaveHenrysTacos.

The battle focuses in part on whether Henry's is more than a taco stand — whether it's actually a piece of history worthy of official preservation. In a city that boomed after World War II, L.A. has debated giving historic status to a car wash and space-age Googie buildings. But for devotees of Henry's, it's less about the architecture than the lifestyle it conjures.

According to the paper, the Henry's Tacos closyre came after owner Janis Hood applied for a historical monument designation for the stand last year. According to Hood, her landlord -- Beverly Hills businessman Mehran Ebrahimpour -- raised her rent 50% and refused to renew her lease after that. Ebrahimpour refused to comment to the newspaper.