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As Opening Nears, Cole's Neon Gets Relit

By Eric Richardson
Published: Tuesday, September 23, 2008, at 09:53AM
Cole's Neon Gets Relit Eric Richardson []

Cole's restored neon sign, lit for the first time on Monday.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Closed since early 2007, Cole's took another step toward its return today as neon gas was brought back to life in the famed bar's restored sign.

Cole's, of course, is one of two Downtown establishments to claim the invention of the french dip. The beloved sandwich will return, served from a large, new carving station located directly inside the front doors. Also back unchanged is the original 40-foot mahogany bar.

Located in the Pacific Electric building, now P.E. Lofts, Cole's claims to be the city's oldest continually operating restaurant, having been established in 1908.

Complementing the meat will be six custom varieties of mustard, also available for takeout purchase. Chef Neal Fraser of Grace and BLD is in charge of designing a menu with no item over $10, and operating chef Michael Dinon will be running the kitchen. Dinon is a Boston transplant who lives in South Park and loves being able to walk to work. Like many in the neighborhood, he thinks last summer's Ralphs opening was a transformational moment for Downtown Los Angeles.

News of Cole's sale to (Golden Gopher, Broadway Bar, Seven Grand) early last year brought concern that the bar would lose its historic charm. While interior work is still wrapping up, a look at interior designer Ricki Kline's work leaves little doubt that the venue's character has stayed intact. Kline talks of wanting to create a sense of confusion over which details are original and which are not. The plentiful historic elements lend a thorough authenticity to the new elements of the design.

Cole's looks to reopen in November, just in time to catch the tail end of the bar's 100 year anniversary. A street fair is planned, though the exact date is not yet set in stone. 213 is also behind a project across the street at Santa Fe Lofts, set to open in 2009.

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Eric Richardson

Alterations to the sign, such as the added "Check Cashing" advertisement, were removed in restoration.

Eric Richardson

Looking east on 6th street toward the Cole's sign.

Eric Richardson

Looking up from below, the lettering and tubes combine to create ghosted double lettering.

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Conversation

Guest 1

Ankur on September 23, 2008, at 11:53AM – #1

Give me a hearty martini, and everything will be fine.


Guest 2

Scott on September 23, 2008, at 06:18PM – #2

But will I See Hawks in L.A. return for regular shows?


Scott Mercer on September 23, 2008, at 09:44PM – #3

Excuse me, but the place is not "continuously operating" if it's been closed for almost two years!


Guest 3

Donn G. on September 23, 2008, at 09:51PM – #4

Who renovated that sign?! It looks like portions of the neon tubes and one bulb already are either burned out or becoming frazzled.


Eric Richardson () on September 23, 2008, at 09:52PM – #5

Scott: That does seem like a tricky bit of semantics, doesn't it? I have a feeling they mean that it hasn't changed locations or names.


Eric Richardson () on September 23, 2008, at 10:12PM – #6

Donn: You're right on the one bulb being out. They couldn't test them until they wired it up, which was not too long before we shot. They'll have that fixed soon.

The duller tubes that you're seeing aren't burned out, they're just not all the way warmed up yet. It takes some time for the neon gas to excite as it works through thin tubes.

I'll have to check on the name of the guy who did the restoration. Unfortunately I don't have that handy, but he's done all of 213's neon work.


Guest 4

meekorouse on September 24, 2008, at 05:43PM – #7

I could be wrong but I recall at the event on the music scene culture event at Julie Rico's Red Dot Gallery (back in February) that Paul Greenstein was involved in many of the neon signage, such as for Golden Gopher & others. Could he also be the one doing the Cole's PE sign??


Eric Richardson () on September 24, 2008, at 06:49PM – #8

A+ on having good notes, meeko. Paul's done all 213's neon.


Guest 5

Don Noyes-More on September 25, 2008, at 12:38PM – #9

COLES: Comfort, Food, Community, and Tradition: Bring on the corned beef! "Gimmie a pig's foot and a bottle of beer."

Don Noyes-More Editor in chief Downtown LA Lif eMagazine


Guest 6

Jasmin on September 26, 2008, at 10:40PM – #10

Awesome! I'm happy to see more of LA coming back. The decision to move downtown was definitely the right one. I'm a big Philippe's fan, though, so we'll see how Cole's stacks up.


Guest 7

Robert on November 06, 2008, at 10:36AM – #11

I remember the sign in the 1960's reading "Coles PE Cafe". That seems to account for the odd positioning and blank space next to "Coles". I one was the "Cole's" moved on one side?


Guest 8

paul greenstein on January 19, 2009, at 07:42PM – #12

actually this is closer to the original sign than any time since the '50's... the only change is "since 1908" in place of the original 1930's imperative, "checks cashed" And, mercury argon pumped tubes take a bit of time to fully "burn in". Hence the dull spots in the photo's... check it out now



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