Marco’s, one of West Hollywood’s most beloved and longest-lived cafes, will close for good Dec. 24, owner Mark “Marco” Capanni announced in an email to patrons:
Dear Loyal Customers,
It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the closing of Marco’s, our West Hollywood Italian food icon, on Sunday, December 24th. Since 1993, we’ve been privileged to serve our community with passion and love.
The decision to close is influenced by the challenges of staff shortages and the increase in costs associated with wages for our dedicated team, coupled with rising food costs and operational constraints. Despite our best efforts, sustaining our operations has become increasingly challenging.
We invite all our loyal patrons to join us for a final meal at Marco’s, where we can share memories, stories, and the flavors that have defined our culinary journey. Your support has been the heartbeat of our establishment, and we are grateful for the incredible memories created together.
As a token of our appreciation, we are delighted to offer a 25% discount on all entrées from now until closing on Christmas Eve. To redeem this offer, kindly mention ‘25% OFF’ to your server when placing your order. Please note that this promotion is valid for dine-in orders only.
As we bid farewell, we extend our deepest gratitude for being an integral part of the Marco’s family
Warm regards,
Mark “Marco” Capanni
The restaurant was listed for sale in August and closed temporarily in September.
This story is developing.
How long before a McDonald’s goes into that space? They can serve McPizza and McPasta.
Marcos was never busy anymore. It’s always dead. For the owners to blame their demise on operating costs is more than a bit disingenuous. I’m sorry to see this restaurant close and I’m sorry that nobody eats there anymore, but let’s put the blame where it belongs.
There seems to be a concerted effort on the part of city council to change West Hollywood as much as possible. I have lived in WeHo for fourteen years but it was where I hung out for many years before that. This place is hardly recognizable from what I always knew it to be till just a few years ago, mostly by policies that make it impossible for long-established businesses to stay open. I fully believe that childless leaders, especially childless women, go into politics to leave their mark some other way and make changes for only the sake of… Read more »
It is amazing what one wanders into when you don’t have to pay for kid’s braces and want to build an actual quality future for them.
Your point is well taken however, Angela Merkle could likely be excluded from this group. She has twice been married and as two adult step children. I would not be right to assume she chose not to have children as perhaps she was unable. On the other hand, Shyne, Horvath and Byers have very peculiar personalities one disguised but apparently not a good regard for men. None appear to have any hobbies, athletic or artistic disciplines so their view of life appears quite narrow. Not sure what type of legacy these people aim to leave, perhaps a lump of coal… Read more »
Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit! A couple of gay women friends claimed that not only did she never marry, she was assumed to be gay.
Thanks for the info!
I guess 20 years ago we would’ve called the city council women spinsters, but I guessthat’s not politically correct today.
Political Correctness is part of the problem. Not only are they SPINSTERS… liberal white women are the country’s new domestic terrorists. They cheer on every bad idea, even those against their own interests. And yet…they are perpetually voted in and fail up…Definitely on brand for California.
You’re using the term “domestic terrorists” very loosely aren’t you Karen. Get a grip.
Lotta misogyny in this thread.
A disgustingly sexist remark made by – what I can only think of –
a privileged white male chauvinist.
Says you! I think this is a fairly accurate observation.
I do enjoy, though, saying things that are going to rankle the feathers of you perpetually offended who find an -ist or a -phobe in every comment that isn’t out of the DEI manual.
I beg to differ.
I am NOT one of the perpetually offended.
….. and I come from anything BUT a privileged background, which is why I have very little patience for the DEI crowd.
“Play the hand you were dealt” and get on with it! Your “triggers” are not my responsibility!
People like you never eat at Marcos or patronize any of the other shuttered businesses, but you still cry and whine and get outraged when they close.
Get a grip Karen.
“PEOPLE LIKE ME?”
This is another unfortunate example in West Hollywood where moderately priced restaurants with atmosphere can no longer exist. The choice has become either extremely expensive restaurants for $100+/pp (with a drink or 2) or bars serving deep fried Sysco food and satisfying their Type 47 lawsuit while the City looks the other way. The result is having tourist patronizing the expensive establishments and the residents going outside of the city to spend money. The other less considered result is that Weho residents cannot go out with friends or young people to go to “god-forbid” on a first date to an… Read more »
You mean a first date a Drakes or Catch is out of the question?
You are so right about the passing of moderately priced eateries such as Basics, Kitchen 24 and now Marco’s, really impact the quality of life in West Hollywood. It seems like another era when people would meet regularly with friends at French Market, Yukon Mining or the Silver Spoon a couple of times a week. I think we lost sight of how affordable restaurants really enhance the senses of community.
