"In late 2018, I met up with two of my closest but estranged friends in L.A.'s Art District. We hadn't seen each other in five years;, a dumb and meaningless argument had caused the breakdown between college buddies. But a common bond brought us together for our armistice: great tacos. Each of us had read about or knew someone who raved about Guerrilla Tacos, chef Wes Avila's famed taco truck turned brick-and-mortar locale."
"It started with the Eaton and Palisades wildfires, which destroyed thousands of Southern California homes, restaurants, bars and other businesses. Tariffs caused the price of some ingredients to soar, while rent and labor costs continued to increase. Immigration raids and lower tourism exacerbated diminished sales and prompted closures. One food business, Sprinkles Cupcakes, announced it was shuttering on the last day of the year."
More than 100 Los Angeles restaurants closed in 2025, ending beloved local institutions and longtime businesses. The closures followed a series of shocks including the Eaton and Palisades wildfires, which destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, and tariff-driven spikes in ingredient prices. Rising rent and labor costs, pandemic impacts, entertainment industry strikes, immigration raids, and reduced tourism further depressed sales. Popular spots such as Guerrilla Tacos and Sprinkles Cupcakes shut their doors. Akasha in Culver City, an 18-year Indian-influenced stalwart, closed after citing strikes, the pandemic, and rising labor and food costs.
Read at Los Angeles Times
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]