Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles, the iconic Southern California eatery known for its soul food and celebrity patrons, has announced it will close one of its locations.
After serving the community for 30 years, the chain closed its Pasadena location for the last time on Sunday, a notice posted in the store’s window confirmed.
Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles has closed its Pasadena location. Photo courtesy of Getty The restaurant has been feeding the community for 30 years. Photo courtesy of Google
“Thank you Pasadena for 30 amazing years!” was the heartfelt message sent to patrons of Roscoe’s Restaurant at 830 North Lake Avenue, according to Pasadena Now.
Despite the closure, the sign also states they are “looking for an upgraded location in Pasadena,” so it’s not all bad news.
The closure adds to a series of challenges Roscoe’s has faced in recent years.
The restaurant chain has been struggling with financial problems since parent company East Coast Foods filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2016, the media reported.
The bankruptcy was triggered by a $3.2 million judgment in a discrimination lawsuit that the company was appealing.
Court records at the time showed East Coast Foods owed creditors about $27 million.
In 2018, Roscoe passed a resolution to keep the restaurant open while managing its debt.
The agreement allowed the chain to continue serving its loyal customers despite its financial difficulties.
Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles was founded by Herbert Hudson in 1975 and quickly became a staple in the Southern California culinary world.
The restaurant is known for its unique chicken and waffles combination, and its food has attracted a diverse clientele, including many celebrities.
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Roscoe’s has expanded over the decades and currently operates seven stores in Los Angeles County and one in Anaheim.
“Not Roscoe!”
Fans aren’t too happy that the restaurant is closing despite promising to reopen.
“We want them to stay in Pasadena because they’ve been here a long time,” Paul Little, president and CEO of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association, told the Orange County Register.
“Hopefully we can find another location in Pasadena that’s a good fit for them.”
“Not Roscoes!” one person wrote on Reddit.
“Oh man, that place was a staple in the area,” another fan commented on the same thread. “It was always busy, especially on the weekends.”
“I just called[d] “I haven’t heard back,” a third said. “It would be a shame if it’s closed.”
Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles opening locations revealed
The following Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles locations are still open:
Hollywood – 1514 N Gower St, Los Angeles, CA 90028 South Los Angeles – 106 W Manchester Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90003 Long Beach – 730 East Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802 Inglewood – 621 West Manchester Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90301 Anaheim – 2110 South Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92802 La Brea – 1865 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90019
The impact of the shutdown
Red Lobster workers in California have filed a lawsuit against the seafood chain, alleging that the company violated the state’s WARN Act by failing to give them 60 days’ notice before mass layoffs.
According to documents obtained by the U.S. Sun, about 300 former employees of the now-closed Red Lobster are seeking payment of 60 days’ worth of unpaid wages under the law.
The lawsuit, filed by the Melmed Law Firm in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Central Division of Florida, Orlando Division, names former employee George Parker as the lead plaintiff.
The Melmed Law Firm said Parker also represents other California workers who have experienced sudden store closures.
The lawsuit asks the judge to consider the damages as administrative costs.
The legal action comes after Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy on May 13, 2024, and the company announced plans to sell assets as part of its restructuring.
CEO Jonathan Tibbs said the restructuring was the best path forward to address financial and operational challenges while focusing on growth.
Red Lobster confirmed to The Wall Street Journal that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida.
The company plans to simplify its business structure and improve operational efficiency by closing its bases.
Despite the bankruptcy, Red Lobster announced that it was working with various vendors to keep some of its locations open and secured a $100 million debtor-in-possession financing commitment.
The chain’s financial difficulties became apparent when it initially closed about 87 stores nationwide and then closed about 100 more.
Meanwhile, Save-A-Lot announced one more store closure, bringing its store count down from an initial 900 locations.
And one retail chain surprised customers by suddenly announcing that it was closing one of its long-standing stores.
