Local celebrity restaurant with movie history shuts down | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

It’s been a really tough road for restaurants in recent years.

The trouble started back in 2020, when restaurants were forced to shutter to guests during the pandemic.

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Although those restrictions were temporary, restaurants then faced a series of challenges. First, there were labor shortages, due partly to the generous unemployment benefits stimulus bills had allowed for. Then, it was supply chain interruptions that made it hard to load up on ingredients.

The most recent challenge has been ongoing, and it’s none other than inflation.

Inflation has not only driven up costs for restaurants, but forced many consumers to change the way they spend their money. As a result, a lot of people have cut back on in-person dining, driving a decline in sales.

A number of big-name restaurant chains have filed for bankruptcy and closed their doors as consumer demand has waned. Similarly, a number of popular standalone restaurants have been forced to close permanently.

A celebrity restaurant with a movie history shuts down.

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Iconic restaurant in popular location shuts down

Lula’s — a popular restaurant in the Palm Beach, Florida, area — has officially closed its doors. Its menu featured Italian favorites that included handmade pastas, seafood dishes, steaks, and meatballs.

Before it was Lula’s, the location in Lake Worth Beach hosted a number of famous restaurants, including Callaro’s Steakhouse, which met its demise during the pandemic, and L’Anjou, which had been open to customers in that space for more than 30 years. The name Lula’s was created by combining the names of two main streets in Lake Worth Beach — Lucerne and Lake Avenues.

The location even had a moment in the spotlight when it was featured in the 1981 film Body Heat. At the time, it was the L’Anjou name that appeared on the big screen.

Given that the location was in the heart of downtown, it’s surprising that Lula’s didn’t last longer than it did. It opened in October of 2024, lasting less than a year.

Even a famous chef couldn’t save this favorite dining spot

The brains behind Lula’s wasn’t just any old chef. Rather, it was celebrity chef Todd English.

English has appeared on a number of well-known cooking shows. He’s also a James Beard winner and has authored several cookbooks.

Lula’s wasn’t English’s only foray into Palm Beach County. He also opened his popular Figs restaurant at The Gardens Mall, but it shuttered in 2016 after seven years.

Now, the famous space Lula’s occupied has a new name on the lease. It’s the owners of famous restaurant Ravish, located a few miles south in Lantana.

Operating partner Alexandra Dupuis was stingy with details but said there are plans in the works to open a new restaurant called Pomona where Lula’s once served customers. The aim is for Pomona to open this summer.

Of course, if a Todd English restaurant struggled to stay afloat, it’s questionable whether a replacement will thrive.

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The sad reality is that consumers are shying away not just from casual dining, but high-end dining as well. A lot of people are having a hard time justifying the higher cost given general economic uncertainty.

That’s bad news for consumers who do have the budget for the occasional high-end meal.

Losing a favorite restaurant is always a big blow. And unfortunately, Lula’s may only be one of many beloved establishments to shutter this year.