Cole's French Dip Closes After 118 Years

0:00It's March 28th. Welcome in. This is Durham News Today, where local news meets AI. I'm Corey with the story. Cole's French Dip, the Los Angeles restaurant famous for inventing the French Dip sandwich, is shutting its doors for good after 118 years. This historic spot opened in 1908 and weathered the Great Depression, World Wars, were sessions, and even the recent pandemic, but financial. Pressures finally proved too much. Pressures from pouring with heart kept delaying the closure through last year and into this one, hoping to sell to someone who would honor its legacy. Rising labor, insurance, and food costs, combined with slower customer traffic after lockdowns, led to steady monthly losses that couldn't be, sustained. Consumers are feeling the pinch too, with 68% cutting back on eating out to focus on affordability and convenience. Each weekly restaurant spending dropped to about $90 in early 2026, down from $115 the previous summer.

1:00Restaurants nationwide are struggling, as more than 9 in 10 operators deal with higher expenses on food, energy, and fees. 42% reported losses in 2025, contributing to a wave of closures beyond just coals. For its final hurrah over the March 28th through 29th weekend, guest chefs from top LA spots are offering special sandwich twists, with limited runs of 118 portions each, and some proceeds aiding struggling independence. This chapter ends, but the area's revival efforts offer hope amid industry shifts.