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 .
"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.
