AN iconic restaurant might be closing its doors for good because the owner is fed up with crime in the area.
Langer’s Deli in Los Angeles is facing closure after being a popular spot since 1947.
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Norm Langer, the owner of the hot spot, is considering closing the diner due to drug use, trash, and homelessness in the area.
“It’s not safe,” Langer told local Fox affiliate KTTV.
“It’s too many needles. Too much fentanyl. Too much drugs.”
Langer is now calling on the city to make changes to the area as a matter of safety.
“People walking around here taking their clothes off, walking around naked. You know, it’s nuts,” the owner told the outlet.
“I don’t want to spoil anybody’s appetite, but you’ve got a problem with defecation on sidewalks, for somebody was strung out on drugs.
“There’s something. They’re trying to make a score on fentanyl. They’re passed out on the sidewalk, and the city is lame and doing something about it,” he said.
Langer’s is across from MacArthur Park, a downtown area that’s become known for having a large homeless encampment.
MURDER IN THE PARK
The park made headlines earlier this summer when a man was found dead in the park’s lake.
Police later confirmed that surveillance footage showed two men had dragged the body into the lake in broad daylight, according to local CBS affiliate KCAL.
“I need the park cleaned up. I need 7th Street cleaned up,” Langer told local ABC affiliate KABC.
He also told the outlet that increased food vendors in the area might have brought on more crime – but that he still thinks that drugs are to blame.
“But the vending is not only the issue. It’s the issue of the gangs collecting rent,” Langer told the outlet.
“It’s the issue of, I’m not going to say fentanyl or any other drug. It’s the drugs period.”
Restaurant closures in 2024
BOSSES at major dining chains have announced a series of restaurant closures. The U.S. Sun has compiled a list of the chain’s affected.
- Cracker Barrel: Stores in Medford, Oregon, Columbia, South Carolina, and Sacramento, California, have closed.
- Mod Pizza: Bosses dramatically shuttered 27 shops in April, including some in the state of California.
- Frisch’s Big Boy: Restaurant chiefs confirmed the closure of a restaurant in Covington, Kentucky in April.
- Outback Steakhouse: The chain will shutter 41 ‘underperforming’ locations this year.
- Two Bucks: Four restaurants in Ohio closed in April.
- Chili’s: A restaurant in Port Arthur, Texas, has shut permanently as well as one in Irvine, California, and one in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
- Friendly’s: Bosses confirmed an establishment in Ronkonkoma, Long Island will close.
- Pizza Hut: A restaurant in Glen Falls, New York, closed at the end of March, followed by four in Ohio in June and 15 in Indiana. This was followed in July by a bankruptcy filing from its parent company which announced the closure of 150 locations.
- Carl’s Jr.: The first Boise, Idaho location has closed.
- In-N-Out: An Oakland location closed earlier in the year due to crime in the area.
- Cheesecake Factory: The chain is set to shutter a location in Memphis, Tennessee in July.
- Applebee’s: Announced the closure of between 25 and 35 locations this year.
- Red Lobster: The seafood chain filed for bankruptcy in May and shuttered over 100 locations.
- Taco John’s: Shuttered a restaurant in Minnesota and put the building up for sale in May.
- Frisco’s Chicken: The poultry restaurant shuttered all of its locations over the summer
- Rubio’s Coastal Grill: Has announced the closure of 48 locations in California after filing for bankruptcy.
- Burger King: Shuttered a location in California in June after 30 years.
- Foster’s Freeze: Shuttered a location in California after five decades in business due to financial struggles.
- Chicken Salad Chick: After nine years the restaurant shuttered one location in Jacksonville, Florida, with no reason given.
- México Lindo: The New York City-based restaurant announced its final day after 52 years and finally shuttered its doors for good on July 31.
- American Dream Pizza: Closed all of its locations in Oregon in July.
- Tender Greens: The Southern California-based chain filed for bankruptcy.
- Lefty’s Famous Cheesesteaks, Hoagies, & Grill: Abruptly shuttered 18 locations in July due to a family feud.
- Firehouse Subs: Shuttered a location in the Tri-Cities area of Washington State over the summer citing “unforeseen circumstances”
- Taco Time: The Taco Bell rival shuttered a location in Seattle after 50 years following a death in the franchise owner’s family.
- Burgerim: Shuttered a location in Burlington, Massachusetts in July, reigniting bankruptcy fears from 2020.
- Denny’s: The chain has shuttered over 40 locations so far this year with the owner of the one outlet blaming vandalism.
- Starbucks: The chain shuttered one of its most iconic locations in New York City after almost three decades with fans blaming crime. It also lost a location in Seattle.
- Subway: In August, the sandwich chain shuttered over 20 locations across the US and Canada after a franchisee lost money after being a victim of fraud.
- IHOP: A restaurant in New Hampshire shut its doors after 24 years, leaving four locations in the state.
- Switchback Coffee Roasters: The popular chain filed for bankruptcy in August after over a decade in business.
- Jimmy John’s: The sandwich shop chain shuttered a location in Nevada on August 19 after 12 years citing overexpansion issues.
- KFC: Closed the remaining three locations in Rockford, Illinois all on the same day on August 19. In total, it closed six locations across four cities in Illinois.
- Rusty Bucket: The chicken shop chain confirmed it would officially leave Florida as it announced a handful of closures including in Sarasota and Ohio.
- Buca di Beppo: The Olive Garden rival abruptly shuttered 44 locations across five states before filing for bankruptcy.
- Red Robin: Announced the closure of its Ashburn, Virginia location on August 25 after 15 years in business.
- Noodles & Company: Shuttered dozens of locations due to their contribution to around $2 million worth of losses.
- Shoney’s: The classic American-style food chain founded in 1947 officially exited Ohio after three decades of business as it reduced its operational footprint.
- Homegrown: The sandwich chain based in Seattle announced the closure of 10 locations leaving 150 employees in the lurch.
- World of Beer: Filed for bankruptcy after closing 14 outlets.
- Arby’s: The chain announced a number of closures this year including in Lexington, Kentucky, Akron, Ohio,
- Uno Pizzeria & Grill: Shuttered a location in New Jersey in July, leaving just two in the state, followed by the closure of a Baltimore location in August.
‘ONE WEEK’
On Tuesday, Langer threatened to close his restaurant within the week if he didn’t see changes in the city.
“One week,” he said.
“I either see some things happening within the week, or I’ll lock it up.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged the threatened closure to KABC.
“I have spoken to Mr. Langer a couple of times and look to be meeting with him soon,” Bass told the outlet.
“We need an overall strategy and approach for MacArthur Park because there are a multitude of issues that take place right there.”
RESTAURANTS SHUTTER
The closure would mark the end of an era for the deli’s 77 years after Norm’s dad Al Langer first opened the eatery.
Langer’s isn’t the only restaurant having issues with crime as the last Denny’s in San Francisco closed earlier this month.
The owner blamed rampant vandalism and theft for the diner closing its doors after 25 years.
Meanwhile, an iconic Starbucks in New York City said it shut its doors due to increased rent prices, but other customers think that solicitors are to blame for the sudden closure.
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