Cole's Pacific Electric Buffet
Encyclopedia
Cole's Pacific Electric Buffet, also known as Cole's P.E. Buffet, is a restaurant
and bar
located at 118 East 6th Street in the Historic Core
district of downtown Los Angeles
, California
.
Cole's had boasted being the oldest restaurant and bar in the city of Los Angeles continuously operated from the same location--inclusive of a shutdown for major remodeling on March 15, 2007. The restaurant's new owner, downtown bar/restaurant entrepreneur Cedd Moses, was quoted in the Los Angeles Downtown News
, saying the restaurant would reopen in time for its 100th anniversary in January 2008; however, the project was delayed, and Cole's finally reopened in December 2008.
Cole's was founded in 1908 by Henry Cole on the ground floor of the Pacific Electric Building
, which served as the main terminal for the Pacific Electric Railway
. Cole's unique table tops were made from the varnished doors of retired Red Cars of the Pacific Electric Railway
. The tables were removed as part of the renovation and were reportedly relocated to the developer's nearby corporate headquarters above Clifton's Cafeteria. The restaurant claims (along with Philippe's
) that the first French dip sandwich
was served at Cole's in the same year. It is suggested that Philippe's is the original, as the sandwich was named "French" dip because of the original proprietor Philippe Mathieu's French heritage. According to carvers at Cole's, Henry Cole first dipped the French bread in jus at the request of a customer who had dental work recently. The French bread was too hard and it hurt this customer's teeth, so Henry dipped the bread in order to soften it. Other customers, with perfectly good teeth, saw Henry dip the bread and requested that he do the same for them - and thus the French dip was born. Other theories exist, so debate is likely to continue.
Henry Cole also operated Los Angeles's first check cashing service from the restaurant.
Cole's was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument
in 1989.
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
and bar
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
located at 118 East 6th Street in the Historic Core
Historic Core, Los Angeles, California
The Historic Core is a neighborhood in Downtown Los Angeles between Hill and Main streets on the west and east, and 3rd and 9th street on the north and south. It overlaps with the Jewelry District on its western end and Skid Row on its eastern end. It was the center of the city before World War II...
district of downtown Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Cole's had boasted being the oldest restaurant and bar in the city of Los Angeles continuously operated from the same location--inclusive of a shutdown for major remodeling on March 15, 2007. The restaurant's new owner, downtown bar/restaurant entrepreneur Cedd Moses, was quoted in the Los Angeles Downtown News
Los Angeles Downtown News
The Los Angeles Downtown News is a free weekly newspaper in Los Angeles, California, serving the Downtown Los Angeles area.The newspaper focuses on general news with an emphasis on real estate and business...
, saying the restaurant would reopen in time for its 100th anniversary in January 2008; however, the project was delayed, and Cole's finally reopened in December 2008.
Cole's was founded in 1908 by Henry Cole on the ground floor of the Pacific Electric Building
Pacific Electric Building
The Pacific Electric Building opened in 1905 as the terminal for the Pacific Electric Red Car Lines running east and south of downtown Los Angeles, as well as the company's main headquarters building. It was designed by architect Thornton Fitzhugh...
, which served as the main terminal for the Pacific Electric Railway
Pacific Electric Railway
The Pacific Electric Railway , also known as the Red Car system, was a mass transit system in Southern California using streetcars, light rail, and buses...
. Cole's unique table tops were made from the varnished doors of retired Red Cars of the Pacific Electric Railway
Pacific Electric Railway
The Pacific Electric Railway , also known as the Red Car system, was a mass transit system in Southern California using streetcars, light rail, and buses...
. The tables were removed as part of the renovation and were reportedly relocated to the developer's nearby corporate headquarters above Clifton's Cafeteria. The restaurant claims (along with Philippe's
Philippe's
Philippe's, or "Phillippe the Original", is a restaurant located in downtown Los Angeles, California. The restaurant is well known for continuously operating since 1908, making it one of the oldest restaurants in Los Angeles. It is also renowned for claiming to be the inventor of the French Dip...
) that the first French dip sandwich
French dip sandwich
A French dip sandwich, also known as a beef dip, is a hot sandwich consisting of thinly sliced roast beef on a "French roll" or baguette. It is usually served au jus , that is, with beef juice from the cooking process...
was served at Cole's in the same year. It is suggested that Philippe's is the original, as the sandwich was named "French" dip because of the original proprietor Philippe Mathieu's French heritage. According to carvers at Cole's, Henry Cole first dipped the French bread in jus at the request of a customer who had dental work recently. The French bread was too hard and it hurt this customer's teeth, so Henry dipped the bread in order to soften it. Other customers, with perfectly good teeth, saw Henry dip the bread and requested that he do the same for them - and thus the French dip was born. Other theories exist, so debate is likely to continue.
Henry Cole also operated Los Angeles's first check cashing service from the restaurant.
Cole's was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument
Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument
Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments are sites in Los Angeles, California, which have been designated by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission as worthy of preservation based on architectural, historic and cultural criteria.-History:...
in 1989.