With surge in customers, Cole's French Dip delays closing date
'It's back to the old days temporarily, when we were packed all the time before the pandemic,' Moses said Thursday.
The last day of service for the landmark restaurant, which claims to have invented the French dip, was meant to be Aug. 2. Now, due to the outpouring of support from the community as well as advocacy from local organizations including DTLA Residents Association, Independent Hospitality Coalition, Historic Core BID, Central City Association and the DTLA Alliance, Moses has struck a deal with the space's landlord to extend service for 45 days.
'Diners and imbibers have been visiting from all across Southern California to say their goodbyes, for which we couldn't be more grateful,' read a statement announcing the extension. 'Though it's likely not going to be forever, it is still a gift to keep the ovens on, the drinks flowing and our family of staff employed for a little bit longer.'
Moses declined to detail the terms with the landlord but said sales have jumped dramatically since the closure announcement. Notably, the restaurant, which in the recent past has sold more drinks than food, is now selling as many dips as drinks, he said. As of last weekend, the restaurant is opening at noon on Saturdays and Sundays to accommodate the crowds.
'When places are closing, it's always such a celebration and a cast off,' said Eddie Navarrette, the executive director of the Independent Hospitality Coalition. 'People want to get in there and get emotional and have some of that nostalgic memory with a cocktail.
'It's the experience of being in the room one last time.'
Moses, who also sits on the board of the Independent Hospitality Coalition, said he is grateful for the surge in business. But he said it's unlikely Cole's will remain open indefinitely.
'We understand people are coming in now to say goodbye, and we can't count on that business being sustainable,' he said, adding that the restaurant business in L.A. remains a 'broken model.'
In addition to the lack of demand since the pandemic, Moses said increasing costs, particularly of labor, have been a major drag on the business.
'Coming out of the pandemic, we just assumed business would come roaring back,' he added. 'But unfortunately we never saw that surge of business that we expected until just this couple of weeks, ironically after we announced our closing.'
In the interim, Moses is actively looking for a new buyer of the business — one that will respect the historic value of Cole's, the oldest restaurant in the city.
'We have a lot of love for Cole's, so we don't want to sell it to just anybody,' he said. 'We want someone that's going to continue to take care of it in the future.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Politico
an hour ago
- Politico
BofA hires Lanza amid Trump threat
With Daniel Lippman BofA BRINGS ON LANZA: As the White House weighs an executive order targeting Wall Street heavyweights over perceived discrimination against conservative causes and the crypto industry, Bank of America has enlisted Mercury Public Affairs' Bryan Lanza to lobby for the lender, according to a newly filed disclosure. — Lanza, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, began working for Bank of America on July 1 on 'legislation and advocacy related to financial institutions,' the disclosure shows. The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that Trump could sign an order as soon as this week that would threaten fines against banks deemed to have dropped customers for political reasons. — The paper previously teased the move in June, which came after Trump torched top Wall Street CEOs for alleged 'debanking' practices in January. Banks have denied political discrimination. — A draft of the order 'directs bank regulators to investigate whether any financial institutions might have violated the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, antitrust laws or consumer financial-protection laws,' per WSJ. — While it doesn't name any specific banks, it 'appears to refer to an instance where Bank of America was accused of shutting down the accounts of a Christian organization operating in Uganda based on the organization's religious beliefs. The bank has said it closed the accounts because it doesn't serve small businesses operating outside the U.S.' — Trump reaffirmed his animosity toward Bank of America and other major lenders in an interview on CNBC today, accusing BoA, JPMorgan and others of refusing to accept his deposits, POLITICO's Michael Stratford reports. BoA spokesperson Bill Halldin told Michael the bank was supportive of the 'Trump administration's efforts to provide regulatory clarity to banks.' — Bank of America has a relatively miniscule lobbying footprint compared to its Wall Street peers, with only two other outside firms on retainer: Tiber Creek Group and Empire Consulting Group. Happy Tuesday and welcome to PI. Send tips, questions, complaints: Add me on Signal at caitlinoprysko.17, email me at coprysko@ and be sure to follow me on X: @caitlinoprysko. BIG SPENDERS AT THE NEW MAGA HANGOUT: Butterworth's, the French bistro that opened last year on Capitol Hill, has become the MAGA hotspot of the second Trump