The Pantry

The Original Pantry Cafe was a historic 24-hour diner that operated at the corner of 9th and Figueroa in downtown Los Angeles for 101 years. Founded in 1924 as an independent restaurant, it became a cultural landmark known for serving classic American breakfast and comfort food to generations of Angelenos. The diner cultivated a reputation for consistency and continuity, with some staff members spending entire careers there, creating a unique experience where regular customers might encounter the same waiters across decades.

In 1981, former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan purchased the restaurant and operated it as a personal venture for over four decades. When Riordan passed away in 2023, ownership transferred to his administrative trust, which oversees the Riordan Foundation. The trust faced a difficult decision regarding the restaurant's future. Despite its deep cultural significance and loyal customer base, the operation had never achieved profitability as a business. After exploring options including negotiations with unionized workers under UNITE HERE Local 11 about worker protections and contract terms, the trust concluded that closing the establishment and selling the property would better serve the Foundation's charitable mission.

The Original Pantry Cafe permanently closed on March 2, 2025. The downtown Los Angeles property was subsequently sold, with proceeds directed toward the Riordan Foundation's charitable work in the region. No reopening or expansion plans are under consideration. The closure ended a significant chapter in downtown Los Angeles dining history and marked the end of a gathering place that had served workers, families, and community members throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries.