There has been a rivalry in Los Angeles for more than a century over who invented the French dip sandwich: Philippe the Original or Cole\u2019s French Dip, both 1908 eateries that are located roughly 1.4 miles apart.<\/p>\n
Yet, only one will remain standing after Aug. 2, when Cole\u2019s, which has been called the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Los Angeles, will close its doors, citing reasons including the pandemic, the recent writers\u2019 and actors\u2019 strikes, rising costs and bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
The French dip sandwich is an LA icon. According to the experts, it \u201cconsists of either roast beef, roast pork, leg of lamb, turkey, pastrami or ham served on a lightly textured, freshly baked French roll which has been dipped in the natural gravy of the roasts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cheese may be added, and usually it is accompanied by sides of the eater\u2019s choice, including coleslaw, potato or macaroni salads, hard boiled eggs pickled in beet juice, sour dill or sweet pickles, black olives and hot yellow chili peppers.<\/p>\n
It is a meal that millions have enjoyed for 117 years.<\/p>\n
According to Eater LA, there was a rhyme and a reason to dip the bread.<\/p>\n
\u201cCole\u2019s first opened in 1908 from entrepreneur Harry Cole, who operated the sandwich shop and bar \u2014 called the Red Car Bar \u2014 inside the hub of Los Angeles\u2019s busy Pacific Electric Building, where the city\u2019s famed and now defunct street car served more than 100,000 passengers daily,\u201d wrote Matthew Kang. \u201cAt some point, its chef Jack Garlinghouse dipped bread onto jus to soften it for customers with bad gums.\u201d<\/p>\n
The food industry has continued to receive blow after blow this year with the January wildfires and ongoing ICE raids. For Cole\u2019s, its location and homeless presence in DTLA took its toll. According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, Cole\u2019s staff had to scrub feces off the property every other day.<\/p>\n
A handful of LA\u2019s longtime restaurants have closed recently, including Original Pantry Cafe, Pacific Dining Car and Chin Chin. Fellow legendary eateries, such as Pink\u2019s Hot Dogs, Langer\u2019s Delicatessen-Restaurant and Canter\u2019s Deli, expressed deep dismay at Cole\u2019s closing.<\/p>\n
In 2008, owner Cedd Moses\u2019s 213 Nightlife, now Pouring With Heart, bought and restored Cole\u2019s. Once a hangout for mobster Mickey Cohen and writer Charles Bukowski, the LA landmark on E. Sixth Street is now up for sale.<\/p>\n
Moses released a statement: \u201cWe have cherished our time serving the Downtown community, and will continue to craft great drinks and our renowned French dip sandwiches until we shutter. We care deeply about our family of staff and are immensely grateful for our amazing guests who have supported Cole\u2019s over the years. We invite you to come in to see us this month before our departure, to laugh, to cry, to raise glasses, to eat and to say your goodbyes right alongside us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cole\u2019s French Dip plans to host a farewell celebration on Aug. 1 at 9 p.m. featuring a \u201cpickle party\u201d and music by Kwame Moore, Olga Arteaga and Eddie B.<\/p>\n
All ages are welcome until 7 p.m. when it becomes 21 and older.<\/p>\n
Cole\u2019s French Dip<\/p>\n
118 E. Sixth Street, Los Angeles<\/p>\n