Old World Village is a German enclave in Huntington Beach, California. It features shops, restaurants, a chapel, and a hotel.[1][2] Many of the proprietors of its businesses live above their establishments. This live-work arrangement is unusual for Orange County.[3][4]
Old World Village | |
---|---|
Neighborhood | |
Old World Village | |
Coordinates: 33°44′05″N 117°59′49″W / 33.7347096°N 117.9969182°W | |
Country | United States |
State | California |
County | Orange County |
City | Huntington Beach |
Founded | 1978[1] |
Founded by | Josef Bischof[1] |
Government | |
• Body | Old World Owners Association[1] |
Area | |
• Total | 8 acres (3 ha) |
• Land | 8 acres (3 ha) |
Population | |
• Total | 150 (approx.) |
ZIP code | 92647 |
Area code | 714 |
Website | visitoldworld |
About 40 families live in the village.[5] When it opened in 1978, the proprietors were primarily from Germany and Austria, but the Village has become more ethnically diverse over time.[6]
In 1952, Josef Bischof emigrated from Germany to the United States.[1] He was inspired by Ports O' Call Village in San Pedro, to create the shopping center Alpine Village in Torrance in 1965.[1] Wanting to have spaces to both live and work in the same place, he split with his business partners from Alpine Village to found Old World Village in 1978.[1][7]
In the 1980s, the Village had an internal feud, with owners of the live-work establishments accusing Bischof of a "reign of terror".[7] An initial $2.1 million judgment in favor of the merchants was later reduced to $1.25 million (equivalent to $3,474,000 in 2023).[8]
The Village holds annual German events, including an Oktoberfest[9] and dachshund races.[10] Over time, events for other ethnic and cultural groups have been held at the Village, including Greek,[11] Irish,[12] Scottish,[13] and South American[14] festivals. The village also hosts weddings[15] and quinceañeras.[16]
Old World Village was parodied in the television show Arrested Development as the English enclave "Wee Britain".[17] It also served as Switzerland in the Hulu series Welcome to Chippendales.