It’s hard to believe that the Pantry is closed. It’s one of those places that seemed liked it had been around forever, and it seemed like it would go on forever. I think I started going to the Pantry back in the 70s. Back then it was open 24-hours. If you were going to a movie or to see a band in Downtown, it was the perfect place to stop afterwards. They served breakfast all day and the coffee kept coming.

The Pantry is now owned by a trust set up by former LA Mayor Richard Riordan. According to the trust, the Pantry is not profitable, and they’re hoping to sell it to fund the charitable work of the Riordan Foundation. It will be interesting to see who buys it. Obviously, the property, located in the heart of Downtown, is worth a fortune, but demolishing the restaurant to build something larger will probably not be easy. The Pantry is designated as an LA City Historic Cultural Monument. That would complicate any plans for new development.

This all just feels really sad. The older I get, the more I understand that the world is always changing and that nothing lasts forever. But I still feel like I’m losing a piece of my life. And I think a lot of other people are feeling the same way.

For more details, see this article from LAist.

The Pantry Closes