Los Angeles’ restaurant bloodbath showed no signs of letting up in September.
The bad news just kept coming for Southern California’s beleaguered hospitality industry last month, as beloved neighborhood institutions, celebrity haunts and longtime watering holes announced they were calling it quits — some after decades in business.
From the Sunset Strip to a Van Nuys brewery known for its British-style ales, September delivered another brutal round of last calls. The carnage comes as LA restaurant owners continue to grapple with soaring rent, food and labor costs, sluggish foot traffic, lingering fallout from the pandemic, Hollywood strikes and the 2025 wildfires.
Sushiya on Sunset
One of the Sunset Strips’s longest-running celebrity sushi haunts rolled its last maki Sept. 29. Sushiya had been slinging sushi at Sunset Plaza since 1998, becoming a fixture for Hollywood heavyweights and neighborhoods regulars. Over its 28-year run, the Japanese joint reportedly welcomed a parade of A-listers including Rihanna, Leonardo DiCaprio, Stevie Wonder and John Travolta.
Employees Only
Just two days before Sushiya went dark, another one of West Hollywood’s see-and-be-seen spots poured its final cocktail. Employees Only, the moody cocktail bar and restaurant, brought a taste of NYC after dark to Santa Monica Blvd. and attracted plenty of celebrities who came out for the speakeasy-style digs and craft cocktails. Managing partner Tom Sopit told Eater LA the business had effectively suffered a “death by a thousand cuts” with inflation, rising wages, higher costs for goods and shifting consumer habits all contributing.
MacLeod Ale Brewing Co.
The Valley also took a hit. MacLeod Ale Brewing Co. shut its Van Nuys taproom Sept. 27, ending its 12-year run. Known for its old-school British cask ales and house made pizzas, and neighborhood vibe, the brewery distinguished itself by going all in on “real ale” — with imported English grains, naturally carbonated, cask-conditioned beer.
Espresso Profeta
Even caffeine couldn’t keep one Westwood institution awake. Espresso Profeta served its final cup on Sept. 25 after 20 years in business, ending a two decade run from its charming Glendale Avenue home. The independent specialty coffee shop particularly loved for its courtyard and old-school atmosphere, becoming a hangout for generations of UCLA students and locals. Co-owner and General Manager Samantha Langford told the Daily Bruin that the business could no longer afford its rent.
The Giant Artichoke
Up the coast in Castroville, The Giant Artichoke, a quirky roadside restaurant called it quits Sept. 30 after 25 years under its current owners. The Monterrey County eatery was known for its distinctive 20-foot-tall artichoke statue that stood near its entrance. The sculpture dates back to 1963, when the restaurant was operated by its original owner, local businessman Ray Bei.
