Cole’s French Dip, a fixture in downtown Los Angeles for well over a century, will shutter permanently next month.
Cole’s, one of two restaurants in the city that claim to have invented the French dip sandwich, will close on Aug. 3, reported the Orange County Register. The other is Philippe The Original, which continues to operate.
Cole’s French Dip sits at 118 E. Sixth St., which is 2 1/2 blocks from the original Broadway alignment of Route 66 in downtown L.A.
Pouring With Heart, the company that runs the restaurant, issued this statement to the newspaper:
“The litany of reasons for closing are not unique to Cole’s alone; they are affecting most independent restaurants in Los Angeles. The global pandemic, the actors and writers strikes, overall crime, as well as the consistently rising costs of labor and goods, unsustainably high rents and mounting bureaucracy and legal exposure have all led to this unfortunate outcome,” read a statement emailed to the Southern California News Group and attributed to Pouring with Heart founder Cedd Moses and his staff.
“We have cherished our time serving the Downtown community, and will continue to craft great drinks and our renowned French dip sandwiches until we shutter. We care deeply about our family of staff and are immensely grateful for our amazing guests who have supported Cole’s over the years. We invite you to come in to see us this month before our departure, to laugh, to cry, to raise glasses, to eat, and to say your goodbyes right alongside us,” the statement read.
Cole’s was founded by Henry Cole in 1908. In 1974, it was designated a city Historic-Cultural Landmark.
(Image of Cole’s French Dip in Los Angeles by chenjack via Flickr)