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Another West Hollywood institution is calling it quits.
The formerly nightlife-loving Los Angeles area city has recently endured a brutal wave of beloved spots closing — and now it’s been revealed that last call has officially been set for one of WeHo’s most high profile addresses, Employees Only LA.
The moody cocktail bar and restaurant, which brought a taste of NYC after dark to Santa Monica Blvd. and attracted plenty of celebrities, announced it will permanently close on Sept. 27, ending nearly a decade of service.
The shock announcement dropped over the holiday, via the bar’s social media.
Owners thanked staffers and customers for helping turn the dimly-lit haunt into a local fixture.
“From behind the bar and in the kitchen to the floor and the many familiar faces who came back again and again, each of you helped make this place what it became,” the post read.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the people who worked alongside us, supported us, celebrated with us, and brought so much life and joy into this space. There are countless memories within these walls, and even more people we’re thankful to have shared them with.”
No reason was given for the closure. An representative declined to comment further when contacted by the California Post.
The Left Coast outpost of the long-running Manhattan bar opened in April 2018 as an art-deco inspired den decked out in dark wood and banquettes, plus a speakeasy-inspired space called Henry’s Room in the back, hidden behind a secret panel.
It wasn’t all that difficult to run into a famous person at the bar, but an added part of the Employees Only LA appeal was its location directly next door to A-lister magnet Delilah — a chic supper club where Drake, Kendall Jenner, and Justin and Hailey Bieber have all been spotted partying over the years.
Combined, the block became a fertile hunting ground for paparazzi and A-list people watching.
News of the impending demise caught longtime fans off guard — with some seeing the closure as an ominous sign for the area’s battered nightlife and restaurant scene.
“West Hollywood in a death spiral,” one commenter declared on Instagram.
“This is awful,” another wrote, while someone else lamented: “So many bars have closed this years it’s absurd.”
Recent high-profile closures in the city include The Belmont bar, the train-themed Electric Owl and long-running seafood hotspot Connie & Ted’s.
Others pointed fingers at the increasingly expensive economics of doing business in WeHo.
Even Craig’s — the nearby celeb-studded restaurant on Melrose — chimed into the debate after a local reporter also announced the Employees Only closure on Instagram.
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“Blame the city council of West Hollywood,” a representative for the restaurant wrote. “Unrealistic minimum wage ordinance which leads to higher payroll taxes and Insurance.”
According to the West Hollywood Minimum Wage Ordinance, businesses must pay non-hotel employees $20.25 per hour and up — while the number for hotel employees is $20.87.
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