Photo by Ryan ZumMallen, taken January 2010
UPDATE 4:00pm | Records show that the commercial/industrial property is owned by James’ company Mighty Whitey LLC and is not currently listed with the Multiple Listing Service, though it may be available through other real estate sources. Mighty Whitey took possession of the building in 2006 and it is currently valued at $1.25 million.
UPDATE 12:30pm | Phone messages left with West Coast Choppers management were not immediately returned. A television crew packed up their gear on site today but could not comment on the business closing.
UPDATE 12:15pm | West Coast Choppers employees interviewed this morning by lbpost.com say they have heard through media reports that West Coast Choppers is closing but they have not been told anything about closing from the company or Jesse James himself.
11:15am | In a story that began on TMZ.com and has now graced the pages of USA Today, local legend and controversial celebrity Jesse James will reportedly close down his iconic West Coast Choppers shop on the west side of Long Beach in order to focus his operations in Texas.
James has lived in Texas for the past several months following a disgracing scandal in which it was revealed he cheated on his wife, actress Sandra Bullock, with several women. Bullock filed for divorce and James drew further negative attention when he assaulted a paparazzo’s vehicle outside West Coast Choppers.
Earlier this year, before the scandal, the City of Long Beach honored James by renaming the street where his shop is located to West Coast Choppers Place in a ceremony. James was clearly moved by the event and told the lbpost.com at the time, “Through all the ‘Monster Garage’ stuff I always thought we were kind of a thorn in the City’s side. It’s nice to be seen as an asset.”
Today, it appears that James is taking the operation away from his hometown, where his business began and then achieved worldwide fame through a series of reality television shows, catapulting James into the national spotlight and turning the West Coast Choppers brand into a cash cow.
James also owns Cisco Burger, a small hamburger joint specializing in kobe beef just across the street from West Coast Choppers. Cisco will remain open, according to the USA Today.