Last stop.
Electric Owl, the railway-themed West Hollywood haunt beloved for its retro train-car aesthetics and happy hour hangs, has abruptly hit the brakes after nearly a decade in business.
Located just off Sunset Boulevard, the restaurant and bar announced the news on Instagram on Tuesday.
“After almost 10 incredible years, Electric Owl has closed its doors,” owners wrote in a farewell post. “We’re deeply grateful to everyone who walked through them, worked beside us, and made this place what it was.”
The restaurant did not give a reason for the sudden closure, and customers caught off guard were left reeling in the comments.
West Hollywood has endured a brutal wave of beloved spots closing, of late — from The Belmont bar to seafood hotspot Connie & Ted’s.
“I’m so sad,” one patron wrote beneath the latest, sad closure announcement. “I’m glad we had one more date night there last month. Electric Owl always had such a cool vibe.”
“Noooooo!!! You guys were my spot for so long, those ranch tots and the hot chicken sandwich,” another commented.
Conceived by chef Ernesto Uchimura, Electric Owl was built on a triangular lot deeply rooted in transit history: it sits on land that used to house an old Pacific Electric train station. Its name was a nod to the early 1900s slang for the night shift train conductors, who steered the Red Cars into the wee hours.
The space channeled the Golden Age of rail travel, with 1920’s banquettes, brass fixtures and a classic outdoor street clock.
“I have fond memories of visiting the Electric Owl with my best friend who I tragically lost during the pandemic,” local reporter Seth Beard wrote on social media. “Please support your favorite small businesses because they can be gone in the blink of an eye.”
Still, not everyone looked back on the restaurant with rose-colored glasses.
“I used to get the fried chicken sandwich there before the pandemic,” one person lamented on Reddit. “It went downhill quality wise but that is life.”
Others reflected on frequenting Electric Owl a few years ago, but “stopped going awhile ago because everyone always seemed pissed off.”
Another recalled that the “last 4 out of 5 times met with an unfriendly host,” and ultimately left before even seeing a menu.
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