speculation goes up as cole’s fencing comes down
Fans of Cole’s PE Buffet, the 1908 restaurant in the lower level of the Pacific Electric Building at 6th and Main, may take notice that the construction fencing surrounding the facade for months has been taken down.
Cole’s has been closed for a year during extensive interior renovations following bar mogul Cedd Moses’ purchase of the restaurant. Touted upgrades include a restored bar, new kitchen and inviting patio, according to the Los Angeles Downtown News.
Though the upgrades aren’t complete, we’ll be waiting to see just how all-inclusive the changes will be. If Moses keeps his previously announced construction schedule, Cole’s is set to reopen in May, in time for the business’s 100th anniversary.
Of the two long-time establishments that rival over being the originator of the classic French dipped sandwich, I prefer Phillipe’s. Although I definitely plan to sample Cole’s new and improved version with gourmet mustard and fresh horseradish once it reopens. Bring on the competition!
-The Barmaster (Downtown News)
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13 comments
If the construction wall has been taken down recently, how come the wall and light fixture near the Cole’s sign (the one with the red lettering) still so dingy?
I’m assuming that the long overdue renovation of such basic details of the restaurant and the PE building in general has yet to occur, and WILL occur in the next few months.
What is so funny about the Cole’s sign is that about two years ago they replaced the neon. They spent good quality time fixing the sign. It worked for two days then it went back to glowing this at night:
Cole’s
Cock iches
My teenage brother thought it was very funny.
(and I did too)
The designer of the space told me they are almost done, and on schedule to open in May. I guess that the exterior finishes will be the last things to get done. I was also told that they have a serious chef who will retain the french dip concept but take it to a new level. Sounds good to me.
Sounds expensive to me….
GINNY: That is too funny! My cousin & I thought we were the only once that noticed it :-)
CORRECTION: “ones” not “once”
Opening in May is less than two months away. I’d like to see it. The walls are not finished, there are no new appliances in place, no paint, no new fixtures.
On the plus side, it appears that they have done ripping out the floors and putting in the new plumbing and HVAC ducts. Personally, I don’t see them finishing in two months, but I hope they prove me wrong. Maybe if they get about 20 guys in there working like busy bees.
Yes, Neal Fraser from Grace is the consulting chef.
I peeked in the other night and, darnit, I didn’t have my camera. No, I don’t think they’ll be done in two months either as there’s really no interior there to speak of. As a historical purist, I’m sorry to say Cedd completely gutted the place and there’s nothing left but a bar rail. Everything, everything, everything else is gone. I’ll be flabergasted/disgusted if they reopen with an interior like Golden Gopher or Broadway Bar as Cole’s was fine as the divey restaurant and bar it was landmarked to be. I’m not getting my hopes up about Cole’s next 100 years.
cedd told me at some shindig a while back that they took pictures of the interiors before they started work. that way, they’d know where to put all the pictures, bric-a-brac, and signs that they carefully took down before gutting the place.
if they do reopen with an interior like his other bars and don’t put everything back, then i hope they offer the picture of my sister’s wedding reception at cole’s to me or her husband, rather than throw it out. much like the old cole’s dive bar & restaurant , it held great sentimental value.
This is in next week’s edition (currently online) of the Downtown News:
“Restaurant representatives told Restaurant Buzz that the fencing going down had nothing to do with Cole’s. The opening has in fact been pushed back from May to the fall as renovations continue.”
Indeed, the grand opening has been pushed back…So sad :-(
how can they gut it and change all the neat stuff when it is historical monument #104? doesn’t that count for anything? what about the bar and the spaten on tap. Shit.
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