5 days Ago By Juliette Kessler
The Sunset Strip, an iconic stretch in West Hollywood, is seeing some of its long-standing establishments closing their doors, creating a series of vacancies along the famed boulevard. Among the casualties is Le Petit Four, a beloved French bistro that has been a staple since 1981, which will be serving its final guests on Monday. As KTLA reported, a decline in foot traffic and rising costs contributed to the restaurant's closure.
A GoFundMe campaign aimed to save Le Petit Four only raised over $6,000 of its $150,000 goal in two days.Joining Le Petit Four in departure, The Den on Sunset, a nearby neighbor on the Strip, is also winding down operations by the end of March. After over a decade and a half, the eatery shared on Instagram its appreciation for its staff and patrons, with an invitation to visit before the final closing day, despite the denial of sharing the reasons behind the closure.
Directly attributable to escalating costs, Luc Mena, the general manager of Le Petit Four, shared with NBC Los Angeles, "The minimum wage has gone up since 2019 like 40%," and added, "In order for us to survive, we would have to sell $80 steaks." Such financial pressures are illustrating the difficult economic terrain businesses on the Strip are navigating.The Sunset Strip Liquor Store, which replaced the historic Sun Bee Liquor Market in 2020, is also expected to close by month's end, with a reported rent increase being the crux according to an anonymous source speaking to the WeHo Times.
The store has signaled a liquidation sale on its remaining stock with a touch of humor on Instagram, urging customers to beat the employees to drinking the inventory themselves.In light of these closures, West Hollywood officials, like Mayor Chelsea Byers, have expressed "a lot of sadness" over the string of business departures. Though acknowledging the city's limited influence over commercial rents, which are beyond its control, the mayor remains optimistic about the Strip's future.
Byers told NBC Los Angeles, "Every business that closes, we have seen more licenses open up," hinting at a quick rebound in new businesses coming in to fill the void left by the departing establishments.Meanwhile, the community and fans of these iconic eateries are encouraged to share their stories and memories. In an Instagram post by Le Petit Four, obtained by the restaurant itself, calls went out for support in the venue's final days, pushing for a farewell celebration befitting its legacy.
Similarly, The Den's Instagram post, as cited by the establishment, extended thanks to all who made its 16-year run possible and offered an invitation for a last goodbye before closing. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Le Petit Four (@lepetitfourla) View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Den On Sunset (@denonsunset).
