Pickets Outside Lassen's Stop Some Shoppers, Not All

We've been following the future of 2080 Hillhurst Ave. in Los Feliz for a while now.

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Many in the Lassen's family--including president Peter Lassen--are Mormons, who had been very active in campaigning for and funding Prop 8.

More than 1,500 people have now signed an online pledge to boycott the store.

PICKETS GATHER ALONG HILLHURST AVENUE SATURDAY

Some of those people were outside Lassen's Saturday afternoon, standing along Hillhurst Avenue with signs and flyers.

As people arrived in cars, by foot or by bike, the pickets asked them if they knew Lassen's had supported Prop 8.

"I want to make sure that people who are gay and are gay-friendly know," said Los Feliz resident Howie Klein, whose partner still shops at Lassen's.

"Then, it's their choice to shop there," he added.

Molly Schiot organized the picketers, and runs the "Boycott Lassen's" Facebook page.

A diabetic, she said she'd prefer to keep shopping for healthy foods in Los Feliz, but she also says she cannot support a store that does not support equality.

She and other pickets estimated that they had seen at least 30 shoppers turn back over the first hour or so of their picketing.

EMPLOYEES SAY PICKETING HAS NOT SLOWED BUSINESS

But inside, employees--many of whom also worked for Nature Mart--felt that businesses had not slowed.

"At this point there are other ways to address the issue of gay marriage," said Joycelyn Porel, the manager on duty Saturday.

A lesbian, she said she boycotted Target for several months over its anti-gay politics, but stopped.

“Not all Mormons are homophobic,” added a Los Feliz business owner who wished to remain anonymous.

“There are a lot more important issues in the world to worry about,” she said.

Just before 4 o'clock, the pickets stopped to enjoy pizzas sent over by Lucifer’s.

They were also pondering this question: What would it take for them to stop their picketing and the boycott?

Howie Klein said he thought a community meeting with president Peter Lassen would be a good first step.

Several also thought Lassen's might donate $30,000 to another cause, like stopping bullying in schools.

The pickets will be back Saturday, Dec. 3, from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Efforts are also beginning to start an L.A. food co-op.

Read more about that here.

How do you feel about shopping at Lassen's?