Meet the scenester: Bobby Green

This is the Stinker, not Mr. Green

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When it comes to kitsch, Bobby Green is king. His Atwater Village bar, Bigfoot Lodge—complete with a life-size Smokey the Bear standing in plastic pine trees—would look like a cartoon version of a log cabin were it not for the noir lighting and the crowd of greasers. At Little Cave in Highland Park, Green shows his art school wit: The cave motif is decked out with construction-paper bats. But he really topped himself with Culver City's Saints and Sinners, a bar dedicated to '70s decadence that's fit for a porn star—right down to the black-and-white wallpaper depicting naked ladies engaged in free love.

Next up for Green is Stinkers, which he describes as a "Midwestern truck stop" located across the street from Cafe Tropical in Silverlake. One might argue that Green is breaking tradition by opening a bar in an already-trendy area, but the most important element remains: You'll still feel like you're partying in a diorama. Think CB radios, cans of Coors and Burt Reynolds. Sexy!

Your bars have such a sense of humor. Is that your intention, or is the joke on me? 
I value a good sense of humor. In fact, I put it right up there with intelligence as a quality I admire and value in people. A bar is a place for people to have fun, so sense of humor in a bar is key.

What was your inspiration for Stinkers?
The '70s and truck stops are over-the-top, fun and visual. It fills a need when so many other bars are upscale nowadays.  

Was the sad state of our economy an influence? Is there a nod to the recession of the '70s?
I wasn't even thinking about the economy when the concept was developed. The economy was OK back then. That's an interesting correlation about the '70s recession, though.

Bad times lead people to drink more than usual, but will you have drink specials?
I can't be worried about the economy right now, or I couldn't move forward with this bar. We've already invested money and a lot of time into this project. Yes, we will have drink specials.

How did you react when Morrissey started coming to Bigfoot Lodge?
I was really excited, since I was a huge Smiths and Morrissey fan in my younger days. I really wanted to meet him.

What's been your single best moment as a bar owner?
Seeing an exact replica of the Bigfoot Lodge on a soundstage for the filming of the upcoming movie "Yes Man." It was like being in an alternate universe.

And the worst?
Not getting the chance to meet Tom Waits or David Lynch when they came into the Bigfoot Lodge.

Stinkers opens Fri., Nov. 7.

Alexandra Le Tellier is Bars & Clubs editor for Metromix Los Angeles.