Beloved LA restaurant forced to close after 117 years

Daily Mail​

09-07-2025

A beloved restaurant in California , that claims the invention of an iconic Los Angeles staple, has announced it will close its doors for good after 117 years as rampant crime continues to wreck havoc in LA. Cole's French Dip, inventor of the French Dip Sandwich, announced it will permanently close on August 3 due to the rampant crime in the area that has been felt by businesses throughout LA. 'After exhaustive deliberation and numerous attempts at last ditch efforts, our beloved Los Angeles institution, Cole's, Originators of the French Dip, has made the difficult decision to close its doors,' a spokesperson said in a statement to DailyMail.com.
'The litany of reasons for closing are not unique to Cole's alone; they are affecting most independent restaurants in Los Angeles...Many Historical Independent Restaurants are struggling under the weight of these issues and have already closed, while those remaining are fighting to survive.' The statement cited further issues such as the Covid-19 Pandemic, the actors and writers strikes, the consistent rising costs of labor and goods, high rent costs, 'mounting bureaucracy and legal exposure'.
The restaurant and bar, founded by Harry Cole in 1908, has been a favorite in the area for many years and was named a city Historic-Cultural Landmark in 1974, according to their website. Cole's claims the invention of the French Dip Sandwich, as well as being the oldest public house in LA, after one of the original house chef's, Jack Garlinghouse, dipped bread in Au Jus to soften it for a customer with bad gums.
'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,' the statement said. Yet, their longstanding history and iconic reputation has proved to be unable to withstand LA's climate of crime and rising costs.
The city has become a byword for crime, riots and homelessness, amid claims local Democrat lawmakers pay little attention to those affected by the city's many social issues. Accounts of vicious attacks as well as widespread riots and chaos has poured out from the Los Angeles area over recent years, as the once iconic, star-studded area has descended into despair. LA county is spending hundreds of millions to combat its notorious homelessness, while many politicians have seen the efforts as simply condoning drug use.
Republican State Sen. Roger Niello said the state needed to improve the lives of homeless people with stricter drug policies, and argued that providing drugs or offering housing would enable homeless behavior, the LA Daily News reported. Earlier this year, a homeless man allegedly tried to start a fire with a blowtorch before he was tackled by locals who zip-tied the man in a citizen's arrest. Locals claimed the man was riding a bicycle around the Woodland Hills neighborhood carrying a large 'propane tank or a flamethrower.'
Donna DeChristoper, 52, was walking in her usually safe and walkable area when the man began sprinting and attacking her without warning. The man, described as a Hispanic male in his 20s, allegedly punched her in the face three or four times before fleeing the scene. DeChristopher lost consciousness and believed she may have been hit again while on the ground. She was left with a broken nose, stitches, and significant trauma to her face.
Councilmember Nithya Raman, who represents the district, responded with a statement: 'While our work has yielded results, including a 40 percent drop in the number of people living on the streets in our district last year, much more remains to be done and we will continue to deploy every resource available toward address this issue.'