Historic Pacific Dining Car Restaurant Destroyed In An Early Fire
Fire severely damaged one of Los Angeles’ oldest restaurants, which was once frequented Mae West and other stars, politicians, and powerbrokers. The fire broke out in the early hours of Saturday morning.
In the early 1900s, the Pacific Dining Car, an old building near downtown Los Angeles was built to look like a train car. It was once a staple of L.A. fine dining and featured in many television shows and films, such as 1974’s Chinatown, starring Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway and Denzel Washington, and 2001’s Training Day with Ethan Hawke and Denzel Washington.
Even after selling off some of its items, the family has promised to bring the restaurant back. The vacant building was declared a cultural landmark in Los Angeles last year.
Los Angeles Fire Department reports that firefighters responded to the scene around 1 am Saturday and discovered a fire that had consumed the 5,500 square foot, more than 100 year old building. The extent of damage is still unknown.
The original location of the restaurant was in a replica traincar at 1310 West 6th Street. This is near downtown LA.
Wes Idol III is the great-grandson to the original owners and told Los Angeles Magazine, in September 2020, that he would keep its doors open.
Idol said to the magazine, “I don’t want my family legacy to disappear.” There’s something productive about a pause.”
According to the website of the restaurant, the declining health condition of Wes Idol III’s father is one reason that the family trust including the restaurant group was left to Toby Idol.
According to the website, she was prevented from demolishing it when it became a city monument in LA in May 2023.
