The La Brea Bakery Cafe has closed at Disneyland's Downtown Disney District, as its owner has decided to close all its cafe locations.
La Brea Bakery Cafe opened with Disneyland's shopping and dining district in 2001. It has remained a popular location for breakfast among fans visiting Disneyland and Disney California Adventure since then.
However, today owner Aspire Bakeries announced that it has closed its cafe locations in Anaheim and Los Angeles and that it will exit the restaurant business. Franchised La Brea bakery kiosks at JFK Airport in New York and the Reno airport will remain open.
"Consistent with our strategy, Aspire Bakeries will... continue the focus on growing our thriving La Brea Bakery business in retail (grocery in-store bakeries) and foodservice."
"The Aspire Bakeries Human Resources team was on-site at both Cafe locations today to meet directly with impacted associates and help ease their transition. In Anaheim, a hiring event for positions at Disney Parks and Downtown Disney District was coordinated to take place directly following the morning's meetings," the press release said.
The cafe's closure opens an available restaurant spot in Downtown Disney, which is continuing a years-long transformation project. At last year's D23 Expo, Disney Parks Chairman Josh D'Amro announced that restaurants Din Tai Fung and Porto's would be coming to Downtown Disney, though no opening dates have been announced.
Former Downtown Disney tenant Earl of Sandwich lost its location when Disney tore down the old AMC Theaters building on the west side of Downtown Disney. Disney officials have said that Earl of Sandwich would return to the district, and the soon-to-be-empty La Brea Bakery location would provide a relatively easy fit, if Disney did not want that location to remain empty for long. But for now, Disney has announced no plans for that location.
Update: That was quick. Disneyland announced this afternoon Earl of Sandwich will be reopening next month at the La Brea Bakery location, with both quick service and table service options.
This location will be temporary, however, as the La Brea site will provide the home of the new Porto's restaurant, which will occupy a new building to be constructed on the current La Brea Bakery site. Timing on that construction will be announced later.
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Disney has effectively killed in-park dining with mobile ordering, and now they're systematically eliminating any user-friendly options in downtown Disney, as well. Does Disney management have something against me and my family eating food? They certainly don't want to profit from it, so maybe they're trying to squeeze out people who eat. It's insane.
How did they eliminate the option? La Brea abruptly closed - they also closed their LA location. They're pulling out of the restaurant business and focusing on the bakery itself. That's not any fault of Disney.
I have fond memories of visiting that part of Downtown Disney on our "rest" day during our Disneyland vacations. Most of the tenants are gone now though. La Brea, ESPN Zone, AMC theaters, and our beloved Rainforest Cafe. Don't you touch that Lego store Disney! I haven't been to Disneyland in a few years so hopefully Downtown Disney builds something worthy of the place.
My wife and I always ate at La Brea on our first night when at Disneyland. We will definitely miss it.
Well this really stinks. La Brea Bakery was our go to place for dinner at Downtown Disney. The food was good, portions were good and prices (as far as Disney prices go) were not overly expensive. Sad to see it go. I’m not sure where we’ll go at this point as we’ve been less than impressed with any other option at DD.
Best breakfast in all of Disneyland hands down…Always a tradition of us to stop by and have a good breakfast before doing some last minute shopping at the Disney store on the day we leave…Definitely sad to see this one go…
Porto's Bakery is bomb. Great replacement given the circumstances.
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Unless do a temporary "pop-up" to the La Brea location, I feel like the plans are already locked in of what Earl of Sandwich's return. Course, I'm purely speculating.
Aspire is a sudden departure in regards to the general planning of Downtown Disney. I do think it would be a very smart move for Earl to get back in business, but open question if moving into La Brea would mess up Earl's existing plans. Interesting to see how it pans out.
UPDATE: Well that was fast!