administration. The restaurant counts Trumpworld celebrities like Steve Bannon among its regulars and played host to top administration officials as well as celebrations for everything from Trump's inauguration to the confirmation of new U.S. Circuit Judge Emil Bove. — So it should be no surprise that the restaurant, which recently earned a spot on The Washington Post's list of the city's top 20 newcomers, has also become a destination for GOP campaigns and political groups. They have disclosed almost $45,000 in spending at Butterworth's since last year, according to campaign finance reports. — The restaurant's top campaign patron so far is the governance-focused Tuesday Group. The group's PAC shelled out $21,000 across three different occasions for event venue and food and beverage, according to FEC filings. The leadership PAC for first-term Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska) reported $12,000 in disbursements for event rental and catering at Butterworth's in December and January, filings show. — Also among the top spenders was a joint fundraising committee for Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), which reported spending $6,300 for 'event catering' for fundraising purposes on Jan. 3, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, whose campaign committee reported spending $4,500 on catering and facility rental and food and beverage on three separate occasions in March and May. — Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Reps. Harriett Hageman (R-Wyo.) and Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) have also reported campaign expenses at Butterworth's in the first half of this year, along with the RNC. TELEHEALTH GROUP LOBBIES UP: The American Telemedicine Association has retained Bluebird Strategies, the second new outside firm for the telehealth industry group in the past year. Bluebird's Kevin Brennan, a veteran health care lobbyist who once served as chief of staff to the top House Democratic appropriator Rosa DeLauro, began working for ATA Action last week on legislation, according to a disclosure filing. — Brennan is lobbying on issues related to coverage and reimbursement for digital therapeutics — software, apps or devices to help treat chronic pain, addiction, insomnia or other mental health conditions — including a bipartisan bill that would allow Medicare to cover such treatments. — ATA now has three lobbying firms on retainer, including McGuireWoods Consulting, which the trade group hired last October, and Advanced Policy Consulting. The hire comes on the heels of a major win for the telehealth industry in the GOP megabill signed into law last month. It made permanent a pandemic-era rule that allowed high-deductible health insurance plans to cover telehealth visits prior to hitting the plan's deductible. ON DEFENSE: The defense industry is putting together a new coalition to fend off proposed restrictions to a prized Pentagon grant program for small businesses. Defense-heavy lobbying firm SMI is behind the DefendSBIR effort, which will press lawmakers to reauthorize the expiring Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs ahead of their expiration in September — while bucking proposed caps on funding for awardees with multiple grants. — Lawmakers like Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) have pitched the reforms for inclusion in the NDAA later this year. But defense groups have argued that limitations on the program, which works to foster breakthroughs in advanced defense technology — particularly among small or emerging firms — could stifle innovation in the sector. The industry coalition is planning a fly-in next month, as well as a digital ad campaign, to take its case directly to the Hill. START YOUR DRONES: 'The Trump administration on Tuesday took a significant step toward enabling Amazon's dream of drone-delivered packages,' POLITICO's Sam Ogozalek reports. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy rolled out a proposal that would smooth the process for allowing people and companies to operate drones out of their line of sight. — 'Tuesday's announcement is a particular boon to Amazon, which has invested heavily in drone deliveries,' but the proposed rule has been long awaited for a number of industries, including agriculture and law enforcement, which will now work to shape the final version. — 'The proposal is key to the development and future use of air taxis, too, which the industry wants to see enabled in time for the 2028 Olympic games being held in Los Angeles,' Sam notes. 