LA's Original Pantry Cafe Reopens After Scandal
The iconic Original Pantry Cafe in Los Angeles has reopened under new management. The historic restaurant is aiming to regain public trust following an unspecified scandal that led to its closure.
The Original Pantry Cafe, a downtown Los Angeles institution since 1924, closed its doors in March 2025 amid a labor dispute. The closure followed the death of its longtime owner, former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, in 2023. The restaurant's management was then assumed by the Richard J. Riordan Trust. The controversy began when the Riordan Trust announced its intention to sell the property, leading to a conflict with UNITE HERE Local 11, the union representing the restaurant's employees. The union demanded that any new owner must honor the existing contract and protect the jobs of the long-term staff, some of whom had worked at the cafe for decades. When negotiations stalled, the trust threatened to close the restaurant. Following the closure, a deal was reached with real estate developer Leo Pustilnikov, who purchased the property. An agreement was brokered with UNITE HERE Local 11, ensuring that the former employees could return to their jobs. The reopening, anticipated for May 2026, comes with a new philanthropic mission. The restaurant will be operated in partnership with Hope the Mission, a nonprofit organization that provides services to people experiencing homelessness. All profits from The Original Pantry Cafe will now go towards supporting homeless shelters in Los Angeles. During its closure, some of the displaced cooks found temporary employment at East Los Tacos, which started a breakfast service to accommodate them. The new iteration of The Pantry is being called "a second serving," reflecting both its return and its new charitable focus. The Original Pantry Cafe has long been a landmark in Los Angeles, famous for its claim of never closing and for serving generations of Angelenos, including celebrities and politicians like Humphrey Bogart, Marilyn Monroe, and Martin Luther King Jr. The restaurant, a designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, first opened at a different location on 9th Street and moved in 1950 to make way for a freeway off-ramp. Its reopening under new ownership marks a new chapter for the 101-year-old establishment.
