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6d ago

Cole’s French Dip to Close After 117 Years in Downtown Los Angeles

The announcement highlights steep costs, rising crime as well as growing regulatory burdens on century-old independent eateries.

The sign for Cole's restaurant in downtown Los Angeles seen on July 7, 2025. The 117-year-old restaurant is slated to close on August 3.
The exterior of Cole’s French Dip in Downtown Los Angeles.
A French dip sandwich at Cole’s, which claims to have invented it.
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Overview

  • Owner Cedd Moses of Pouring With Heart confirmed August 3 as Cole’s final day of service after 117 continuous years.
  • Moses attributed the closure to pandemic fallout, the 2023 Hollywood strikes, high labor and rent costs, crime and mounting bureaucracy.
  • Founded by Henry Cole in 1908 at the Pacific Electric Building, Cole’s claims to have invented the French dip sandwich alongside rival Philippe the Original.
  • The shutdown follows earlier shutterings of other legacy venues this year, including the Original Pantry Café and Pacific Dining Car.
  • Neither preservation efforts nor landmark designation has shielded independent eateries from systemic economic and urban challenges.