On September 7th, one of the Eagle Rock/Highland Park community’s most beloved establishments closed its doors permanently.
A highlight of York Boulevard, Town Pizza has been serving the community for over a decade with ample support. The rather abrupt announcement of its closure came as a shock to many loyal customers.
Known for its reputation of committing to high quality pizza with inventive toppings and a warm and welcoming atmosphere, the restaurant has been a staple of Highland Park residents’ menus. There was hardly ever a time of day where the eatery wasn’t full to the brim; which begs the question, why would TOWN be closing if business clearly wasn’t an issue?
The uproar in popularity to Highland Park skyrocketed the restaurant’s lease— the new price had simply faced too steep of an increase for the business to be wisely sustained. The loss of such an integral local business due to financial conflict serves as a reminder of the growing impact of gentrification in Eagle Rock. Rising costs and changing demographics continue to push out long-standing local businesses that have shaped the community for years.
Coming to replace TOWN in 2025 is Bub and Grandma’s Pizzeria, a decision that upsets many locals. It is widely expected that this new establishment will have a much more expensive price point than TOWN and it has been announced that, at least for a portion of time, they will be operating as a takeout only restaurant. This drastic change of operation of business is upsetting to say the least to long-time patrons of TOWN as many feel it is a misuse of the building and community built there.
The trend of gentrification has been felt all across North-East LA; in fact, last year our school had its Title 1* status revoked and lost significant funding due to the median higher income of the neighborhood. The influence that gentrification has on our community has not and will not go unnoticed by NELA locals.
While the loss of Town’s will be greatly felt by many members of the community, we can hold onto the cherished memories of good times and good pizza shared there. We may also physically hold onto the photo strips from their iconic photo booth, further serving as a tangible reminder of how long this place held meaning to our community.
Town’s closure should emphasize the importance of supporting local businesses to us all. Below are a few other local pizzerias this author implores you to try in hopes that they can fill the cavity that Town will leave behind.
* Title 1 is an LAUSD program which reserves funds for schools in low–income communities.
5918 N Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90042
1650 Colorado Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90041
1948 Colorado Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90041
4732 Eagle Rock Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90041
5566 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
I’m so glad you wrote this! I was sad to hear it closed.