Latest news with #PapaCristo's
Eater
3 days ago
- Business
- Eater
The Saddest Restaurant Closures to Know in Los Angeles, May 2025
Los Angeles's restaurants continue to face difficult headwinds, starting in 2020 with the onset of a global pandemic and exacerbating with the Hollywood labor strikes in 2023 , which led to an industry-wide slowdown that's continued into 2025. From the lingering impacts of the Hollywood strikes to adverse weather and increased costs (labor, rent, ingredients, etc.), many variables continue to batter restaurant owners who operate on razor-thin margins. Los Angeles restaurants also continue to struggle with the impact from the 2025 fires , including slow business and devastating property loss. Here are notable restaurant closures for May. For more closure news, visit our 2024 round-up . Papa Cristo's— After 77 years on the corner of Pico and Normandie, legendary Los Angeles Greek restaurant and market Papa Cristo's closed permanently on May 4. LAist reports that owner Chrys Chrys pointed to rising rent costs as the ultimate reason for the closure. Sam Chrys, Chrys's father, first opened C & K Importing Company in 1948 to bring food and wine over from Greece to offer to the Los Angeles community, which later became Papa Cristo's. Over the years, Papa Cristo's became an essential part of Los Angeles's restaurant scene, feeding generations of those looking for a taste of the Aegean. Gigi's— Upscale Hollywood French restaurant Gigi's closed on May 10 after nearly five years. The restaurant opened in November 2020 in Hollywood's Sycamore Avenue corridor alongside Tartine and Sightglass Coffee. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant was only able to offer outdoor dining at first, but later opened its 60-seat dining room. The menu channeled bistro classics infused with California sensibilities, with dishes like endive salad, steak tartare, escargot, and braised short rib. Guido's— Guido's, a longstanding Sawtelle red sauce Italian restaurant, is closing on May 31 after 46 years. Open since 1979, the restaurant is well known for its old-school charm, tuxedoed servers, and red leather booths. The restaurant specializes in Italian classics, serving sizable portions of Italian classics like eggplant Parmigiana, spaghetti Bolognese, and chicken picatta. Mars— Hollywood cocktail bar Mars, which was located behind Mother Wolf, closed in April 2025. The bar first opened in January 2024 with a $5,000 per year membership that came with a personal spirits locker, priority seating, and invitations to special events. The bar has been replaced with La Ola, a new Roman-inspired cocktail lounge from acclaimed chef Evan Funke and Giancarlo Pagani, the managing partner of Mother Wolf Group. Checo's Seafood 106 Underground— Inglewood seafood restaurant Checo's Seafood 106 Underground closed on May 1 after a year open. Operated by chef Sergio 'Checo' Peñuelas, who is known as the 'Snook Whisperer,' Checo's served camaron tacos, aguachiles, and pescado zarandeado. Peñuelas first rose to prominence when the late Jonathan Gold wrote highly of his cooking in an LA Weekly review of Coni'Seafood in 2011. Sign up for our newsletter.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Owner of Papa Cristo's, beloved LA restaurant, opens about decision to close after 77 years
The Brief Beloved Greek restaurant, Papa Cristo, is saying goodbye after 77 years. The restaurant is located in LA's Pico-Union neighborhood. The owner said his decision comes after a "rent dispute." LOS ANGELES - Longstanding Greek restaurant Papa Cristo's, which has been serving the Los Angeles community and beyond for the past 77 years, is permanently closing its doors in May. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Papa Cristo's, iconic LA Greek restaurant, permanently closing after 77 years in business What we know The owner of Papa Cristo's, Chrys Chrys, opened up about the upcoming closure, saying it is because of a "rent dispute." However, he said they will still continue operations through his two daughters with deliveries. Chrys Chrys said the restaurant is about more than the delicious cuisine; it's also about the family atmosphere. The restaurant was founded by Chrys Chrys' father, Sam Chrys, along with his wife, Annie. It opened at the intersection of Pico Boulevard and Normandie Avenue in the historic Byzantine-Latino quarter in October 1948. In announcing the news, Chrys Chrys expressed thanks to the longtime customers of the beloved Greek eatery over the years."I have been blessed to carry on my father's legacy as C&K Importing and Papa Cristo's grew into a place where flavors, friendships, families and memories came together under one roof." Papa Cristo's becomes one of the latest restaurants to close its doors in LA. SUGGESTED COVERAGE: Guido's in LA's Westside is closing Original Pantry Cafe: Employees, union workers continue fighting to preserve iconic LA diner Iconic Burbank restaurant Chili John's in danger of closing after 79 years The Source Information from interviews with the owner of Papa Cristo's.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Papa Cristo's, iconic LA Greek restaurant, permanently closing after 77 years in business
