Clifton’s is set to reopen after having to close down since the pandemic. The restaurant, now called Clifton’s Republic, will partially open mid-October at its original location at 648 S. Broadway.
Clifton’s first started to close down back in 2018 with its cafeteria. Then, when the pandemic began, the restaurant decided to close down completely to focus on a multi-million dollar renovation of the entire building. Owner Andrew Meieran has used the time to restructure several aspects of the restaurant, first reported by the Los Angeles Times. This includes the Pacific Seas tiki bar on the fourth floor and the Monarch Bar on the second floor. The cafeteria will remain closed, mainly due to the ongoing pandemic and the challenge of working in an enclosed space.
Clifton’s is a historic restaurant that first opened in 1931 and was the oldest surviving cafeteria-style eatery in Los Angeles, as well as the largest public cafeteria in the world. The cafeteria would serve up to 10,000 people a day during its post-Depression success. Although this location is the only one still in existence, at one point, there were eight Clifton’s throughout Southern California.
Meieran purchased the establishment in 2010 and dedicated his time to preserving its unique atmosphere and menu. This location, which opened back in 1935, closed down after the purchase until its official reopening in 2015. Three years later, the world-famous cafeteria closed its door. Although Meieran tries his best to maintain the establishment’s rightful glory, he admits some changes are part of the historical preservation game. “You’re competing with people’s memories,” Meieran tells the Times.
