Original Pantry Cafe reopens Nov. 19 with new menu and nonprofit operator

The Original Pantry Cafe in downtown Los Angeles will reopen on Nov. 19 after closing in March 2025, ending a hiatus of more than a year and a half. The historic diner, which opened in 1924, had been a 24-hour establishment known for serving figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and local residents for over a century.

New owner Leo Pustilnikov purchased the nearly 8,000-square-foot building and an adjacent parking lot in September 2025 for $5.5 million. The property had been owned for many years by former Mayor Richard Riordan, who died in 2023 and left the asset to a trust. Pustilnikov’s acquisition was delayed by a car collision with the building’s side and subsequent permitting issues, which pushed the opening past a planned New Year’s Eve date.

The restaurant will be managed by Hope the Mission, a San Fernando Valley-based nonprofit that provides services to the unhoused, including preparing 3.8 million meals annually. All proceeds from the diner will benefit the organization’s programs, shelters, and staffing. Hope the Mission will also oversee the adjacent bar and grill, formerly known as Riordan’s Tavern.

Thirteen of the 21 employees working at the time of the March 2025 closure will return to their positions. The staff is represented by Unite Here Local 11, which secured a new contract including free family health insurance, a pension, and job security. Union co-president Kurt Petersen said negotiations with the new owners were resolved in weeks, compared to the one to two years of talks with the previous owners.

The new menu retains many signature items but introduces global influences and in-house preparations. Executive Chef Daniel Hur worked with Hope the Mission’s senior director of food services, Jason Moniz, to adjust the concept. The Denver omelet will feature poblano peppers, and the fried chicken sandwich will include kimchi. Cinnamon toast will be made with milk bread, orange-zest sour cream, and pepitas. The diner will continue to source its famous sourdough from Frisco Baking Co. for now, with plans to bake it on-site in the future.

Natalie Barcena, a former Milk Bar employee, will manage the pastry case. The dessert menu includes blueberry pie cookies, vanilla cheesecake, apple crumble pie, and miso coffee cake. Craftsmanship has been a priority, with the new team rebuilding the pancake recipe from scratch to achieve a crispier edge than the previous mix-based version.

Renovations including new countertops, flooring, furniture, and kitchen equipment cost approximately $800,000. The original tables and chairs, some of which are described as held together by 50-year-old chewing gum, will be replaced with vintage-inspired versions to increase seating. The original furniture may be auctioned to raise additional funds for the nonprofit.

The Pantry will initially operate from morning through dinner, with a goal of returning to its 24-hour format. While the diner previously operated on a cash-only basis, a cashier will staff the caged cash register near the front door, and guests may also pay by check from their tables. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Nov. 19 at 877 S. Figueroa St.