LOS ANGELES - Longstanding Greek restaurant Papa Cristo's, which has been serving the Los Angeles community and beyond for the past 77 years, is permanently closing its doors. What we know Chrys Chrys, the son of Papa Cristo's founder Sam Chrys, shared the sad news in a Facebook post on April 3. The restaurant will close on May 4. The backstory The family-run business was founded by Sam Chrys, with his wife Annie by his side. The restaurant first opened its doors on the corner of Pico and Normandie in October 1948. SUGGESTED: Olive Garden loses its spot as top US casual dining restaurant after 7 years: report The Greek landmark serves traditional and authentic Greek homestyle dishes like "the ones your grandmother used to make." Popular dishes among Yelpers include the Papa Cristo's chili, lamb chops, and gyro sandwich. What they're saying In announcing the news, Chrys Chrys expressed thanks to the longtime customers of the beloved Greek eatery over the years. "I have been blessed to carry on my father's legacy as C&K Importing and Papa Cristo's grew into a place where flavors, friendships, families and memories came together under one roof." SUGGESTED: Hooters files for bankruptcy, plans sale of all company-owned restaurants "After 77 unforgettable years on the corner of Pico and Normandie, it's time for me to hang up my apron and for us to say goodbye (for now). On May 4, 2025, we will close this chapter with our hearts full of love and gratitude for the incredible community that has supported us for generations." "To all of our cherished customers and devoted staff, I say ευχαριστώ (thank you!). You are my family, and Papa Cristo's will always be a part of yours." What's next Further plans were not announced, but Chrys ended the message with an air of mystery. SUGGESTED: Original Pantry Cafe: Employees, union workers continue fighting to preserve iconic LA diner "P.S. The story of Papa Cristo's doesn't end here—exciting things are coming," he wrote. The Source Information for this story is from a Facebook post by Papa Cristo's on April 3, 2025.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Papa Cristo's is closing, joining growing list of struggling longtime restaurants in L.A.
A Greek institution on May 4 will serve its last flame-kissed grilled lamb, its final pillowy potatoes, its saganaki swan song. After 77 years, the family-owned restaurant Papa Cristo's is closing, with its building listed for sale. What began as a Greek market in 1948 expanded to a full-fledged restaurant and community staple over decades. It's united generations of Angelenos who've flocked to the edge of Pico-Union for specialty goods and Greek feasts from three generations of the Chrys family. The restaurant became the unofficial heart of the Byzantine-Latino Quarter, a small historic-cultural district, along with the St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral nearby. 'It finally came to a point where we decided we're gonna go on our terms,' said Mark Yordon, the cousin of owner Chrys Chrys, and a member of the family business for roughly 40 years. 'We're not gonna wait for a buyer to come in and say, 'OK, I'm going to turn it into a hotel.' ' Yordon declined to confirm that rent increases influenced the decision to close, but Chrys told LAist that rising rent was the culprit. 'The rent got too high,' he said, 'and there's nothing we can do about it. ... Tenants are pawns to the landlords.' Read more: In the kitchen: Papa Cristo's classes, new potatoes and recipe testing Yordon, who works as the general manager, said the family came to the decision upon learning the building was listed for sale. The Papa Cristo's lot, which is zoned for mixed-use or high-density residential purposes, is currently listed at $5.2 million. Its listing agent could not be reached for comment. 'The whole corner is for sale, and it's never been for sale,' Yordon said. 