Langer’s Deli owner is starving for L.A. to clean up MacArthur Park, and thinking of closing
Langer’s Deli owner is starving for L.A. to clean up MacArthur Park, and thinking of closing
by Similar_Bonus5360
44 Comments
Boomsnarl
I get it, but it’s disappointing. Plenty of space in Eagle Rock. He could move it out here.
thekevingreene
Damn. Homedude has been thru a lot. Business is down 1/3 since the pandi, he had lung cancer five times, he had the tops of both lungs removed, prostate cancer, 45 radiation treatments, both knees replaced but he’s still putting everything into the business and he’s hustling hard af. Imagine if MacArthur Park was as clean as Echo Park. That park has so much potential. Maybe it needs swan paddle boats?
lavendermermaid
There’s so many empty places, especially on the west side, that I’m sure Langer’s would thrive at.
Rich_Sheepherder646
It’s been terrible there since at least the 80s. It was briefly getting better before Covid.
chris9321
He should expand…to the South Bay….to Hermosa Beach specifically
newtoreddir
MacArthur Park has been seedy for a long time, I bet a lot of businesses have been holding out hope that the gentrification cycle would start up over there but I think it’s going to be awhile longer.
MegBundy
Just an FYI, Daughter’s Deli in West Hollywood is run by his daughter and sources her ingredients from the same places. She uses her knowledge of managing the restaurant with her dad to operate her own deli. The sandwiches are top notch!
Theeeeeetrurthurts
Fuck I better do a Langers run.
GreedyCauliflower
I’d support firebombing the park to save the #19
mattevil8419
Langers 19 might be my favorite sandwich in the city. Would hate to see it go but I would understand him not wanting to run it anymore.
monotekdm
Kind of surprised of the response since he survived the absolute worst conditions during the 80’s. Believe it or not things were far worse in that area back then and it was a reason a lot of older businesses closed in that area or moved but they remained. As some mentioned, things have gotten better since then but Covid did affect the area but it’s still nowhere near as bad the 80’s and early 90’s were.
zq1232
This would be an absolute travesty. That’s the best pastrami sandwich in the country (eat your heart out Katz) and would be a historic loss. My sense is that it’s not ACTUALLY going to close, but the fact they’re even mentioning it is bad enough.
littleadventures
I agree MacArthur Park needs to be cleaned up it’s not a good place for people to hang out all the time. That’s probably why they have terrible hours which doesn’t help their business. They should be open later than 4 PM. The only day I can go is Saturday
Thurkin
*Someone left their Meth out in the rain …*
altonbrownfan
Last time I went to Langer’s I was across the street at the park after and an ordinary looking man just undid his fly pissed across the sidewalk and didn’t even blink. Oh all while sitting on a park bench.
SoUpInYa
Relocate to SFV!
Open-Lingonberry1357
That place is an icon and literally the only place in LA that can equal a ny deli. The area around it is pretty bad now. But you can park across the street, eat up and ✌🏽out. I see bigger lines at places like Roscoe’s which is meh
BongBreath310
Mcarthur Park has been what it’s been for a long time. Business is down because langers is expensive , have a tough parking situation, and honestly caters to an older crowd that no longer lives in that part of the city.
Would love to support them, but paying damn near $30 for Chili cheese fries and a drink for a quick lunch is a tough sell when for the same amount I can get more bang for my buck in literally any direction of mcarthur park
Due-Run-5342
Hes right. I fuckin HATE MacArthur Park because it’s a waste of potential. That place has the worst people always hanging around, harassing people and just overall being an eyesore. It’s a shame because the park itself is actually beautiful and we don’t have very many green spaces in LA. It’s just ruined by all the low lifers who hang around there and make it unsuitable to use as an actual park. Can yall imagine if they cleaned that park up so you could actually be able to get a sandwich at langers and then chill at the park by the lake? That would be amazing.
