Duke’s Malibu Promises to Reopen After Mudslides and Damage from Palisades Fire | Eater LA

"An oceanfront Malibu restaurant that suffered burn damage from the January 2025 Palisades Fire and then further harm from mudslides in February confirmed in an Instagram post on March 25 that it hopes to reopen this summer, describing the mudslide damage as "extensive" but saying it would welcome guests back "in a few months." The reopening confirmation followed reporting that a WARN notice was posted regarding the layoff of 126 employees effective March 28; the WARN Act requires employers to give a 60-day notice to employees before an impending mass layoff, closure, or relocation, and the Employment Development Department (EDD) maintains a publicly accessible database of WARN notices. An automated layoff tracker on X posted the notice that the restaurant would permanently close, prompting confusion; the restaurant clarified it plans to hire back its employees, and Jackie Reed, CEO of TS Restaurants (the group that runs the restaurant), said the restaurant was "forced to enact layoffs" due to the ongoing temporary closure. SF Gate first reported the permanent closure and Eater LA has reached out for further comment. The site has housed restaurants since at least 1915 (originally the Las Flores Inn), became the Sea Lion Restaurant in 1944, and was established as the current operation in 1996; over its 29 years it has become one of Malibu's essential restaurants, serving generations of locals and tourists who seek ocean-view dinner." - Rebecca Roland