New Ownership Is the Best LA Restaurant Trend of 2024 - Eater LA

"Sweet Lady Jane, an iconic Los Angeles bakery known for its triple berry cake, closed all six locations after 35 years of business on December 31, 2023, citing lease obligations and the rising costs of operations for its untimely end. Two weeks later, the Los Angeles Times revealed a class-action lawsuit filed against the bakery by former employees who allege wage theft may have contributed to the closure. In February, the CEO of Pacific French Bakery, Julie Ngu, a longtime Sweet Lady Jane fan, purchased the bakery’s equipment, recipes, branding, website, social media handles, and other intellectual property and declared that #JaneIsBack in social media posts. Though Ngu is not responsible for the company’s alleged mismanagement or the former owner’s debt, she’s making an effort to rehire its former employees." - Cathy Chaplin