“Arrested Development”: Movie Soon, Filming Locations Now

FOX’s canceled cult favorite comedy “Arrested Development” may not be on TV anymore… but if the show’s devoted fans have anything to say about it, it’ll soon be on the big screen. With all of the cast members signed on and Mitch Hurwitz working on a script, let’s keep our fingers crossed that they can work out their schedules and get the movie filmed this year! In the meantime, you can visit some of the filming locations from “Arrested Development” to relive your favorite Bluth moments.

Much of the on-location action took place at Fisherman’s Village in Marina del Rey. (Unfortunately the above sign has since been moved/removed.) They called it Oceanside Wharf on the show, but everything else is practically the same. Oh yeah, except there’s not really a banana stand there. But the lighthouse you see behind the banana stand on the show is really there, and you can get a burger or hot dog for lunch there. The round blue tables that George Michael and gang routinely sat at are there. You can close your eyes and imagine the banana stand is there, right?

Just across the walkway is Sapori’s, the side of which stood in for a candy apple stand – remember when Gob chipped his tooth and started whistling when he spoke? (”You’d better let me do the talking.”)

Sapori's doubled as a candy apple stand.

And, finally, docked at Fisherman’s Village is the Marina Hornblower — also known as the boat George Sr. was arrested on. It’s usually there, and easy to snap a photo with.

Nearby in Marina del Rey is the Shell Station (4770 Lincoln Boulevard) where Michael and Maeby stop in “Afternoon Delight”…

…as well as Panini Coffee & Cafe, where Michael and Oscar met in “Whistler’s Mother”:

The cafe is located at 4325 Glencoe Avenue in Marina del Rey. Interiors were used in the episode.

On Venice Boulevard in Mar Vista, you’ll find a few more locations.

At 12320 is Robinson’s Beautilities, a costume shop that Tobias walks by in the first-season finale.

A few feet down the street at 12310 is Sam Johnson’s Book Shop, where Tobias notices his book The Man Inside Me, and later does a book reading.

Around the corner at the Vineyard Christian Fellowship Coffee House (3838 S Centinela) is where Kitty met with the Bluth boys to try to take control of the Bluth Company.

(The interiors were used for the filming of the episode.)

In Los Angeles, University High School at 11800 Texas Avenue was used for George Michael and Maeby’s high school.

A bit further north in Culver City is where a lot of the show was filmed, mainly because its home was Culver Studios. Alandale’s, where Marta buys Michael a suit, is at 9715 Washington Boulevard:

Culver City Hall at 9770 Culver Boulevard is where all of the exterior scenes at court took place.

The Culver Hotel at 9400 Culver Boulevard stood in for Deliberations, the bar where Michael picked up Maggie Lizer. Inside the hotel is Munchkin’s, the hotel restaurant where Kitty once claimed Michael was threatening her.

(The Culver Hotel actually has a rich history; it’s where many of the Wizard of Oz bit players stayed while filming the movie at the nearby studio.)

Though the show wasn’t actually filmed in Orange County, it was set there and inspired by creator Mitch Hurwitz’s Orange County upbringing (he went to high school in Costa Mesa).

You might see a similar shot on the show.

In fact, Hurwitz has mentioned that the Bluth banana stand was inspired by two dueling banana shacks on Balboa Island: Dad’s Donut and Bakery Shop at 318 Marine Ave in Newport Beach and Sugar & Spice Original Frozen Banana just a few shops down the street. Though these eateries weren’t featured on the show, they definitely inspired it and the treats they offer are definitely delicious.

For more on “Arrested Development”, check out Christina’s interview with Buster himself, Tony Hale!

- Story and photos by Christina LeBlanc, Executive Editor