The owners of West Hollywood's Dialog Cafe anticipate a closure of several months following a catastrophic water main break on the Sunset Strip. The incident, which occurred Thursday morning, sent millions of gallons of water flooding across the boulevard and into surrounding businesses, including the cafe located on Holloway Drive.
Co-owners Tadeh and Nareh Ghazalian, who have operated the cafe for 18 years, described the scene as devastating. "We’re just trying to get back on our feet – it’s a crazy situation," Tadeh Ghazalian told the California Post, as workers assessed the damage. Among the submerged items was a $30,000 espresso machine imported from Italy. The interior of the cafe was coated in mud and filled with water.
The Ghazalian brothers have pledged to support their staff of over 90 employees, many of whom have been with the cafe for a decade. "The number one thing is to take care of staff," Tadeh Ghazalian stated. "Our team has been loyal to us. We want to make sure we’re there for everybody though this tough time."
As of Friday afternoon, a GoFundMe campaign had raised approximately $20,000 towards a $500,000 goal to aid in the recovery and reopening efforts. The owners are exploring options for a temporary pop-up location in a nearby space while repairs are underway.
The burst pipe, described as a century-old main, has led to extensive repairs on Sunset Boulevard. Utility workers were seen on site addressing the rupture and a resulting sinkhole.
The Ghazalians expressed hope for a strong return, with Tadeh Ghazalian proclaiming, "Don’t worry. We love what we do. Dialog is going to be back and we’re going to be doing it really, really well. We’re excited to come back strong."
He also urged authorities to prioritize infrastructure maintenance to prevent similar future disasters, calling the burst pipe a clear example of the consequences of neglecting public utilities. The cafe's patio is situated just yards from where the pipe fractured.
