Café Tropical is reopening this Saturday, March 16after it closed instantly on December 1, 2023. In current weeks, the cafe has served free pastries exterior the second house the Eastsider. On March 14, the cafe activated a brand new Instagram deal with and posted a classic picture of the restaurant with the caption “Since 1975.” The restaurant will reopen below new possession from the Milkcult workforce, who additionally run a novelty ice cream pop-up on the go.
Initially opened in 1975, Café Tropical is a Cuban landmark in Silver Lake identified for its midnight sandwiches and guava pastries. Its closure proved to be a tough loss for the neighborhood: over time, it had develop into a gathering place for these in restoration from habit, in keeping with the Los Angeles Instances. The room between the cafe and the rear storage space repeatedly hosted conferences for these looking for assist. Longtime Silver Lake resident Ann Bradley, who attended conferences at Café Tropical, referred to as her experiences “transformative,” in keeping with the Instances.
On the time of the closing, the restaurant was owned by Daniel Navarro who additionally operated Bolita in Virgil Village and El Cochinito in Silver Lake. Each additionally closed final yr. Café Tropical's closure was introduced with a handwritten observe on the window that learn:
Attn [sic] Cafe Tropical prospects, we shall be completely closing our doorways this week. Thanks for all of the years and the assist you might have proven us! The final day of service shall be 12/01/2023.
On December 1, 2023, the Los Angeles Instances reported particulars of a household battle that allegedly contributed to his closure, together with a lawsuit alleging Navarro owed $350,000 to his mom. U Instances stated Navarro's household didn’t need him to function Café Tropical below the identical umbrella as El Cochinito and Bolita, and included allegations that he had taken out loans after which used funds from the household to pay them again.
Within the months following the closing, a GoFundMe was began for former Café Tropical staff who allegedly missed wages after the sudden layoff. As of March 14, 2024, the fundraiser had raised $11,895.
Family and friends had been welcomed again to Café Tropical on March 14, however the official reopening is scheduled for March 16 at 9 p.m. The Instagram account teased a Seville orange donut with fruit from JJ's Lone Daughter Ranch, and a photo from Hear in LA Hints on the return of the beloved guava pastry. Bolita and El Cochinito stay closed.
