Cole's Pacific Electric Buffet

Cole's Pacific Electric Buffet
Interactive map of Cole's Pacific Electric Buffet
Restaurant information
Established1908
ClosedMarch 29, 2026; 6 months ago (2026-03-29)
Dress codeCasual
Location118 East 6th Street, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90014, United States
Coordinates34°02′41″N 118°14′58″W / 34.04478°N 118.24943°W / 34.04478; -118.24943
Websitewww.colesfrenchdip.com

Cole's Pacific Electric Buffet, also known as Cole's P.E. Buffet and Cole's French Dip, was a restaurant and bar located at 118 East 6th Street in the Historic Core of downtown Los Angeles, California. Opened in 1908, it was the oldest restaurant in Los Angeles that had operated at same location since its founding.

History

Cole's was founded in 1908 by Henry Cole on the ground floor of the Pacific Electric Building, which served as the main terminal for the Pacific Electric Railway. Cole's table tops were made from the varnished doors of retired Red Cars of the Pacific Electric Railway.[citation needed]

Cole's claims that the French dip sandwich was invented at Cole's the year it opened. Nearby Philippe's makes the same claim. Some[who?] have suggested that Philippe's is correct, as the sandwich was named "French" dip because of the restaurant's proprietor's French heritage. According to carvers at Cole's, Henry Cole first dipped the French bread in jus at the request of a customer who had recently had dental work. The bread was too hard and it hurt the customer's teeth, so Henry dipped the bread to soften it. Other customers requested Cole do the same for them - and thus the French dip was born.

Cole's was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1989. It later shut down for remodeling on March 15, 2007, with the new owner claiming the restaurant would reopen in time for its 100th anniversary in January 2008. The project, however, was delayed, and Cole's did not reopen until December 2008. The original tables were removed and reportedly moved to the developer's corporate headquarters above Clifton's Cafeteria as part of this renovation.[citation needed]

Closure

The restaurant announced on July 7, 2025 that it would close on August 3, 2025, with no plans to reopen. Due to an influx of customers following that announcement, the closing date was repeatedly delayed, with it first being pushed back to September 2025, then to November 1, 2025, then to December 31, 2025, and then to January 31, 2026.

Cole's finally closed on March 29, 2026, marking the occasion with a series of collaborations with other prominent Los Angeles restaurants like Father's Office and Guelaguetza offering remixed version of items from the Cole's menu. While the owners set a minimum price tag of $500,000 for the restaurant, they wanted the new buyer to continue the Cole's legacy instead of merely opening a new concept within the space, and while a number of buyers have expressed interest in buying the restaurant, none have yet to close escrow.

Cole's resembled the bar from Who Framed Roger Rabbit, complete with reference to “French dip” on menu.[citation needed]

Cole's was featured in Episode 2, Season 3 of The Lincoln Lawyer, where Mickey Haller debated with Andrea Freeman over who invented the French Dip: Cole's or Philippe's.

References

  1. ↑ Hauler, Joe (January 16, 2004). "A Tale of Two (French) Dips: The Sandwich That People Love to Debate". Los Angeles Downtown News. Archived from the original on September 23, 2010. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  2. ↑ Sanford, Karla Marie (July 7, 2025). "After more than 100 years in operation, Cole's French Dip to close permanently". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ↑ "Historic - Cultural Monuments (HCM) Listing: City Declared Monuments" (PDF). Los Angeles Department of City Planning. August 14, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 26, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2009.
  4. ↑ Maese, Kathryn (March 19, 2007). "Taking the Dip at Cole's". Los Angeles Downtown News. Retrieved April 13, 2015.[dead link]
  5. ↑ Maese, Kathryn (January 7, 2008). "What's On the Menu?". Los Angeles Downtown News. Retrieved April 13, 2015.[dead link]
  6. ↑ Gelt, Jessica (December 8, 2008). "A new owner restores Cole's merry old soul". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  7. ↑ Kang, Matthew (July 7, 2025). "Cole's French Dip, the Oldest Restaurant in Los Angeles, Is Closing After 117 Years". Eater Los Angeles.
  8. ↑ "Cole's French Dip to Remain Open Until Mid-September 2025". Eater LA. July 29, 2025. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  9. ↑ Chabrán, Gab (September 12, 2025). "Historic DTLA restaurant Cole's French Dip is pushing back closing date". LAist. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
  10. ↑ Conybeare, Will (November 1, 2025). "Once set to close this summer, Cole's French Dip will now remain open – temporarily". KTLA. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  11. ↑ Allen, David (December 28, 2025). "Yet another 'last' meal at Cole's French Dips, still open in DTLA". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  12. ↑ Powell, Amy (March 30, 2026). "Cole's French Dip closes for good after more than 100 years in LA". KABC-TV. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  13. 1 2 Breijo, Stephanie (March 23, 2026). "Historic Cole's is days away from closing. Really. Here are the final specials". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  14. ↑ Kang, Matthew (March 4, 2026). "After More Than 100 Years, French Dip Icon Cole's Will Close (For Real, This Time, Maybe)". Eater Los Angeles. Retrieved March 23, 2026.