Joe’s Apartment from the Second Season of “You”

The second season of You couldn’t have been more quintessentially L.A.!  Nowhere is that more evident than in the apartment building that served as Joe Goldberg’s (Penn Badgley) new West Coast home.  As a reader commented about the place to me last week on Facebook, “It seems like I’ve passed it 284739484 times in my travels.”  I’m guessing that was by design.  Producers likely picked the building based on its universal Los Angeles appeal.  It literally looks like almost every other apartment complex in the city – and is exactly the sort of spot Joe would have selected in his attempt to blend in while hiding out in La La Land.  Despite its ubiquitousness, though, thankfully the place was a cinch to track down!

In the first episode of the season, titled “A Fresh Start,” an address number of “1830” was visible above the stairwell leading up to Joe’s apartment in several scenes.  Being that much of the episode was shot in Los Feliz, I decided to start my search there and, voila, it wasn’t long before I found Joe’s new building at 1830 Winona Boulevard.  I ran out to stalk it shortly thereafter.

Along with Anavrin, the Streamline Moderne complex was Season 2’s most prominent locale.

In real life, the 1953 building looks much the same as it did onscreen.

A few minor changes were made for the production, though, including the addition of a courtyard fountain . . .

. . . which, as you can see, is not a real element of the building.

Some fake drought-resistant foliage was also draped over the second-floor railings for the shoot.

Though my photos don’t show it well, nothing adorns the railings in actuality.

Addressed 1824 to 1834 Winona Boulevard, the complex is also quite a bit larger than it appeared on You, which only showcased its central courtyard area.

In real life, the property features covered parking, an onsite manager, and 25 units with hardwood flooring and crown moldings throughout.

The building also boasts some fabulous mid-century flourishes.

On You, Joe lived in the rear northernmost second-floor unit overlooking the courtyard.

That apartment is numbered 3 in real life.

I am fairly certain that only the exterior of Unit 3 was used in the filming and that the inside of Joe’s apartment was a set, though it does bear a resemblance to the interior of other units in the building, one of which you can see here.  While Joe calls the place “Home, sweet prison,” it’s actually pretty darn nice – and so very L.A.!  In fact, it is pretty much a carbon copy of the apartment the Grim Cheaper called home when we first met.

I believe the laundry room shown on the series also may have been a set, though, per this rental listing, the building does boast laundry facilities in real life.

The only substantial discrepancy between the real building and its onscreen counterpart is the fact that the house belonging to Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti) isn’t situated directly behind it as is purported on the series.  Love’s residence can instead be found a good three miles away at 3022 Windsor Avenue in Silver Lake.  You can check out some photos of it here.

For more stalking fun, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Los Angeles magazine and Discover Los Angeles.

Until next time, Happy Stalking!

Stalk It: Joe’s apartment from Season 2 of You is located at 1830 Winona Boulevard in Los Feliz.

‘