Downtown Los Angeles Restaurants Close Amid Rising Homelessness and Safety Concerns
Several long-standing restaurants in Downtown Los Angeles have closed or announced closures in recent months, citing escalating issues with homelessness, crime, and the associated costs of maintaining a clean and safe environment for customers.
Iconic establishments like Cole’s French Dip, a 117-year-old landmark, have been forced to confront daily challenges including cleaning debris and addressing safety concerns before opening their doors. The owner of Cole’s stated plainly that the neighborhood had deteriorated to a point where survival was no longer possible. Similar struggles are being felt at Langer’s Deli, famed for its No. 19 pastrami sandwich, where owner Norm Langer told reporters earlier this year, “We’re doing what the city should be doing,” referring to the daily cleanup of drug paraphernalia. This situation highlights a growing crisis for businesses in the city center.
Data from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority indicates a 10 percent rise in homelessness within the city in 2023, reaching approximately 46,000 people, with a 15 percent increase in encampments specifically in the downtown core. Illegal dumping complaints citywide rose 5 percent in 2024, and street sweeping has been reduced to bi-weekly service. The city’s response, including Mayor Karen Bass’s Inside Safe program and increased cleanup efforts, is supplemented by over $20 million in annual spending by Business Improvement Districts for private security and sanitation. For more information on homelessness in Los Angeles, visit the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority website.
Since 2023, at least five downtown restaurants – Cole’s French Dip, Nickel Diner, Yxta Cocina Mexicana, Guerrilla Tacos, and the Original Pantry Café – have shuttered or announced closures, signaling a broader trend of businesses struggling to operate in the current environment. The closures could impact the city’s tourism and economic vitality. The situation underscores the challenges facing urban centers nationwide as they grapple with the complexities of homelessness and public safety, as explored in this Brookings Institution report on urban challenges.
City officials maintain they are working to address the issues, but the future remains uncertain for many downtown businesses.
