The Original Pantry Cafe, a beloved Los Angeles institution that operated for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, closed its doors on March 2, 2025, after a dispute between unionizing workers and the restaurant’s owner, the Richard J. Riordan family trust. The cafe, which specialized in classic comfort food like ham steak and eggs, pancakes, and fried potatoes, was famous for its lack of door locks and only closed a few times in its history.
The cafe’s owner, Richard Riordan, purchased it in 1981 after a server told him he was eating too slowly while reading a book. Riordan operated the cafe for decades, opening a tavern next door and serving generations of Angelenos. However, after his death in 2023, his family trust assumed ownership and planned to sell the restaurant.
The closure comes amid a surge in union activity, with workers protesting outside the cafe’s location and filing an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board. The union claims that the closure violates federal labor law, but the NLRB dismissed the charge due to “lack of cooperation from the Charging Party.” The case remains unresolved.
Fans waited hours over the weekend to get a final taste of the cafe’s famous food and atmosphere, which drew in a diverse crowd of families, business types, night owls, and college kids. The closure marks the end of an era for Los Angeles’ iconic restaurant scene, which has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and recent wildfires.
As the situation continues to unfold, the union is pushing for new owners to honor the existing labor contract. “It’s still open from their perspective,” said union spokesperson Kurt Peterson. The cafe’s legacy will be remembered as one of the most iconic restaurants in Los Angeles history, and its closure serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by workers and small business owners in the city.
Source: https://la.eater.com/2025/3/3/24376938/the-original-pantry-cafe-restaurant-closing-los-angeles