Eight Los Angeles Restaurants Close Amid Summer Surge
From celebrity hotspots to long-standing institutions, a wave of closures has hit the city's dining scene between May and late July.
Los Angeles is experiencing a significant wave of restaurant closures, with at least eight notable establishments shutting their doors between May and late July. The closures span various types of eateries, including celebrity favorites, chef-driven restaurants, and newer ventures.
Among the most prominent closures is Crustacean in Beverly Hills, a Vietnamese fusion restaurant that had been a fixture for 30 years. Owned by the An family, the restaurant was known for its garlic noodles and celebrity clientele. Elizabeth An, CEO of the House of An restaurant group, stated that the landlord had other plans for the property.
Another significant closure is Connie & Ted’s in West Hollywood, a seafood restaurant that operated for over a decade. The team behind Connie & Ted’s cited a combination of pandemic repercussions, rising operational costs, and the general challenges of running a restaurant in Los Angeles as reasons for its closure on July 1.
Wolfgang Puck’s Merois, a rooftop restaurant in West Hollywood, also closed quietly on May 1. This closure followed the earlier shuttering of Puck's Ospero at the same location.
Beverly Hills also saw the closure of Nerano, an upscale Italian restaurant, on July 25 after ten years in business. The Brandon-Gordon brothers, who opened Nerano, also own other California restaurants.
Drake’s Hollywood, a restaurant that opened three years ago, closed suddenly in late July. Employees reportedly received final paychecks as the establishment was being cleared out.
In Venice, Cinque Terre West permanently closed its location in June. The owners, Marlo and chef Gianbattista Vinzoni, have relocated to Texas and opened a new establishment there. Their original Pacific Palisades restaurant was previously destroyed in a wildfire.
VooDoo Doughnut, the Portland-based chain, closed its Venice Beach location in June after only one year. The shop was popular for its unique doughnut flavors and late-night service.
Dialogue Cafe, a West Hollywood spot popular with influencers, has uncertain prospects after suffering extensive damage from a recent water main break. The damage affected nearby businesses and infrastructure, and the cafe’s team has indicated that reopening will not be quick, declining to provide a specific timeline.