'Though this rule will further that goal, many other regulatory hurdles remain.' OOPSIES: 'A public document filed by a company that just hired President Donald Trump's two oldest sons as advisers included a sentence early Monday that said it hoped to benefit from grants and other incentives from the federal government, which their father happens to lead. But when The Associated Press asked the Trump family business about the apparent conflict of interest, the document was revised and the line taken out,' The AP's Bernard Condon writes. — 'Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. are getting 'founder shares' worth millions of dollars in New America Acquisition 1 Corp., a company with no operating business that hopes to fill that hole by purchasing an American company that can play 'a meaningful role in revitalizing domestic manufacturing,' according to the filing. — 'The original version of the securities filing said the target company should be 'well positioned' to tap federal or state government incentives. That reference was taken out of the revised version.' Jobs report — Democratic Data Exchange has named Amanda Coulombe as its CEO. She was previously a consultant for Movement Infrastructure Group and served as president of NGP VAN, the leading technology provider for Democratic campaigns. — Pat Flood has joined Cornerstone Government Affairs as a principal on its national security team. He was most recently deputy chief of staff and senior national security adviser to Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.). — Jackie Koo has joined Mastercard as director of government affairs and policy. She most recently served as chief of staff and senior manager for global public policy at Boeing. — Ayesha Khan is joining Democracy Forward as senior legal adviser. She most recently was a partner at Potomac Law Group. — Christopher Dauer is now president and CEO of State Policy Network. He previously was COO and chief program advancement officer at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. — Lauren Gillis is now senior director of U.S. government relations at Albemarle. She previously was special assistant to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and is a State and USUN alum. — Andrew Nehring is now a principal at Vogel Group. He was previously a director at the firm. — K&L Gates has added George Stark to its public policy group in Pennsylvania. New Joint Fundraisers None. New PACs Atropos Group Inc. PAC (PAC) The Baldwin Insurance Group, Inc. Federal PAC (PAC) Commonwealth Responsibility PAC (Super PAC) LGBT POLITICAL SUPPORT COMMITTEE (PAC) MI Democrats 4th Congressional District PAC (PAC) Ocean State Anchor PAC (Super PAC) Trust Brigade (Super PAC) Wild Sheep Foundation PAC (PAC) New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS Brian Glackin & Associates LLC: Hance Scarborough (Obo Energy Solutions) Ct Group Fka Ctf Global LLC: Global Uranium And Enrichment Ltd Forward Global: Calpine Corporation Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Liberty Maritime Lowry Strategies: Lunar Landing Day Project Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Mercedes-Benz North America Corporation Mountain View Partners Dc, LLC: Pg&E Skincure Oncology: Skincure Oncology New Lobbying Terminations Asia-Pacific Interrelations And Trade Foundation: Asia-Pacific Interrelations And Trade Foundation Bayr And Associates LLC: Federation Of Electric Company Of Japan Capitol Counsel LLC: Procore Technologies, Inc. Ct Group Fka Ctf Global LLC: Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Ct Group Fka Ctf Global LLC: Northeastern University Ct Group Fka Ctf Global LLC: University Of Pittsburgh Hurst International Consulting LLC: Visualogyx Ms. Anna Hansen: Sullivan Strategies Obo Skysafe Sanborn Analytics Inc: Sanborn Analytics Inc
Eater
5 hours ago
- Eater
Koreatown's Crispiest Donkatsu Hides in an Unassuming LA Strip Mall
The scent of crispy, fried pork wafts through the dining room at My Donkatsu, a family-owned donkatsu shop in Koreatown. Handwritten messages cover the white walls in a myriad of colors, with previous diners praising the umami of the unagi katsu and the melted, gooey texture of the cheese katsu. Tucked away in an unassuming Koreatown strip mall on Olympic Boulevard, sandwiched between a dated travel agency and trinket shops, My Donkatsu makes some of the best tender, crispy donkatsu the neighborhood has to offer. Mr. and Mrs. Lim (who prefer to only use their surname) opened My Donkatsu in 2024. The couple met in their native South Korea when they were in their early 20s while both working at a five-star hotel in Seoul — Mr. Lim as a chef and Mrs. Lim as a server. 'The hotel was known for being very high-end and having strict standards, says Soli, the daughter of the Lims. 'My dad learned all of his cooking while working there.' Mrs. Lim had a long history in hospitality before opening My Donkatsu — her family owned restaurants in South Korea her whole life. The Lim family moved to America in 2005, but it took some time before they were ready to open their own restaurant. Cheese katsu. Wonho Frank Lee 'Restaurants are my dad's passion,' Soli says. 'My mom didn't work once we moved to America, but her energy is not the stay-at-home type. She wanted to do something with the family, and that's how it started.' The Lims began to brainstorm, searching for something that felt like it was missing from their Koreatown neighborhood. 'We had been thinking about a katsu place for a long time,' Soli says. Although there are plenty of well-known katsu shops in the neighborhood, like Wako Donkatsu, the Lims still felt like they didn't see the version of the dish they wanted to serve. 