After Its Sudden Closure, Landmark Los Angeles Diner the Original Pantry Cafe Will Reopen | Eater LA

"A landmark Los Angeles diner with a 101-year history, this legendary around-the-clock spot is set to reopen after a sudden March 2025 closure tied to a dispute between unionized workers and the Richard J. Riordan family trust. New owner Leo Pustilnikov plans a New Year’s Eve reopening and has voluntarily agreed to rehire the workers and recognize Unite Here 11, which announced the news at a September 11 press conference. Opened in 1924 and moved to its current location in 1950, it was purchased by then–Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordan in 1981 and operated by him until his death in 2023. The diner rarely closed—legend has it it shut once in 1997 for a failed health inspection before reopening the next day—and for most of its life ran 24/7, though post-COVID it cut overnight hours. Daily crowds pile into the checkered-floor interior for French toast, omelets, and pancakes. At the announcement, balloons arched over the doorway, a red ribbon was cut, and a pancake-shaped cake was sliced, as Pustilnikov called the Pantry “the story of LA” and hoped its return would help Downtown’s rebirth; though the doors didn’t reopen that day, the place felt alive again." - Rebecca Roland