Los Angeles stands poised to lose a culinary cornerstone as Cole’s French Dip, a storied restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles widely credited with inventing the iconic French dip sandwich, has announced its impending permanent closure. After 117 years of continuous operation, the establishment located in the historic Pacific Electric Building is set to serve its last meal on August 3, 2025.
The news marks the end of an era for a dining institution that has been a fixture in the city’s landscape for more than a century, predating much of modern Los Angeles itself. Its closure highlights the significant pressures facing long-standing independent restaurants in challenging economic times.
A Century of History and the French Dip Legacy
Founded in 1908 by Harry Cole, the restaurant quickly became a popular spot, deeply woven into the fabric of Downtown Los Angeles life. Situated within the grand Pacific Electric Building, which served as the hub for the vast railway system that once connected Southern California, Cole’s offered a convenient and classic dining experience to commuters, residents, and visitors alike.
Central to Cole’s enduring fame is its connection to the French dip sandwich. While competing claims exist regarding the true originator, Cole’s has long maintained its own compelling origin story. According to the restaurant’s history, the creation is attributed to house chef Jack Garlinghouse. The tale recounts that in 1908, Chef Garlinghouse was preparing a sandwich for a customer who was complaining of sore gums. To soften the bread and make it easier to chew, Garlinghouse reportedly dipped the sliced French roll in the pan drippings (au jus) from the roasted meat. The customer was delighted, and the French dip sandwich was born, quickly becoming a signature dish and an enduring American culinary classic.
Over the decades, Cole’s preserved its vintage ambiance, complete with sawdust on the floor, dark wood paneling, and a classic bar, offering patrons a step back in time. This commitment to tradition, coupled with its signature sandwich and classic cocktails, cemented its status as a beloved Los Angeles landmark and a must-visit destination for both locals and tourists seeking a taste of the city’s past.
Economic Headwinds Force Difficult Decision
Owner Cedd Moses, a prominent figure in Downtown Los Angeles’ hospitality scene, conveyed the difficulty of the decision to close the historic restaurant. In a statement, Moses cited a confluence of challenging factors that made continued operation unsustainable. The reasons articulated paint a picture of the persistent economic difficulties impacting the restaurant industry, particularly those with large footprints and significant overheads like Cole’s.
Key among the reasons cited is the “ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.” While initial closures and restrictions were temporary, the pandemic’s lasting effects, including shifts in dining habits, reduced foot traffic in urban centers, and lingering supply chain issues, have continued to strain businesses years later. For a restaurant heavily reliant on its Downtown location, the slower-than-anticipated return to pre-pandemic activity levels significantly impacted revenue.
Compounding these challenges, Moses also pointed to “increasing labor costs.” The cost of employing staff, including wages, benefits, and other associated expenses, has risen substantially in recent years. For a labor-intensive business like a full-service restaurant, these escalating costs directly affect profitability and operational viability, requiring difficult decisions regarding staffing levels and pricing.
Furthermore, Moses highlighted “the effects of the 2023 writers and actors strikes.” These prolonged labor disputes within the entertainment industry had a cascading effect on the Los Angeles economy, particularly impacting businesses in areas like Downtown that rely on the activity generated by studios, production companies, and associated industries. The strikes led to reduced business travel, fewer events, and a general slowdown in economic activity, directly impacting the customer base for restaurants like Cole’s over an extended period.
The Broader Picture for Historic Eateries
Cedd Moses underscored that the challenges faced by Cole’s are not unique. He noted that “many historical independent restaurants are facing similar struggles.” This observation resonates with trends seen across the nation, where rising operational costs, changing consumer behaviors, and the lingering effects of economic disruptions pose significant threats to long-standing, independent establishments that often lack the financial cushion or standardized operations of larger chains.
Historic restaurants, while cherished for their character and legacy, often operate in older buildings that require significant maintenance, have less flexible layouts than modern establishments, and rely heavily on established, sometimes aging, clientele bases and business models that are difficult to rapidly adapt to changing market conditions and economic pressures.
A Farewell to an Institution
The impending closure of Cole’s French Dip represents more than just the loss of a restaurant; it signifies the departure of a piece of Los Angeles history. For 117 years, it served as a gathering place, a link to the past, and the home of an iconic sandwich that fed generations. Its dark, cozy interior and classic menu offered a tangible connection to the city’s early 20th-century roots.
As the August 3, 2025, closure date approaches, patrons will undoubtedly flock to the Pacific Electric Building to experience the historic space and savor the famous French dip sandwich one last time. The closure serves as a poignant reminder of the economic fragility faced by beloved, independent businesses, even those with legacies spanning over a century, in a rapidly changing world.
