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After 95 years, Jewish deli Greenblatt’s closes in West Hollywood

The iconic restaurant officially closed its doors on Aug. 11

Holly Petre, Assistant Digital Editor

August 16, 2021

1 Min Read
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Jewish deli Greenblatt’s in West Hollywood has officially served its last meal after 95 years in business as of Aug. 11. The deli, established in 1926, closed due to staffing difficulties and general business struggles, according to a source cited by Eater Los Angeles. 

Another source at the restaurant told Eater that Greenblatt’s wanted to close “gracefully” before the Jewish high holidays (the most important time of the Jewish year and a traditionally busy business time for Greenblatt’s) the first week of September.

The closure was kept quiet, circulating online in chat rooms across Reddit and on Twitter before owner Jeff Kavin confirmed the closure when he informed employees on Monday, Aug. 9.

“I started to take over the running of the business from my dad almost 40 years ago,” Kavin wrote in a statement to The LA Times. “The COVID-19 crisis was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me at my age. I really enjoyed my years at Greenblatt’s and all of the wonderful people I met.”

Eater’s source also said that Kavin is looking to sell Greenblatt’s deli and wine shop.

Greenblatt’s has been closed for most of the past year and a half due to the pandemic. The dining room reopened just a few months ago.

The Hollywood diner has attracted a famous clientele since its founding in 1926 by Herman Greenblatt. According to its website, celebrities from Marilyn Monroe and Marlon Brando to Errol Flynn and Billie Holiday were regular customers.

The Kavin family has owned the business since the 1940s.

The restaurant was known for its classic pastrami sandwich, which on the final night of service was reupped three times, and had several glowing food critic reviews.

About the Author

Holly Petre

Assistant Digital Editor

Holly Petre is a digital editor for Nation’s Restaurant News as well as the host of NRN’s podcast, Extra Serving, and producer for Informa Restaurant and Food Group’s other three podcasts, One On One by Food Management, Off the Shelf with SN and In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn. Holly holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Sculpture, fibers and Material Studies and Ceramics from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. A native New Yorker, Holly enjoys her place on staff as the resident pop-culture expert and millennial with a sassy attitude and great sense of style.

Holly Petre’s work on Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality often covers marketing and trends, either aimed-at or examined-through the millennial mindset. Holly is responsible for introducing TikTok and Twitch to NRN and RH readers as well as explaining terms like “Karen” to staff and readers alike. She also spends her time on staff trying not to make every headline a pun.

Holly Petre hasn’t spoken at any events or on panels, but she is readily available with a killer shoe wardrobe and several witty quips.

 

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