'It belonged to the same Greek family that had associations with Chrys' dad and the current [lot] owner's grandfather. It goes way back, to 1948.' Sam Chrys founded what would become Papa Cristo's as C&K Importing Co. in 1948. The market sold imported Greek foods and wine, and continues to do so today alongside broader Mediterranean and European specialty items. In 1968, Chrys Chrys purchased the business from his father, and eventually took over an adjacent burger stand to transform it into Papa Cristo's Taverna. The generous portions and convivial setting helped solidify Papa Cristo's as a decades-long community staple for the neighborhood and far beyond it, and in 2010 Chrys' youngest daughter, Annie, joined the trade. The last few years haven't been as easy for Papa Cristo's, which like so many local businesses saw steep revenue downturns during the pandemic. But the market allowed for some sales to continue, and the restaurant's catering operation — which Yordon primarily oversees — helped keep the family business afloat and its staff employed. In the years following, inflation led to slimmer profit margins. Now with tariffs on the horizon, Yordon mused, 'maybe this was a good time to go.' Since the news broke, throngs of fans streamed into the restaurant and market. Hundreds of online comments are shouting for someone to save the business. There could be a future where Papa Cristo's opens in a smaller location elsewhere, though Yordon said that fate will be determined by his cousin and nieces. It's also possible that Chrys, now 80, will take this opportunity to retire. 'He's kind of getting to his limit,' Yordon said. 'Heavy lies the head that wears the crown.' But a public statement from Chrys on Thursday hinted that this might not be the end of Papa Cristo's. 'After 77 years on the corner of Pico and Normandie, it's time for me to hang up my apron and for us to say goodbye (for now),' he posted to the restaurant's Instagram page, adding, "P.S. The story of Papa Cristo's doesn't end here — exciting things are coming." Some of the city's longest-running and most cherished restaurants have announced a struggle to survive, or closed outright in the last few weeks. Chili John's in Burbank, which opened in 1946, recently launched a fundraiser to help keep the business afloat. An owner last month said that without an increase in sales they could close in the coming months. Recently Du-Par's CEO said the 1938-founded diner famed for its hotcakes at a corner of the Original Farmers Market is also struggling. Frances Tario told 'L.A. in a Minute' podcaster Evan Lovett that immigration crackdowns, increasing egg prices and a loss of business from the city's January wildfires have hurt one of the city's oldest surviving restaurants. Tario could not be reached for comment. Last week decades-old French restaurant Le Petit Four closed its doors for good amid a string of West Hollywood shutterings. Last month, after 101 years of service, the Original Pantry closed and left Angelenos bereft. Newer restaurants are also closing at a rapid clip, with a number of notable closures in the first half of the year that included Guerilla Tacos, Cosa Buona, Sage, and Wexler's Deli in Grand Central Market. 'It's been a real avalanche,' said local historian and tour guide Kim Cooper. 'Many, many factors are piling up on top of each other and people are making very hard decisions.' Cooper operates walking-tour and historic-preservation-minded company Esotouric with her husband, Richard Schave. The two of them have been patrons of the restaurant for years. Read more: Esotouric tours explores L.A.'s dark side Especially given the rash of closures and struggles of some of the city's oldest restaurants, Schave and Cooper hope to see more local and state programs that aid legacy businesses and provide support before it's too late. The pair suggested two potential scenarios that could save the restaurant. Maybe, they said, new state law SB 4, which is designed to help faith-based organizations build affordable housing, could help the surrounding Greek Orthodox community with deep ties to Papa Cristo's to develop the lot. Or, they said, history-minded restaurateurs could purchase the business from the Chrys family with the promise of ensuring its survival, as Marc Rose and Med Abrous did for Fairfax restaurant Genghis Cohen: an operation now undergoing its own land sale and relocation. 'By the time people who love these places hear that they're in trouble, it's often gotten too far and they're announcing a closure,' Cooper said. 'It feels like Los Angeles is disappearing. We've got to save it.' Sign up for our Tasting Notes newsletter for restaurant reviews, Los Angeles food-related news and more. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
06-04-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Papa Cristo's is closing, joining growing list of struggling longtime restaurants in L.A.
