Operating a restaurant in Southern California continues to be a difficult endeavor, with many establishments still struggling from pandemic losses.
Food and labor costs increased in 2024, remaining by far the largest expenses of running a restaurant, according to the Independent Restaurant Coalition . And the minimum wage is set to increase again in California starting in the new year — to $16.50 an hour.
Locally, several Los Angeles restaurateurs report that they have yet to recover from entertainment industry strikes last year, which severely affected the service industry. Paired with low patronage and pandemic-era loans and rent payments that came due, several acclaimed restaurants are struggling or have shuttered across the country, particularly in L.A…