PixelAstro
A decent fence around the park could solve these problems. It doesn’t have to be chain link garbage, it could be exquisite and look good.
RingPopEnthusiast
I just moved to LA in the beginning of this year. I once suggested to a date that we should walk around MacArthur Park around the evening time, not knowing what it has become. She quickly shot that down lol.
If you do a Google image search of MacArthur Park, you’d have no idea it was in bad shape, that area has a lot of potential.
From the article: “Restaurants come and go, but this wouldn’t be just any business going dark. Langer’s has been in L.A. longer than the Dodgers and the Lakers. ”
That’s crazy! Never thought about it that way.
Theeeeeetrurthurts
I drove by MacArthur last weekend waiting on a red light next to Langer’s. I look to my left, and I see two people smoking crack underneath the palm tree high as fuck. It was like 2 pm and in front of the restaurant. On a Saturday.
Middle_Chain_544
MacArthur Park has been rough since I’ve been alive. I was born in the early ‘70s. MacArthur Park is the only place I got offered a green card, cocaine, pills, guns, and a woman all within 15 minutes as I was walking along Alvarado.
steamydan
Last time I went to Langers with my 2 year old, we got harassed by a methed out lady by the front door.
lightsareoutty
@karenbass do something!
lightsareoutty
A couple of years ago we bought property a couple of blocks away from the park and developed a multistory building During the 18 months of construction there were numerous robberies, an attempted car jacking and one of the workers was stabbed (luckily he survived).
In addition to Langers there are a few remaining businesses that have been the for decades including Aardvark Press and the paper company near it.
The. neighborhood could potentially be safe and really nice if the politicians and cops did their effin jobs.
It really is a disgrace to this city and its residents right now
gannimaduma
Alvarado st is a shit show
bbusiello
Interesting that this post has this many upvotes.
I once mentioned not going to Langer’s and actually telling my visiting family to avoid it just because of the horrid state of MacArthur Park.
Got downvoted to oblivion.
But I’m glad some of the comments share my sentiment.
If you’re on Alvarado… as soon as you pass around 3rd, it starts to become a horror show. I feel bad for everyone who has to deal with it… from the people who live there, to the shop owners, to the street merchants.
MontyBoo-urns
MacArthur Park??
-Original Aunt Viv
Delicious-Sale6122
Who’s the Councilman for this area? What is their response?
savvysearch
I haven’t been to MacArthur Park in years, but those photos from the LA Times is depressing. I can see that taking a psychological toll for people who work there.
intelligentidiot323
Would be an absolute travesty should they shut down.
To the owners of Langers: Please please please do not ever shut down. Just relocate…
[deleted]
langers needs to open in beverly hills
key1234567
It’s a shame this area could be so gorgeous, he should just move it.
BeerGogglesOIF2
Macaurthur park was worse in the 80s
Superguy766
Here’s a revised version:
I used to go there a lot as a kid since I lived just 3 blocks away back in ‘76-‘79. I remember riding my bike through McArthur Park and to the library in Lafayette Park. I remember riding the pedal boats with my besties during summer vacation. I remember seeing the movie “Car Wash” and yelling “I live near this car wash!” 😂
Man, such good memories and it’s all gone to shit. 🙁
Vicious_and_Vain
Better than Canter’s
bluefrostyAP
MacArthur park seriously looks like the fallout market.
It literally looks like an open bazaar for homeless people.
Maximillion666ian666
Let me guess another business blaming the homeless or crime for the fact the business isn’t turning a profit.
Jay1348
You must be new in town lol anti gentrification keep the rent down
ilovetheeagles
if langers closes i’ll k!ll myself
CacoFlaco
What a disaster that neighborhood is. At one time Westlake was the crown jewel of Los Angeles. Now it’s an abomination.