'There wasn't one in Koreatown that felt new and special, like a blend between Korean and Japanese-style katsu. We knew we wanted to do something different.' It took almost two years for the Lims to find a space; they didn't want anything too big, with a preference for a more casual, intimate setting. My Donkatsu currently offers five types of katsu: chicken, pork loin, pork belly, unagi, and cheese. Each order of katsu comes with salad, pickled cucumbers, seasoned greens, soup, rice, and two house-made dipping sauces. The chicken and pork loin are accompanied by a tangy brown sauce made with beef and vegetable gravy and an orange-hued spicy mayonnaise, while the unagi comes with a special eel sauce. The pork belly and cheese katsu are served with a salsa verde-inspired green sauce that has a mild kick to cut through the richness of the cheese and meat. 'The all-time most popular items are the classic pork and cheese katsu,' Soli says. 'The most popular katsu at the moment is the pork belly. When we first opened, it was the chicken. Some days, we fully sell out of the unagi.' My Donkatsu specializes in a blend of Korean and Japanese-style katsu. Japanese tonkatsu, rooted in French influence during the Meiji Period between 1868 and 1912, is traditionally prepared with a thicker cut of meat, coated in a thick layer of breadcrumbs; a soy-tinged dark brown sauce comes on the side for dipping. The dish is based on côtelette de veau, a breaded and fried piece of veal. Korean katsu, often spelled donkatsu, arrived in the country while it was under Japanese occupation in the 1930s. At first, it was seen as a luxury due to the high price of pork in the post-war era, but it slowly became more accessible to the general population in the 1970s. During the '80s, donkatsu exploded in popularity in South Korea, served Western-style with a fork and knife. In contrast to the Japanese tonkatsu, donkatsu is often pounded thinner and served slathered in sauce that is slightly sweeter than the Japanese version. At My Donkatsu, the two styles are fused. The chicken and pork katsu are cut thick, akin to the traditional Japanese style, but the sauce is a blend of both and has a consistency that can be used for dipping or poured on top. The Lims find little ways to distinguish their katsu from other shops in the area, such as a batter blend that includes fresh breadcrumbs to make the crust lighter and airier, while also adhering to the filling better. 'We looked into ways of minimizing that separation so every bite has the perfect ratio of meat to crust,' Soli says. The resulting breading is sturdy enough to stand up to the thicker cuts of meat, while still offering the sought-after craggly edges. My Donkatsu uses organic chicken breast for the chicken katsu, rather than the more commonly used chicken thighs. The Lims prefer the cut both for the texture and the assurance that the meat is hormone-free. Spread of dishes at My Donkatsu. Wonho Frank Lee The Lims also tested multiple brands of cheese before landing on the mozzarella and the technique they currently use for the cheese katsu. 'Our cheese katsu is not a typical cheese katsu — the kind that has a bit of mozzarella torched on top. Ours is wrapped with meat, so the cheese is kept inside without reducing the crunch of the crust,' Soli says. Mr. Lim sources the pork used at My Donkatsu himself, spending his mornings visiting different butchers in Koreatown to find the best cuts. Alongside the katsu, My Donkatsu also serves Korean comfort dishes like flame-torched bulgogi, udon, and bibimbap. 'Udon lovers consistently compliment our udon, stating that they can tell the flavor comes from the ingredients themselves, which is true,' Soli says. Exterior of My Donkatsu. Wonho Frank Lee Dining room at My Donkatsu. My Donkatsu only has a handful of tables to dine at and a smattering of banquet-hall-style chairs, but Soli says it's plenty of seating.'Customers eat really fast,' she says. 'Our average customer finishes in around 20 minutes.' With katsu, it's not only preferable to eat it while it's still piping hot — it's necessary in order to experience the golden, crispy crust. While the place might look deceptively empty due to the fast turnover, it quickly becomes clear just how busy they are with a passing glance at Mrs. Lim scurrying back and forth between the dining room and the kitchen as she prepares each plate and waits on tables. Although the entire family is involved with My Donkatsu, Soli credits her mom with being the heart of the business. 'My mom consistently puts in 12-hour days,' she says. 'She shows up at 9 a.m. to prepare everything and stays until 9:30 p.m. when she locks up for the night.' While the restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday, Mrs. Lim can often be found there on Mondays, receiving deliveries and tidying up the space for the week ahead. 'She treats every customer like her daughter or son. It's a very Korean mom kind of place,' says Soli. My Donkatsu is located at 3003 W. Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90006 and is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and until 9 p.m. on Sunday. Bibimbap. Wonho Frank Lee Bulgogi. Shrimp veggie pancake. Wonho Frank Lee Tornado shrimp. Wonho Frank Lee Pork gyoza. Unagi katsu. Wonho Frank Lee Cheese katsu. Wonho Frank Lee Messages from diners on the wall. Wonho Frank Lee Eater LA All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
UPI
8 hours ago
- UPI
