BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — It’s official. Playboy Enterprises and The Beverly Hills City Council cut the ribbon yesterday marking the return of Playboy world headquarters to the tony city.
Playboy’s operations had been operating from Chicago and Los Angeles locations that included a Santa Monica photo studio, and Glendale-area Andrita film studio and Media Center that also housed its hardcore Internet operation before its recent divestiture to Manwin.
And of course founder Hugh Hefner has been solidly entrenched in the Playboy Mansion in Holmby Hills.
The company’s new global headquarters will now occupy 45,000 square feet of office space near Beverly Hills City Hall. Hefner said all of the company’s divisions including the magazine and cable TV channel will be under one roof and close to his home.
“We have been spread out for many years in several cities and it is nice to bring everybody together,” Hefner said.
On hand for the event along with Hefner, was girlfriend Crystal Harris, son Cooper, Playboy executive vice president Dick Rosenzweig and CEO Scott Flanders.
“Believe it or not it’s actually a cost savings for us because we had twice as much space in Chicago than what we’ve needed to have here with the benefit of having everyone in one facility,” Flanders said.
Playboy is a welcomed addition to Beverly Hills that according to Mayor William Brien has been struggling to attract new business.
Flanders commented, “If Hef could rewrite his life, he might have started it right here in Beverly Hills.”
Playboy officially said goodbye to Chicago in a letter penned by Hefner in the Chicago Tribune last April.
Rosenzweig, who has been with Playboy since 1958, said, “It’s a great delight to be back in Beverly Hills, the greatest little city in the world. It just seemed logical that Beverly Hills is where we belong.”
Hefner’s son Cooper, and the heir apparent tweeted, “@CooperHefner Dad and I attended the ribbon cutting this afternoon of the new @Playboy headquarters in Beverly Hills. An exciting new chapter.”