Clifton's in downtown LA has now been closed for it remodel since September 26, 2011, it was then planned to last three to six months, while the restaurant gets a new kitchen and a redesigned serving area. In February 2012, the remodeling process continued with the "unveiling" of the original 1904 building facade, with the removal of the 1963 aluminum facade. They estimated that the cafeteria would reopen in about 18 months. This is taking forever…..
Photo's of the Clifton's remodel..
A building that old will have many hidden surprises I guarantee you. Plumbing, gas, electrical codes or regulations that may or may not have been updated over the years.
If the owners are serious they will do it all from scratch to make it last another 100 years. Better to it right once and have to do it twice.
Don't forget the concern with bringing old buildings like this up to current seismic retrofitting standards. This is a very time (and financially) consuming effort.
They did find a neon sign that had been sealed in the wall and had been left turned on for 70 years that they didn't know about.
Yeah, i walked by a couple of days ago and it was a little depressing seeing the building still boarded up.
Let me know when you find out.
Any possibility / chance in hell that Clifton's might reopen it's doors by July 4th weekend, when I swing back down south with the missus?
Supposedly it's going to reopen on Flag Day (June 14th) this year (2014) but who knows what the reality of that ETA is.
Wow, that'd be amazing... After 2+ years under renovation, I'd make the trip for Clifton's alone! I can't wait and really hope it happens!
Any idea whether they'll be operating under normal weekday hours... or what the schedule will look like? I'll rearrange my whole itinerary if need be, but as it stands, we have a Monday morning to fill. : )
Servorg thanks for the info. I have found it very had to find anything out about opening dates or even construction updates. Please keep us posted we've all been waiting a long time for this...
what foods there are you guys most craving?
Lime Green Jello with cut up pears - obviously. (g)
The Vienna Loaf dinner.
Mine is the turkey dinner wit all the trimmings and creamed corn, and for desert cherry pie, I just can't wait for opening day
CLIFTON’S RENOVATION: The restoration of the 1935 Clifton’s Cafeteria, at 648 S. Broadway, is on track for completion by the end of August, said property owner Andrew Meieran. The long-awaited renovation of the four-story building includes several eating and drinking establishments, as well as a new name: Clifton’s Cabinet of Curiosities. The first two floors will be a restored version of the classic cafeteria, serving up comfort food dishes. Other options will include a tiki bar and steakhouse-style eatery on the fourth floor, as well as a butcher, a specialty grocery and a bakery, according to the project’s website. Meieran acquired the building in 2010, but the project has seen both substantial delays and a swelling budget. The developer is now spending about $7.5 million on the renovation. At cliftonscafeteria.com.
With a $7.5 million dollar renovation cost won't they have to charge $88 dollars each for a Turkey dinner with gravy, stuffing and cranberries that used to cost $10?
Rats, so now it's August? No more June 14th?
I'm going to be in LA over July 4th weekend and was dying to go... is there any chance of just the cafeteria being opened by that date? Surely that's gotta be completed by now as it was undoubtedly the least effort of the whole ongoing restoration. I'll be so disappointed if it's not open by July 4th.
FYI to all....
I called Clifton's today (5-27-14) and was told the opening is scheduled for "late summer this year"
Let's hope
Tell me more please……..Do you know an opening date?
Please open soon. Clifton my favorite restaurant! Please open soon!
I must confess: the only appeal of Clifton to me is the fact that it's located in the middle of LA's jewelry district. That is, 21st century Ali Baba's destination. And I don't mean (with all due respect) the wholesalers' website.
Does anyone have a child I can borrow?
When Clifton's re-opens, I'm all about The Treasure Tray...
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"At Clifton's we have a special meal for kids under 12 called "The Treasure Tray". It is well balanced and very popular, served on a special tray. The Treasure Tray features an entree like a chicken leg, spaghetti or beef patty with a vegetable, mashed potatoes or macaroni, and jello or pudding. Kids also get to choose a toy from our "Treasure Chest."
Any news on Clifton's return? It's been almost 3 years!
Wonderful photo of the original exterior on Broadway in the 1930's
Why do you say that? Is it still undergoing renovations???
