Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
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.
Clifton's Cafeteria to be Open 24 Hours, Hire 100 New Employees, Including Homeless
Photo by Open Air Control Testing Ground via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
()
Photo by Open Air Control Testing Ground via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
Downtown's historic Broadway corridor was once a retail shopping mecca, a magnet for tourists, a major force for city business and commerce and home to twelve theatres. These days, although still a busy artery, the heyday is obviously gone. The theatres are mostly shuttered, there's a 15 to 20% vacancy rate for ground floor retail and more than one million square feet of commercial space in the upper floors remains unused.
For a couple years now, there's been an effort to revitalize the street known as Bringing Back Broadway. The plan includes streetscaping, a streetcar and once again programming the theatre spaces.
Sometimes revitalization efforts need a boost and today's news about the changes coming to Clifton's Cafeteria could help spur Broadway onto the right path.
Support for LAist comes from
News hit Friday that the 1930s eatery had been bought by Andrew Meieran, owner of The Edison, one of the city's most popular bars. Speculation surrounded what he would do with the space, but today he put to rest all of that.
“We feel honored to be a part of the Clifton’s legacy and the history it represents and are working closely with Bringing Back Broadway and the Conservancy to ensure Clifton’s iconic tribute to American idealism, hope and imagination will be preserved and enjoyed for generations to come,” Meieran said. “We hope the venue will once again help establish Broadway as a nightlife destination and will help bring life to Broadway after dark.”
Plans include turning Clifton's into a 24-hour operation with an updated menu, but maintaining the cafeteria-style food service. On the underutilized top floors, he will transform them into a nightlife destination with a neighborhood lounge and sit-down restaurant service. Also on the top floor is the shuttered bakery, which will reopen to sell baked goods under the Clifton brand.
Much of the cafeteria will be restored to its original condition, maintaining historic elements, but also updating the building's systems and infrastructure, including disabled access and restrooms.
That news made the people at the Los Angeles Conservancy happy. Executive Director Linda Dishman said her organization was thrilled with today's announcement.
Councilmemember Jose Huizar, who represents the area, chimed in on the issue, too. “Historic preservation is not about pressing the pause button indefinitely, but about finding ways to honor the wonderful history that makes Broadway so special, while utilizing our historic buildings and businesses in innovative ways that allow them to be successful and vital into the next generation, while serving our diverse community,” he said.
The move to start 24-hour service will also create around 100 jobs. Meieran plans on filling some of those with homeless graduates from a program from the Midnight Mission that provides restaurant training and certification.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake. -
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
Best of LAist