For decades, Arby’s, the renowned fast-food franchise known for its roast beef sandwiches, has had a notable spot as a food hub for locals and tourists alike.

An aerial view of the fast-food joint, located near Bronson Avenue, now displays a poignant message: “Farewell Hollywood. TY for 55 great years.” This emotionally charged farewell marks the end of an era for this particular Arby’s fast food outlet, which officially ceased operations this past Saturday.

This specific branch has been under the proprietorship of Marilyn Leviton, a 91-year-old woman, since its inauguration in January 1969. Discussing the closure, Leviton expressed her belief that the COVID-19 pandemic considerably contributed to the restaurant’s downfall. “Truth is, I think it was the pandemic that did us in. I really feel we would have closed during the pandemic [if it weren’t] for the federal loans,” she candidly shared. “I’m awfully sorry that it came to this.”

Gary Husch, Leviton’s son-in-law and the outlet’s general manager, also highlighted other factors contributing to the decision to close the restaurant. Husch mentioned low foot traffic, soaring food prices, and California’s minimum wage hike as other impactful factors. “With inflation, food costs have gone way up and the $20-an-hour minimum wage has been the nail in the coffin,” he clarified.

This closure is part of a broader trend affecting the restaurant in deep blue state of California. A recent study found that a new law that came into effect on April 1st has significantly impacted restaurants with 60 or more locations. This legislation has prompted most quick-service chains to increase menu prices in the state. These price surges range from mid-single digits to mid-teens, percentage-wise, and are adversely affecting business.

Many restaurants in California have been shutting down recently; one such example is Rubio’s Coastal Grill, which has closed 48 of their locations in the state.

Arby’s, an entity of Inspire Brands, is globally recognized for its roast beef sandwiches. The multi-brand restaurant company emphasizes that Arby’s is the “largest sandwich drive-thru chain in the U. S.” with over 3,600 locations in nine global markets. The closure of this Hollywood location is indeed a loss, but the Arby’s legacy continues.