Scientology buys distressed Hollywood hotel it used to own in the 1970s

[Karen#1]

TONY ORTEGA
Excerpt:

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[Mama Shelter and its earlier incarnation, the Hotel Wilcox]
You may have seen some news stories recently about the Church of Scientology buying another Hollywood property, this time paying $16 million for the former Mama Shelter hotel and its well known rooftop bar, which closed down in 2025.
When we saw the photos in those stories, we suddenly remembered: We’ve been on that rooftop with some very prominent ex-Scientologists, and for a very good reason!
What those recent news stories didn’t mention was that this isn’t the first time Scientology has owned this particular building.
It was once known as the Hotel Wilcox, and Scientology owned it in the 1970s and used it as berthing for its most dedicated “Sea Org” employees.
“The fabulous Wilcox Hotel, home of the half-ton cockroach. That’s what I call it,” Spanky Taylor tells us.
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Scientology buys distressed Hollywood hotel it used to own in the 1970s

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[Barile]

it was here, I learned to levitate cockroaches. memories....

From the roof, circa 1976, before the "Hollywood" sign was replaced

 

[Zertel]

Regarding building restorations, I live in a small but historically significant city in New Jersey. In preparation for the American Bicentennial celebration in 1976 the federal government instituted a program called Main Street America which continues today with grants available. Here's a brief description.

"Main Street America leads an inclusive, impact-driven movement dedicated to reenergizing and strengthening older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts nationwide."

Part of it was to strip off all the false front repairs on old buildings and restore the frontages to the way they looked when the were originally built so that people could walk down Main Street and see the various architectural styles and color choices and so on of the buildings as they were built over the years.

Here's a quote from a comment on Tony's article:

"If they are going to restore the Wilcox to its Scientology splendor, they will need to remove a lot of grime. And I mean deep down grime. The kind that you know took years to grind its way into the pores of the building. And the smell. A combination of urine, sweat and despair will need to be added. I was berthed in the Hollywood Inn. It was gross. But the one time I went to the Wilcox, I knew I was berthed in a palace compared to that building."

Unfortunately in my town a couple of the buildings were so far gone and stunk too much from bums inhabiting them for years that they had to be demolished.

Apparently somebody spent a lot of money deodorizing and renovating the Wilcox and the COS got a good deal and another tax write off.

 

[Zertel]

The article also mentions another COS purchase. I guess the COS status remains the same, cash flush but participation poor.

Said one Scientologist: “Went to the grand opening tonight of the Clearview Apartment-Hotel next to the Advanced Org in Clearwater. It is a beautiful option for long term stays where you want to bring the family or just have a full sized accommodation at Flag.”

 

[Zertel]

I asked google about the annual revenue of the COS and here is the reply which is a quote from Wikipedia so who knows how accurate it is.

AI Overview

The Church of Scientology is estimated to generate roughly $500 million to over $550 million annually. While often described as a "business," revenue is largely derived from fees for services ("auditing"), donations, and substantial real estate holdings, particularly through its "Flag Service Organization" in Clearwater, Florida.

Note: The Church of Scientology's financial structure, characterized by a complex network of non-profit entities, makes precise, up-to-date public tracking of its annual revenue difficult.

 

[Zertel]

Mama Shelter Los Angeles, the trendy Hollywood boutique hotel known for its popular rooftop bar, closed on February 2, 2025, due to severe financial distress and a subsequent sale of the property.
Bisnow +1
Here are the key reasons behind the closure:

• Financial Distress & Receivership: The property owner, an LLC linked to Chicago-based GEM Realty Capital, stopped making payments on a $13.3 million loan in December 2024. The hotel was placed in receivership in March 2025.
• Abrupt Closure: The closure was sudden, ending a 10-year run in Hollywood, with the Instagram and website announcing the end of operations.
• Property Sold to New Owner: The property was sold to a non-profit affiliate of the Church of Scientology, which outbid 12 other offers for the distressed property.
• Increased Local Competition: In the decade since Mama Shelter opened, the Hollywood area saw a rise in new rooftop nightlife competitors, including Bar Lis, Desert 5 Spot, and Mother Tongue.
  Eater Los Angeles +4

Important Context: . . . . . etc.