Cole's French Dip Targets Thanksgiving Reopening

The long absence of Cole's French Dip is ending. The downtown Los Angeles institution, which shut its doors in March, will reopen by Thanksgiving under the management of Sean Maloney and Jeremy Fall.

The new leadership team discussed their plans on LAist 89.3's AirTalk. They intend to serve an updated menu featuring a pastrami French dip. This sandwich will use thin-sliced pastrami from Langer's Deli and a custom loaf from Clark Street Bread.

Maloney, a former member of Nancy Silverton's Mozza group, stated that Fall persuaded him to take on the project. He added that he would have saved the restaurant himself if no one else had stepped in. Fall, whose family ran a restaurant two blocks away, aims to attract diners from across Los Angeles to boost downtown foot traffic.

The team is working to preserve the building's historic elements within its landmark protections. They are restoring these features while adding more seating, including banquettes. The existing bar will remain, but the overall atmosphere will shift from a casual spot to a sit-down restaurant.

Maloney noted that many former staff members are returning to the job. He described the goal as creating a space reminiscent of the television show Cheers that remains financially sustainable.

Cole's holds a place in Los Angeles history dating back to 1908. It began as Cole's P.E. Buffet to serve Pacific Electric streetcar commuters. The restaurant claims credit for inventing the French dip sandwich, a title it has long disputed with Philippe's the Original in Chinatown.

In 2007, Cedd Moses of 213 Hospitality restored the interior at a reported cost of $1.6 million. That work earned a Los Angeles Conservancy Preservation Award in 2009 and helped spark a cocktail and nightlife revival in the area, including the opening of Varnish, a hidden speakeasy inside Cole's. Moses announced the closure in July 2025, citing pandemic effects, Hollywood strikes, crime, and rising costs. He delayed the final shutdown several times as fans lined up for a last visit, but the restaurant officially closed in March.