Thank you, me too. I've been with my boyfriend for 3 years and I think it's been closed the entire time, as it is (was) my favorite place in LA and I never got to take him there.
Wonder if it will ever open again and if it does if it will be ruined.
i grew up going to cliftons on the weekends, that was the one luxury we were able to afford, we would hit the theater after our meal
last time i was there it was about fifteen years ago, and it felt like the prices had gone way high. with the dtla movement, i can only imagine prices being crazy out of control if it ever reopens
Is there any hope for a Christmas miracle this year?
I'll be in LA over the holidays and a visit to Clifton's is my number one Xmas wish for this trip... should I not get my hopes up too high? I thought I read an online article (a few months back) stating that Clifton's was slated for reopening in mid-November. I wonder if permits or bureacracy have anything to do with it? I can't imagine that they're still doing renovations.
What I really want for Xmas is for Clifton's to OPEN!
Opening day, July 19th 1935
Are they open yet?
Progress! Clifton’s Cafeteria Installing New Signage on Facade in Downtown LA!
http://brighamyen.com/2015/01/26/clif...
Some possible good news... Clifton's is a Sponsor of this years Last Remaining Seats on Broadway and a new logo (above) has appeared. Does this mean an opening soon?
Big news…Clifton's may finally open this August!
http://la.eater.com/2015/5/19/8626449...
Just today telephoned the number given on the "official" Clifton's web page (213-627-1673). The girl who answered identified by saying "The Edison". (She explained it was a sister company, and they are the ones doing the renovations.) Anyway, I asked if there was a date yet for the reopening of Clifton's -- and was informed it is now "late summer" (of 2015). So I guess it'll be a bit more time before we get to return.
The Bison are back.
From todays LA Eater: The chef at Clifton's will be Jason Fullilove, who only recently left Malibu Pier restaurant. Prior to that, Fullilove had worked with Mark Peel at Campanile / Tar Pit, as well as Patina’s slate of LACMA-based offerings. No word on opening date yet. Soon?
http://la.eater.com/2015/7/20/9003871...
Great, sounds ruined.
I didn't go to Clifton's for farm to table, small plates dining.
I went for a cafeteria that served carrot raisin salad like my mom makes and simple, homeade food.
I don't want to see a chef there I want to see a bunch of old ladies making food like they cook at home. I'm really scared they will have completely ruined my favorite place in LA when it opens again...
Don't worry….They will be using many of Clifton's original recipes.
I saw that article as well, and I was thinking the same thing. These guys look like they want to put their own "spin" on Clifton's and totally eff the whole the up. Well we shall see, hopefully sooner than later.
Carrot & Raisin salad!! I haven't had any since Beadle's Cafeteria closed in Pasadena. Oh god. That and their rice pudding.
Is everyone going to be crushed when the menu/recipes are different?
I'm already crushed that they've changed it into a whole new place but are pretending to have kept it the same.
I did too. They found all the original recipes.
I'm not particularly interested in a pretend version of something that actually existed before they destroyed it though.
That's what I get out of all of this. "Hey! We completely changed it into the Addams Family version of Clifton's circa 2015, complete with celebrity chefs and mixology!"
There are plenty of places in LA I could have gone with that. Clifton's was a one of a kind 75 year running place and now it's gone. Sad.
Without this remodel and the new owners Clifton's would not have lived much longer. The new owners have taken 4 years in this restoration and have spent close to $10 million dollars, please at least give them a chance. It will still be a one of a kind space…Clifton's is far from gone.
veronykah, I echo your sentiments.
The early photos with the douchey club lighting hit me in all sortsa wrong ways.
This feels to me like another case of taking a place conceived of and meant for the "everyman", and turning it into a place meant for hipsters.
Mr Taster
Oh give me a freaking break. It was already gone and they were going under.
Owner has plowed a ton of money and at least from that one article seems like he's going to try and put money back to the community.
They obviously wasn't going to survive doing things exactly how it was before. Why not actually wait to see what it looks like before all this drama.
Who was going under? I've never read that anywhere and not sure how that would happen considering the children owned the building and they were still serving 1-2000 people a day in 2009.
