On March 29, residents stood outside Nate’n Al’s Delicatessen, a Beverly Hills landmark, after the restaurant announced that after 75 years, the doors to its Beverly Drive location would be closing permanently. The news was met with a rush of patrons calling in orders for what they believed was the last time. The Courier was at the landmark deli as a steady stream of people came to place orders in person, unable to call because the line was busy. Residents posed for photos and recorded videos in front of the door, recalling their fondest memories at the beloved staple. A long-time favorite of celebrities such as Larry King, many high-profile figures expressed surprise and sadness at news of the sudden closure. But, a clarification by Nate’n Al’s the next day assuaged the panic. While it is still unclear if and when the beloved deli will re-open at another location, social media postings indicated that the owners hope to keep the Nate’n Al’s tradition alive.
An Instagram statement read:
“The media has incorrectly reported that Nate’n Al’s is ‘gone forever.’ As we originally stated, we couldn’t fully guarantee the safety of both our customers and employees for take-out and delivery during this pandemic we have chosen to cease that service. Our current lease is expiring shortly, and we have encountered major difficulties with the city of Beverly Hills who would have been our new landlord on Canon Drive. It is the intention of the current ownership to get through this crisis like every other restaurant and make the right decisions at the right time. Our goal is to keep the Nate ‘n Al’s tradition alive.”
Former mayor John Mirisch recalled going to Nate’n Al’s as a child with his grandparents. He noted, “Maybe more than any other venue in our City, Nate’n Al’s was a place where we all could meet, no matter what part of the City you lived in.”
Mirisch said he was “glad to hear that the closure isn’t meant to be permanent. My personal hope is to keep the Nate ‘n Al’s tradition going in Beverly Hills forever.”
