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Legendary Los Angeles bakery Sweet Lady Jane closed all six locations (Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Calabasas, Encino, West Hollywood, and San Fernando) on December 31, 2023, following 35 years of business. In an Instagram post and on the bakery’s website, the owners shared appreciation for its loyal customers while noting the challenges of running a bakery in California, “lease obligations,” and paying a living wage without increasing the cost of goods. The closure feels especially abrupt given the bakery’s newly renovated Encino store and planned expansion into Marina Del Rey and Larchmont; the West Hollywood shop closed at the end of last year for renovations.
Founder Jane Lockhart opened the original Sweet Lady Jane on Melrose Avenue in 1988 and built a strong following for her Triple Berry cake, a three-layer creation made of yellow butter cake filled with lightly sweetened whipped cream and a trio of fresh berries.
Long Beach restaurant closures
LA’s populous neighbor to the south was not immune to restaurant closures in 2023. The Long Beach Post noted 10 shuttered businesses including Beachwood Brewing’s Downtown location, the iconic Prospector, and Belmont Shore’s La Creperie Cafe, among others.
LA’s best vegan spots
Inside Hook recently published a roundup of notable Los Angeles plant-based restaurants and included spots like Grand Central Market’s Ramen Hood, Maciel’s Plant-Based Butcher & Deli, and Crossroads.
Drink like it’s 1923
The Guardian just published a list of iconic Los Angeles bars that opened in the 1920s including Musso & Frank and Cole’s French Dip.
Fiesta Cantina cited by ABC
WeHo Times reports that the California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control filed a second action against Fiesta Cantina. ABC charged the restaurant with selling alcohol to a minor decoy. This is the second complaint filed against the West Hollywood restaurant in a month.