A Greek institution on May 4 will serve its last flame-kissed grilled lamb, its final pillowy potatoes, its saganaki swan song. After 77 years, the family-owned restaurant Papa Cristo's is closing, with its building listed for sale. What began as a Greek market in 1948 expanded to a full-fledged restaurant and community staple over decades. It's united generations of Angelenos who've flocked to the edge of Pico-Union for specialty goods and Greek feasts from three generations of the Chrys family. The restaurant became the unofficial heart of the Byzantine-Latino Quarter, a small historic-cultural district, along with the St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral nearby. 'It finally came to a point where we decided we're gonna go on our terms,' said Mark Yordon, the cousin of owner Chrys Chrys, and a member of the family business for roughly 40 years. 'We're not gonna wait for a buyer to come in and say, 'OK, I'm going to turn it into a hotel.' ' Yordon declined to confirm that rent increases influenced the decision to close, but Chrys told LAist that rising rent was the culprit. 'The rent got too high,' he said, 'and there's nothing we can do about it. ... Tenants are pawns to the landlords.' Yordon, who works as the general manager, said the family came to the decision upon learning the building was listed for sale. The Papa Cristo's lot, which is zoned for mixed-use or high-density residential purposes, is currently listed at $5.2 million. Its listing agent could not be reached for comment. 'The whole corner is for sale, and it's never been for sale,' Yordon said. 'It belonged to the same Greek family that had associations with Chrys' dad and the current [lot] owner's grandfather. It goes way back, to 1948.' Sam Chrys founded what would become Papa Cristo's as C&K Importing Co. in 1948. The market sold imported Greek foods and wine, and continues to do so today alongside broader Mediterranean and European specialty items. In 1968, Chrys Chrys purchased the business from his father, and eventually took over an adjacent burger stand to transform it into Papa Cristo's Taverna. The generous portions and convivial setting helped solidify Papa Cristo's as a decades-long community staple for the neighborhood and far beyond it, and in 2010 Chrys' youngest daughter, Annie, joined the trade. The last few years haven't been as easy for Papa Cristo's, which like so many local businesses saw steep revenue downturns during the pandemic. But the market allowed for some sales to continue, and the restaurant's catering operation — which Yordon primarily oversees — helped keep the family business afloat and its staff employed. In the years following, inflation led to slimmer profit margins. Now with tariffs on the horizon, Yordon mused, 'maybe this was a good time to go.' Since the news broke, throngs of fans streamed into the restaurant and market. Hundreds of online comments are shouting for someone to save the business. There could be a future where Papa Cristo's opens in a smaller location elsewhere, though Yordon said that fate will be determined by his cousin and nieces. It's also possible that Chrys, now 80, will take this opportunity to retire. 'He's kind of getting to his limit,' Yordon said. 'Heavy lies the head that wears the crown.' But a public statement from Chrys on Thursday hinted that this might not be the end of Papa Cristo's. 'After 77 years on the corner of Pico and Normandie, it's time for me to hang up my apron and for us to say goodbye (for now),' he posted to the restaurant's Instagram page, adding, 'P.S. The story of Papa Cristo's doesn't end here — exciting things are coming.' Some of the city's longest-running and most cherished restaurants have announced a struggle to survive, or closed outright in the last few weeks. Chili John's in Burbank, which opened in 1946, recently launched a fundraiser to help keep the business afloat. An owner last month said that without an increase in sales they could close in the coming months. Recently Du-Par's CEO said the 1938-founded diner famed for its hotcakes at a corner of the Original Farmers Market is also struggling. Frances Tario told 'L.A. in a Minute' podcaster Evan Lovett that immigration crackdowns, increasing egg prices and a loss of business from the city's January wildfires have hurt one of the city's oldest surviving restaurants. Tario could not be reached for comment. Last week decades-old French restaurant Le Petit Four closed its doors for good amid a string of West Hollywood shutterings. Last month, after 101 years of service, the Original Pantry closed and left Angelenos bereft. Newer restaurants are also closing at a rapid clip, with a number of notable closures in the first half of the year that included Guerilla Tacos, Cosa Buona, Sage, and Wexler's Deli in Grand Central Market. 'It's been a real avalanche,' said local historian and tour guide Kim Cooper. 'Many, many factors are piling up on top of each other and people are making very hard decisions.' Cooper operates walking-tour and historic-preservation-minded company Esotouric with her husband, Richard Schave. The two of them have been patrons of the restaurant for years. Especially given the rash of closures and struggles of some of the city's oldest restaurants, Schave and Cooper hope to see more local and state programs that aid legacy businesses and provide support before it's too late. The pair suggested two potential scenarios that could save the restaurant. Maybe, they said, new state law SB 4, which is designed to help faith-based organizations build affordable housing, could help the surrounding Greek Orthodox community with deep ties to Papa Cristo's to develop the lot. Or, they said, history-minded restaurateurs could purchase the business from the Chrys family with the promise of ensuring its survival, as Marc Rose and Med Abrous did for Fairfax restaurant Genghis Cohen: an operation now undergoing its own land sale and relocation. 'By the time people who love these places hear that they're in trouble, it's often gotten too far and they're announcing a closure,' Cooper said. 'It feels like Los Angeles is disappearing. We've got to save it.'
