One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
The Owners Of The Apple Pan Just Bought Nate'n Al's Deli
The exterior of Nate'n Al Delicatessen in Beverly Hills. (Courtesy of Nate'n Al Delicatessen/Facebook)
Shelli and Irving Azoff, who stunned Angelenos by buying The Apple Pan earlier this year, have bought another classic Los Angeles restaurant. This time, they bought Nate'n Al Delicatessen from the Mendelson family, which has owned the restaurant since it opened in 1945.
The old school Jewish deli has been threatened by development for years. The sale to the Azoffs has been in the works for a while, as have the rumors about it.
In January, the city of Beverly Hills signed a lease with Circus Clowns LLC, a company backed by music exec Azoff, Beverly Press reports. They plan to move Nate'n Al from its current spot, at 414 N. Beverly Drive, around the corner to 443 N. Canon Drive, the space formerly occupied by Wolfgang's Steakhouse.
Several other prominent Hollywood types — nightlife entrepreneur Rande Gerber and his wife Cindy Crawford, NBCUniversal executive Jeff Shell, UTA's Jay Sures, real estate agent Mike Meldman — have also been involved involved in the effort to save Nate'n Al, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
As with the Apple Pan, the Azoffs were longtime customers of Nate'n Al's .
Sponsored message
"Over the years, many potential buyers have expressed interest in us," said former co-owner Mark Mendelson in a press release. "Finding the right owners that value our staff, some whom have been with us for 30 to 42 years, as much as our brand was paramount and essential."
According to the same press release, the Azoffs plan to keep Nate'n Al in Beverly Hills, holding onto the staff, brand and recipes — info that squares with earlier rumors. The Mendelsons will help with the ownership transition and advise on business operations.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