Our city leaders have worked hard to diminish the concept of community as they appear in favor of building housing for the dispossessed and luxury housing for folks apparently not much interested in community. Luxury hotels have their amenities self contained as venturing out in the hood can be dangerous. You might say West Hollywood has been erased in relation its historic neighborhood sensibilities, and likewise commercial establishments that complete a community as in restaurants and retail establishments. The giant eraser has taken whatever charm there was and replaced it with opportunistic angst.
It seems the city council is so concerned with creating affordable housing well at the same time making everything else in the city unaffordable with their policies. Very sad to lose these type of businesses.
Why don’t you question why people would rather eat at an expensive restaurant while places like Marco’s are usually empty. You can’t blame politicians for that.
Italian food just isn’t as popular anymore. Nobody in LA wants all the wheat.
I don’t think his business was down, he just does not want to sign a new lease and he waited too long to sell. A new operator would be smart to update the menu some, but stick with the general concept.
That’s right, “update” classic Italian cuisine by serving Paul Newman frozen pizzas, opening a can of Chef Boyardee spaghetti and charging $75 for it. That’ll bring in the customers. But hey, it’s UPDATED! It’s NEW and fresh and edgy and trendy so it’s got to be better than the old way which was for grandpas — right? Say, how are your Jeno’s pizza rolls? Or your Bagel Bites? Now that’s Italian, NOT! I’m sure Marco’s had its business issues but maybe Mark decided it was time to retire. I had no idea that the restaurant went up for sale in… Read more »
I guess it’s not popular to someone like you. Who probably has no taste or background or any realization what good cuisine is and probably spends most of his time at Taco Bell.
Poor Karen got triggered and offended by Jason’s perfectly reasonable comment and attacked him in return.
Get a grip.
I’m sure the folks in Italy would love to hear your opinion, especially their Tourist Board.
I get what you are saying but disagree slightly as good Italian food is still in demand. I would say the last 10 times I’ve been to Dan Tana’s it’s beyond full. Sadly I’ve walked by Marco’s every day for the last 10 years with the dog and it was never full and what charm it had seemed to have left after Robert Forster who ate there every day reading scripts passed.
I sympathize with My Capanni, but it’s unlikely that any smart operator would buy a business or that a bank would finance a business without a lease in place for at least five years. His equity is mainly in his name and reputation, so he’s unlikely to receive any financial benefits for at least 30 years. Ideally, he should have negotiated a lease extension two years ago and then put the business up for sale. It seems like he received some bad advice. At this point, someone will most likely just rent the turnkey space, rename it, and move on.
He was never selling. Read the interview article with Larry Block. He tells the whole story.
I remember when that space was “Buzz Coffee”.
It’s very sad this business is closing after so many years. Politicians who have absolutely no business experience pass laws like the highest minimum wage in the country plus other unsustainable benefits which small businesses like Marco’s cannot afford. Just look at the prices these restaurants now must charge just to make a profit. When they raise prices they lose customers and then it’s down hill from there. Expect a lot more of these closings in Weho especially for small family run businesses. The only restaurants that will survive are the ones who cater to a wealthy clientele who can… Read more »
The quality had gone down dramatically. I was there a few months ago. There was a very nice waiter, but he was the only one for the entire restaurant including outside. The owner sat at his table reading his newspaper and didn’t seem to offer this lone waiter any assistance. That let me know, it was the beginning of the end.
I tried breakfast there twice. Not one thing on the plate was right, including someone else’s breadcrumbs in my ramekin of jam. You know, like messy kids who use the same knife in the jar. Any food tradition or option will work for a business if you do it right.
How very sad to lose another business in West Hollywood…especially this family owned gem. How many more must we lose? This falls squarely on the disastrous policies forced upon on us by our Unite Here controlled city council.
He does not want to sign a new lease and waited too long to sell.
“The decision to close is influenced by the challenges of staff shortages and the increase in costs associated with wages for our dedicated team, coupled with rising food costs and operational constraints. “ (and I ❤️ Italian food!)
He was never selling.
Sad to hear this news. Just Wednesday I had a delicious meal there. Thank you Marco and your wonderful staff for all the great moments and memories throughout the years. Marco’s will be missed.
Having been going to Marco’s since it was on the other side of Havenhurst, this is really a sad passing. The restaurant is not only an institution, but is one that has braved all of the challenges that have faced West Hollywood businesses over the last decade. Mr. Capanni loved West Hollywood and his staff was always friendly and engaged. They will be missed.
He still loves Weho. He lives on La Jolla.