Original Pantry Cafe Reopens in Los Angeles

The Original Pantry Cafe, a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument since 1982, originally opened in 1924 at 9th Street and Francisco Street. It moved to its now-famous location at 9th and Figueroa in 1950 to make way for a freeway off-ramp. The restaurant is known for its no-frills decor and classic American diner fare. For many years, the Pantry famously claimed to have never closed or been without a customer since its opening, a tradition only broken by the COVID-19 pandemic. This claim was also attributed to founder Dewey Logan's policy of never refusing service to anyone short on money. It did close briefly in 1997 by order of health inspectors. The restaurant was owned by former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan from 1981 until his death in 2023. Following Riordan's death, ownership transferred to the Richard J. Riordan Trust, which decided to sell the business. The closure in March 2025 stemmed from a labor dispute with UNITE HERE Local 11 regarding worker protections under new ownership. Real estate developer Leo Pustilnikov purchased the nearly 8,000-square-foot building and reached an agreement with UNITE HERE Local 11 to bring back the restaurant's employees. Pustilnikov intends to maintain the diner's original menu with minor changes and accept credit cards, a departure from its long-standing cash-only policy. The reopening aims to restore a piece of Los Angeles history, preserving the diner's legacy after 101 years of operation.