Popular Culver City restaurant closes doors because of increased crime in area

A popular Culver City restaurant has decided to close its doors after a string of crime in the area cost them tens of thousands of dollars.

Walther Adrianzen started Ceviche Shop as a food truck, but his success allowed him to open a brick and mortar at the corner of La Cienega Boulevard and Washington Boulevard three years ago.

Despite continuing that success, Adrianzen says that crime is driving his business out of Culver City and possible somewhere else in the Southland.

"You know, four robberies in a year. Just adding those up we probably lost $30,000," he recalled, noting that the crimes aren't even the worst of the issues he's faced. "A homeless broke a tequila bottle on my head. They almost, pretty much killed me, but because I wasn't killed it wasn't such a big crime to be a felony."

The latest issue, which happened with customers inside, is why he's closing the doors for good.

"A homeless came and then he threw a rock into the window," he said, showcasing the shattered pane of glass.

He says that he would love to continue his passion, providing Peruvian food to the Los Angeles community, but that might come with a nearly hour long move to La Puente.

Police data from 2022 to 2024 shows that burglaries targeting businesses in Culver City are going down, with the department crediting that to increased patrols during peak traffic areas, but Adrianzen says things seem to be getting worse despite that report.

Still, he won't let the move get him down.

"My wife and I will come back stronger," he said.