Beloved Studio City Landmark, Du-par’s, is Closing

The clock striking midnight on New Year’s Eve is typically a call for celebration. Sadly, that’s the time when Du-par’s, a 24/7 beacon for family-friendly comfort food, is closing their beloved Studio City location.

Du-par’s has thrived on the Blvd. since 1948, hosting generations of locals looking for hearty plates and nostalgia. Owner Biff Naylor (since 2004) has said that a rent increase is prompting the closure. This closure is part of a trend that’s seen steady attrition as L.A.’s real estate market spirals upwards. With monthly rents spiking, California’s minimum wage rising to $15/hour, and many restaurateurs decrying a reliable labor shortage, Du-par’s may be part of an ongoing restaurant reckoning.

Who can afford to pay higher rents? Chains often have deeper pockets, but as McDonald’s recent Studio City closure shows, even multi-national companies are not exempt. Du-par’s Studio City location will soon be home to Sephora, the chain cosmetics company.

Du-par’s still runs three locations where you can satisfy your buttermilk pancake, patty melt, and pie cravings: The Original Farmers Market, Pasadena, and Las Vegas.

In the meantime, Biff hopes to resurface somewhere else in the Valley – pulling off a comeback much like fellow stalwart Stanley’s did this past year.