Owner Dylan Leong invites Los Angeles to join him for one last drink at The Belmont

After 26 years as a West Hollywood hangout, The Belmont is closing its doors.

Owner and operator Dylan Leong is inviting the community to return to the restaurant one last time before it closes.

“We will not go quietly into the night,” the business’ announcement said. “Join us for one last hurrah, one more trip down memory lane, a sloppy shotski, and one final night of bad decisions.” 

News of the closure left many WeHo residents disheartened. Jianna Bergen, who has lived in the neighborhood for almost ten years, said that she will miss the staff, atmosphere and, of course, the food. 

“I loved taking my dog and sitting out on the patio and enjoying happy hour and their tater tots and watching sports,”  Bergen said. 

Leong told Los Angeles that rising taxes, labor costs and a general lack of support from the city have resulted in The Belmont’s closing. 

Scroll to continue reading

“This is unfortunately sort of the temperature of the Los Angeles bar and restaurant scene,” Leong said. “We don’t get any support from our leaders … I really think that it’s a terrible oversight because small businesses are what give a city its charm.”

Eater LA cites the 2020 pandemic for shifting the city’s dining culture in a way that still impacts businesses today, along with the 2025 fires and ICE enforcement that instigated further struggles. In 2023, 65 restaurants closed, and in 2024, 75 were reported before September. 

Bergen said she’s watched other favorites in her neighborhood disappear as well. 

“I honestly worry for the state. We have lost so many good things, including much of our entertainment industry as well,” Bergen said. “It seems like every month we get bad news about a beloved business and I really hope this trend does not keep continuing!”

Despite the sadness that comes with this loss, Leong is instead treating The Belmont’s last month as a celebration. He told Los Angeles he’s seen an immense amount of support from the community in the days following the announcement, and said he is feeling the love. 

“I think I underestimated maybe the love that the community has for the bar, and it’s uh it’s quite touching,” Leong said. 

“I just want to say thank you to the city of LA for 26 years of an amazing run,” Leong continued. “Hopefully someday L.A. can get it together to support small businesses that have a little bit of history and keep the city charming.”