LA Icon Returns: New Owners Transform Cole's into a Sit-Down Destination by Thanksgiving

Cole’s French Dip, the downtown Los Angeles restaurant that shut its doors in March, is set to reopen before Thanksgiving. New owners Sean Maloney and Jeremy Fall confirmed the timeline on LAist 89.3’s AirTalk, where they outlined plans to revive the historic establishment. The pair aims to restore the building’s landmark status while updating the dining experience for modern patrons.

The menu will feature a new pastrami French dip. This sandwich will use thin-sliced pastrami sourced from Langer’s Deli and a custom loaf from Clark Street Bread. While the bar will remain unchanged, the overall layout will shift toward a sit-down restaurant format. The owners are adding banquettes to increase seating capacity, a change from the previous configuration.

Maloney, a former member of Nancy Silverton’s Mozza group, said Fall talked him into joining the project. He noted that if no one else had stepped in, he would have taken the initiative himself. Fall grew up two blocks from the restaurant, where his family operated a business. He stated that his goal is to draw diners from across Los Angeles to provide more reasons for people to visit downtown.

Many former staff members are returning to their roles, according to Maloney. He described the vision as creating a “Cheers”-style space that remains financially sustainable. Both owners are committed to preserving the building’s historic elements. They are restoring these features within the protections established for the landmark structure.

Cole’s dates back to 1908, when it opened as Cole’s P.E. Buffet to serve Pacific Electric streetcar commuters. The establishment claims credit for inventing the French dip sandwich, a title it has long disputed with Philippe’s the Original in Chinatown. In 2007, Cedd Moses of 213 Hospitality, now known as Pouring With Heart, led a restoration that cost a reported $1.6 million. That work earned a Los Angeles Conservancy Preservation Award in 2009 and helped spark the area’s cocktail and nightlife revival, including the opening of the hidden speakeasy Varnish.

Moses announced the closure in July 2025, citing the ongoing effects of the pandemic, Hollywood strikes, crime, and rising rents and operating costs. Fans lined up for final visits as Moses pushed the closing date back several times. The restaurant finally ceased operations in March. The new ownership team is now working to reopen the site by the holiday season.