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.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
A Take-Out Order? Clifton's Cafeteria Building Up For Sale
Photo by Jeremy Oberstein/LAist
It's been a rough few years for the Clinton family, who remain the owners and operators of the last of their once-booming set of cafeteria eateries in Los Angeles, Clifton's Cafeteria. It was just three years ago that the death of Jean Clinton Roeschlaub, described as the cafeteria family's heiress, was ruled homicide; the 83-year-old who was thought to be the heart and soul of the restaurant was found dead inside her penthouse apartment.Now the Clinton family has had to face another difficult challenge: The building that houses the last remaining Clifton's Cafeteria is going up for sale, three years after the family finally purchased it for themselves. "And although the family that owns Clifton's Cafeteria intends to stay open for business, the historic restaurant is facing some serious financial challenges," explains the LA Times.
The eatery, known as Clifton's Brookdale for its whimsical forest-themed decor, is thought by many to be both a icon of LA's past but part of "a dying breed" in restaurants, since it's one of the only cafeterias of its kind left open in the area. Business along Broadway, where this Clifton's has been since the mid-1930s, has slowed, as has business at the cafeteria, too. The Clintons are hoping to have better luck in selling the building and continuing to operate the cafeteria. "Broker Ed Rosenthal said the ideal buyer would be able to improve the building and restore it to its previous splendor, all the while allowing the cafeteria to continue operating." The building, which is approximately 47,000 square feet, is hitting the market at $4.75 million.
Previously on LAist
Video of the Day: Clifton's Cafeteria in Downtown is Recession & Depression Proof
Charles Phoenix Disneyland Tour of Los Angeles (with a stop at Clifton's)
An Hommage to the Absurd at Clifton's Kitschy Cafeteria
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