The guy putting a bunch of money into his vanity project doesn't mean jack to me. He's going to try to put money back into the community? By taking a place that was committed to serving the underserved and making it for people with money? Sure.
Considering it was "the oldest surviving cafeteria style eatery in Los Angeles, California" I hardly agree that it wasn't going to survive. It had survived for 75 years.
What's the difference if it was gone? It is anyway.
Sorry if you don't understand history or aren't into preservation. There are some things that are unique and special and, to me, Clifton's was exactly that. I have never seen anything like it and I've lived all over and been plenty of places. We can build all sorts of new and interesting stuff but you can never replace history once it's gone. Clifton's is gone and it's a huge loss as far as I'm concerned. If that makes you angry, be happy in the fact that you've won this one.
LOL! Who said anything about not understanding history or not into preservation. My irritation was directed at knee jerk reactions that the place would suck.
See the article posted by The Offalo below. Here it is again. http://www.lamag.com/longform/behold-...
It gives background on what has transpired.
Page 2, the family is quoted as saying the numbers didn't add up. They put it up in the market. The money quote:
"In 2006, the Clinton family put the last remaining Clifton’s cafeteria on the market. The tray line was still serving mashed potatoes and chocolate banana cake to approximately 1,000 people a day, but the numbers weren’t adding up. “None of us wanted to do it,” says Robert, “but it was the reality. At the time there were just three family members there to make the decision: my dad, my aunt Jean, and myself. It was unanimous. And then,” says Robert, “my aunt died.”
For anyone who loves historical buildings, it's a good thing someone like this developer came along and was willing to invest over 5 years and millions of dollars to preserve what he can. Otherwise the building would have kept rotting away. Until someone who is unwilling to invest that much time and money would go for a quick profit, raze the whole building and put up something modern within a year.
So the guy has to update the menu to turn a profit, so what? There's not enough demand for the type of food Clifton used to serve to maintain the facilities.
For now at least the guy is trying to stay through to the original vision of service. Another quote:
"But each check at Clifton’s will feature a donation option, allowing customers to contribute toward a subsidized low-cost dish each day. Additionally, the restaurant will be donating vouchers to nonprofits that can distribute them as rewards to volunteers, and it’s hiring some of the requisite 300-plus workers through job training programs like Homeboy Industries."
So sure, lament the passing of the old Clifton's, we all do. I remember going in there as a kid and a teen wandering around downtown in the pre-gentrification days. I loved the feel. But times change.
But to make knee jerk reactions before the place has even opened for a guy that has put his money where his mouth is when it comes to history, preservation and community service is just uncalled for. That's where my irritation is directed. Things like this are not always binary. Progress and preservation can go hand in hand.
I've always admired Clifton's compassionate side; feeding everyone regardless their ability to pay.
From the Clifton's website:
"Their over-riding philosophy is still "make a friend of every guest" and allow them to "dine free unless delighted." They still feed the hungry who can't afford a meal, and they still link arms with the Salvation Army in providing food for body and soul to those who hunger throughout this vast world."
From LA Eater today... Clifton's is starting to hire staff. We are finally getting close.
http://la.eater.com/2015/8/6/9112323/...
Hey, it looks like major movement is going on to revitalize Clifton's!
Haven't even read the (longish--well, longer than a blurb) article yet, but thought I'd share: http://www.lamag.com/longform/the-enc....
Great news from LA Magazine"Clifton's opens September 17th 2015"
Clifton's will open September 21st as a charity event for the LA Conservancy.
https://www.laconservancy.org/clifton...
For $125, you'll enjoy food, drink, and entertainment in the first-floor cafeteria you've waited so long to revisit, as well as the new Monarch Bar on the second floor. You'll get passed hors d'oeuvres, beverages (alcoholic and non), and full dinner and dessert -- by going through the cafeteria line, of course!
For $250, you'll have additional VIP access, including an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour at 8 p.m. with owner Andrew Meieran of the third and fourth floors, which won't open until later this year. We have only a limited number of VIP tickets available, so get yours now!
Kevin (Yes Kevin) sent me this article from the LA times. Enjoy
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi...
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