Westside Reader December 2015

December 2015 THE Reader • 37
Food
Nudie’s Custom Java
Not your ordinary
coffee shop
By Michele e. Buttelman
Features and entertainment editor
Jaime Nudie, granddaughter of famed tailor
Nudie Cohn, has opened Nudie’s Custom
Java on the corner of Railroad Avenue
and Market Street in downtown Newhall.
Nudie’s, open since Oct. 1, offers more than
just coffee, it is a shrine to her grandfather
Nudie Cohn, one of Southern California’s
most notable personalities, as well as a place
to pick up a pastry, sandwich, soup or salad.
The Duke, a custom tuna lettuce wrap, or on your
choice of bread. $8.50.
The elvis panini sandwich, white grilled bread,
peanut butter, banana, bacon and honey. $6.95. Ms.
Nudie’s ice Blended Mocha includes a double shot of
espresso. $4.50.
A wall in the restaurant is dedicated to
Nudie Cohn with more than 100 photos on
display of Nudie and his popular “Nudie
Suits,” decorative rhinestone and chain stitch
embroidery outfits made for the most famous
celebrities of his era.
The photos are culled from a collection of
more than 4,000 photos that adorned the
walls of Nudie’s Rodeo Tailors in the San Fernando
Valley.
A corner of Nudie’s Custom Java offers
guests a chance to view (and order) a real
Nudie suit, or purchase Nudie’s t-shirts and
other items.
Nuta Kotlyarenko, known professionally as
Nudie Cohn, died in1984 after a long life
clothing everyone from Elvis Presley to Country
superstar Porter Wagoner.
He also became famous for his outrageous
customized automobiles.
Cohn met Jamie’s grandmother, Helen
“Bobbie” Kruger, and married her in 1934.
The couple moved to California in the early
More than 100 photos of Nudie Cohn and his famed “Nudie Suits” are displayed at Nudie’s Custom Java on
Railroad Avenue in downtown Newhall.
1940s and designed and manufactured clothing
in their garage. In 1947 Cohn persuaded
a young, country singer named Tex Williams,
who lived on Apple Street in Newhall, to buy
him a sewing machine, reportedly with the
proceeds of an auctioned horse.
The Cohns opened Nudie’s of Hollywood
on the corner of Victory and Vineland in
North Hollywood. In 1963 the Cohns relocated
their business to a larger facility on
Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood
and renamed it “Nudie's Rodeo Tailors.”
Among his most famous creations was
Elvis Presley’s $10,000 gold lamé suit, worn
by the singer on the cover of his 50,000,000
Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong album.
He also designed the iconic costume worn
See Nudie’s, page 38