Fisherman's Village (Banana Stand Location) from "Arrested Development"
LOCATION
Fisherman's Village, which stood in for Oceanside Wharf on "Arrested Development", was home to the Bluth Banana Stand.
ADDRESS
Fisherman's Wharf
13755 Fiji Way
Marina del Rey, CA
Fisherman's Wharf on Facebook
STORY & PHOTOS
We are finally getting new episodes of "Arrested Development" in 2013 - seriously, best news ever - so has there ever been a better time to get psyched and visit a bunch of "AD" filming locations?
In the pilot episode, we're introduced to the family's banana stand, Bluth's Original Frozen Banana, which is supposedly located on Balboa Island in Newport Beach:
We also see a wider shot from the parking lot in second-season episode "Afternoon Delight", when Michael has to get a crane to lift the vandalized banana stand out of the water:
I wrote a post about the real Balboa Island banana stands that may have inspired the Bluth's -- read it here. Much of the on-location action, however, took place at Fisherman's Village in Marina del Rey, and 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.
Sadly, I think the bell, bench, and welcome sign that you see in the background of this scene (renamed Oceanside Wharf) have since been removed.
The round blue tables that George Michael and gang routinely sat at are there. You can see them behind Maeby in this shot from the pilot:
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.")
And, finally, docked at Fisherman's Village is the Marina Hornblower -- also known as the boat George Sr. was arrested on. (Remember the whole family was on it in the pilot, and Lucille was incensed that a group of homosexuals was protesting?)
It's usually there, and easy to snap a photo with. You can see it in the background of Gob and Michael's conversation in the pilot:
So go check out the Bluths' old stomping ground!
STORY & PHOTO CREDITS
Written by Christina LeBlanc
Location photos by Christina LeBlanc
