Tokyo Lobby San Gabriel closing March 17th

[blimpbinge]

Hi everyone,

Employees here have informed me that they will be closing due to slowing business and increasing rent (approx $60k annual increase). They've been attempting different ways to reduce expenses (including now closing on Tuesdays) but are not able to continue.

I've been coming here for years, since I was a child for my birthdays, so I'm sad to see them go even though their food is americanized and may not be up to certain standards.

One employee even apologized for giving only one toothpick umbrella (usually comes on the orange slice with dinners and certain other meals) because they ran out and wouldn't be able to use the whole box if they had ordered it.

Correction: the rent is going approx from $13,000 to $18,000, so about a $60k increase. Per the employee

[raytamsgv]

The food there wasn't spectacular, but the boats were mind-blowing when I was a teenager. It's a bit depressing to see a childhood memory fade into oblivion.

[Johnny L]

Yeah but the realities of a business today can't always be depending on nostalgia and good memories of the past. Here's to hoping something interesting takes its place.

[blimpbinge]

The worker also said that so far, the only party that has been interested were some young asian americans looking to open a tea shop. They ended up declining because the space was too big (they have quite a large kitchen with custom modifications that the late owner of tokyo lobby had built) and the rent was too high.

Still, I can see some mainland investor scooping it up, or the management dividing the space up, since that spot is actually multiple spaces.

[Johnny L]

Nothing really noteworthy about it, its too bad but the majority of the clientele has moved on it was only a matter of time.

[ilysla]

My parents love the place, but I have to admit I never really got it (or the long lines)....

[ipsedixit]

That is a bit of a downer but not entirely surprising.

It was a go-to "date night" restaurant when I was in high school ...