Coast Guard report: OceanGate Titan implosion was 'preventable'
Rear Admiral John W. Mauger of the Coast Guard briefs the media on the search for the Titan submersible in 2023. The Coast Guard released its findings Tuesday, saying the implosion that killed five people was preventable. File photo by C.J. Gunther/EPA Aug. 5 (UPI) -- The implosion of the OceanGate submersible Titan in 2023 was "preventable," because of its inadequate design and "toxic" workplace culture, according to a report released by the U.S. Coast Guard Tuesday. The Titan imploded on June 18, 2023, killing five people. The 335-page report documented the causes of the implosion and listed 17 safety recommendations to strengthen oversight of submersible operations, improve coordination among federal agencies and close gaps in international maritime policy. All five on the submersible were killed in the implosion. They were OceanGate's founder and CEO, Stockton Rush; British billionaire Hamish Harding; French maritime expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet; Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son, Suleman Dawood. "The two-year investigation has identified multiple contributing factors that led to this tragedy, providing valuable lessons learned to prevent a future occurrence," said Jason Neubauer, chair of the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation for the Titan. "There is a need for stronger oversight and clear options for operators who are exploring new concepts outside of the existing regulatory framework. I am optimistic the [Report of Investigation's] findings and recommendations will help improve awareness of the risks and the importance of proper oversight while still providing a pathway for innovation." Titan's imploded wreckage was found on the ocean floor about 1,640 feet off the bow of the Titanic. The Coast Guard conducted hearings last year to hear testimony from OceanGate employees and others involved in the dive. OceanGate operations director David Lochridge testified about the business climate at the company and about what he said was Rush's penchant for playing fast and loose with the rules. Lochridge told the panel that the company's goal was to turn a profit, that OceanGate ignored obvious safety issues, and that "very little" science was involved in carrying out the sub's dives. OceanGate's former engineering director, Tony Nissen, testified that he was fired because he refused to approve a planned expedition after the submersible was struck by lightning, which compromised its experimental carbon fiber hull. "Stockton [Rush] would fight for what he wanted and, even if it changed from day to day, he wouldn't give an inch. Most people would eventually back down to Stockton. It was death by a thousand cuts," he testified. The 21-foot Titan submersible lost contact with the crew of the Polar Prince about 1 hour and 45 minutes into its dive on June 18, 2023. Responders scoured the North Atlantic Ocean, near the wreckage of the Titanic passenger liner that sank in 1912, to find the missing vessel before its oxygen ran out. The Coast Guard said in September 2024 that the Titan crew sent a message during the fateful dive that "all is well" just before the deadly implosion. It was the final communication from the Titan before the implosion. Neubauer's listed extensive causes of the disaster and recommendations for future vessels. "The board determined the primary contributing factors were OceanGate's inadequate design, certification, maintenance and inspection process for the Titan," Neubauer said in the press release announcing the report. "Other factors cited in the report include a toxic workplace culture at OceanGate, an inadequate domestic and international regulatory framework for submersible operations and vessels of novel design, and an ineffective whistleblower process under the Seaman's Protection Act. "The board also found OceanGate failed to properly investigate and address known hull anomalies following its 2022 Titanic expedition. Investigators determined the Titan's real-time monitoring system generated data that should have been analyzed and acted on during the 2022 Titanic expedition. However, OceanGate did not take any action related to the data, conduct any preventative maintenance or properly store the Titan during the extended off season before its 2023 Titanic expedition." He went on to list recommendations for further dives, including restrictions on oceanographic research vessels, expanding requirements to all submersibles and requiring Coast Guard documentation for all U.S. submersibles. Neubauer also recommended "adding Coast Guard personnel capacity at Coast Guard Headquarters to support new construction oversight and field inspections involving submersibles and vessels of novel design." Other recommendations include submitting Coast Guard search and rescue plans, safety requirements, whistleblower agreements and investigative protocols. In August 2024, Paul Henry Nargeolet's family filed suit demanding OceanGate to pay $50 million for the explorer's wrongful death. The family's lawsuit filed in a court in Seattle accuses OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush and others of gross negligence and wrongful death.