TranslatorLazy7059
I worked across the street in the historic office building for 3 years during COVID. That block is absolutely disgusting. The street vendors are selling drugs, stolen goods, fake IDs and they are employees of MS13. I saw people get shot, raped, mugged and beat up daily. They target vulnerable immigrants. It is absolutely disgusting.
theexplodedview
I lived in the American Cement Building on the park for 4 years 2003-07. MacArthur Park has always been on the edge of renewal even before then. People don’t talk about how, beyond MS-13, the homeless community, the drug sales, it’s one of the densest neighborhoods in the entire country. Central American communities that power much of the city. They ain’t going anywhere, and the gentrifying dollars aren’t moving in until they do. Langer’s is delicious, but they’re on an island.
44 Comments
I get it, but it’s disappointing.
Plenty of space in Eagle Rock. He could move it out here.
Damn. Homedude has been thru a lot. Business is down 1/3 since the pandi, he had lung cancer five times, he had the tops of both lungs removed, prostate cancer, 45 radiation treatments, both knees replaced but he’s still putting everything into the business and he’s hustling hard af. Imagine if MacArthur Park was as clean as Echo Park. That park has so much potential. Maybe it needs swan paddle boats?
There’s so many empty places, especially on the west side, that I’m sure Langer’s would thrive at.
It’s been terrible there since at least the 80s. It was briefly getting better before Covid.
He should expand…to the South Bay….to Hermosa Beach specifically
MacArthur Park has been seedy for a long time, I bet a lot of businesses have been holding out hope that the gentrification cycle would start up over there but I think it’s going to be awhile longer.
Just an FYI, Daughter’s Deli in West Hollywood is run by his daughter and sources her ingredients from the same places. She uses her knowledge of managing the restaurant with her dad to operate her own deli. The sandwiches are top notch!
Fuck I better do a Langers run.
I’d support firebombing the park to save the #19
Langers 19 might be my favorite sandwich in the city. Would hate to see it go but I would understand him not wanting to run it anymore.
Kind of surprised of the response since he survived the absolute worst conditions during the 80’s. Believe it or not things were far worse in that area back then and it was a reason a lot of older businesses closed in that area or moved but they remained. As some mentioned, things have gotten better since then but Covid did affect the area but it’s still nowhere near as bad the 80’s and early 90’s were.
This would be an absolute travesty. That’s the best pastrami sandwich in the country (eat your heart out Katz) and would be a historic loss. My sense is that it’s not ACTUALLY going to close, but the fact they’re even mentioning it is bad enough.
I agree MacArthur Park needs to be cleaned up it’s not a good place for people to hang out all the time. That’s probably why they have terrible hours which doesn’t help their business. They should be open later than 4 PM. The only day I can go is Saturday
*Someone left their Meth out in the rain …*
Last time I went to Langer’s I was across the street at the park after and an ordinary looking man just undid his fly pissed across the sidewalk and didn’t even blink. Oh all while sitting on a park bench.
Relocate to SFV!
That place is an icon and literally the only place in LA that can equal a ny deli. The area around it is pretty bad now. But you can park across the street, eat up and ✌🏽out. I see bigger lines at places like Roscoe’s which is meh
Mcarthur Park has been what it’s been for a long time. Business is down because langers is expensive , have a tough parking situation, and honestly caters to an older crowd that no longer lives in that part of the city.
Would love to support them, but paying damn near $30 for Chili cheese fries and a drink for a quick lunch is a tough sell when for the same amount I can get more bang for my buck in literally any direction of mcarthur park
Hes right. I fuckin HATE MacArthur Park because it’s a waste of potential. That place has the worst people always hanging around, harassing people and just overall being an eyesore. It’s a shame because the park itself is actually beautiful and we don’t have very many green spaces in LA. It’s just ruined by all the low lifers who hang around there and make it unsuitable to use as an actual park. Can yall imagine if they cleaned that park up so you could actually be able to get a sandwich at langers and then chill at the park by the lake? That would be amazing.
A decent fence around the park could solve these problems. It doesn’t have to be chain link garbage, it could be exquisite and look good.
I just moved to LA in the beginning of this year. I once suggested to a date that we should walk around MacArthur Park around the evening time, not knowing what it has become. She quickly shot that down lol.
If you do a Google image search of MacArthur Park, you’d have no idea it was in bad shape, that area has a lot of potential.
From the article: “Restaurants come and go, but this wouldn’t be just any business going dark. Langer’s has been in L.A. longer than the Dodgers and the Lakers. ”
That’s crazy! Never thought about it that way.
I drove by MacArthur last weekend waiting on a red light next to Langer’s. I look to my left, and I see two people smoking crack underneath the palm tree high as fuck. It was like 2 pm and in front of the restaurant. On a Saturday.
MacArthur Park has been rough since I’ve been alive. I was born in the early ‘70s. MacArthur Park is the only place I got offered a green card, cocaine, pills, guns, and a woman all within 15 minutes as I was walking along Alvarado.
Last time I went to Langers with my 2 year old, we got harassed by a methed out lady by the front door.
@karenbass do something!
A couple of years ago we bought property a couple of blocks away from the park and developed a multistory building During the 18 months of construction there were numerous robberies, an attempted car jacking and one of the workers was stabbed (luckily he survived).
In addition to Langers there are a few remaining businesses that have been the for decades including Aardvark Press and the paper company near it.
The. neighborhood could potentially be safe and really nice if the politicians and cops did their effin jobs.
It really is a disgrace to this city and its residents right now
Alvarado st is a shit show
Interesting that this post has this many upvotes.
I once mentioned not going to Langer’s and actually telling my visiting family to avoid it just because of the horrid state of MacArthur Park.
Got downvoted to oblivion.
But I’m glad some of the comments share my sentiment.
If you’re on Alvarado… as soon as you pass around 3rd, it starts to become a horror show. I feel bad for everyone who has to deal with it… from the people who live there, to the shop owners, to the street merchants.
MacArthur Park??
-Original Aunt Viv
Who’s the Councilman for this area? What is their response?
I haven’t been to MacArthur Park in years, but those photos from the LA Times is depressing. I can see that taking a psychological toll for people who work there.
Would be an absolute travesty should they shut down.
To the owners of Langers: Please please please do not ever shut down. Just relocate…
langers needs to open in beverly hills
It’s a shame this area could be so gorgeous, he should just move it.
Macaurthur park was worse in the 80s
Here’s a revised version:
I used to go there a lot as a kid since I lived just 3 blocks away back in ‘76-‘79.
I remember riding my bike through McArthur Park and to the library in Lafayette Park.
I remember riding the pedal boats with my besties during summer vacation.
I remember seeing the movie “Car Wash” and yelling “I live near this car wash!” 😂
Man, such good memories and it’s all gone to shit.
🙁
Better than Canter’s
MacArthur park seriously looks like the fallout market.
It literally looks like an open bazaar for homeless people.
Let me guess another business blaming the homeless or crime for the fact the business isn’t turning a profit.
You must be new in town lol anti gentrification keep the rent down
if langers closes i’ll k!ll myself
What a disaster that neighborhood is. At one time Westlake was the crown jewel of Los Angeles. Now it’s an abomination.
I worked across the street in the historic office building for 3 years during COVID. That block is absolutely disgusting. The street vendors are selling drugs, stolen goods, fake IDs and they are employees of MS13. I saw people get shot, raped, mugged and beat up daily. They target vulnerable immigrants. It is absolutely disgusting.
I lived in the American Cement Building on the park for 4 years 2003-07. MacArthur Park has always been on the edge of renewal even before then. People don’t talk about how, beyond MS-13, the homeless community, the drug sales, it’s one of the densest neighborhoods in the entire country. Central American communities that power much of the city. They ain’t going anywhere, and the gentrifying dollars aren’t moving in until they do. Langer’s is delicious, but they’re on an island.