RIP 🪦 Sweet Lady Jane Cake Shop 1988-2023

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It’s a bittersweet New Year’s for Sweet Lady Jane Cake Shop.

A local staple for three and a half decades, the shop announced its immediate closure on Jan. 1, citing the rising costs of doing business in California and increases in wages.

“We did not come to this decision lightly nor quickly,” the shop posted on its Instagram. “While the support and loyalty of our customers has been strong, sales are not enough to continue doing business in the state of California, allowing us to service our lease obligations and pay our treasured employees a living wage without passing those costs directly on to you. For more than three decades, we didn’t just build a loyal customer base, we created a real community. It has been a privilege to be included in your sweetest moments. Big and small. LA’s most beloved Triple Berry Cake will live on in your memories, and in ours.”

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by SWEET LADY JANE (@sweetladyjanecakeshop)

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Harambe's Vengeful Ghost
Harambe's Vengeful Ghost
10 months ago

“Oh no! It’s the real world consequences of my own pisspoor voting records!” said nobody ever. Good job, kids. You continue to destroy everything.

Pavarottix
Pavarottix
10 months ago

From Thomas Sowell:

Unfortunately, the real minimum wage is always zero, regardless of the laws, and that is the wage that many workers receive in the wake of the creation or escalation of a government-mandated minimum wage, because they either lose their jobs or fail to find jobs when they enter the labor force.

Jason
Jason
10 months ago

Bogus they are blaming the closing on CA. They expanded too fast and ran out of funding. They had SIX locations all in high-end neighborhoods and were adding a few more that were to have opened in the next few months.. all in CA. They closed ALL of their locations on Dec 31, not just the Melrose location.And as for their ‘treasured employees,’ they found out they lost their jobs when the public did via Instagram. Shady AF.

WehoQueen
WehoQueen
10 months ago
Reply to  Jason

The “treasured employees”, I suspect decent people who had little education, got what I’ll call “The Sepi Syndrome”, which is the belief that if you work in a fancy neighborhood, you somehow have the right to be able to magically afford to live there.

greeneyedguy
greeneyedguy
10 months ago
Reply to  WehoQueen

How does this have anything to do with Sepi Shyne? You’re obsessed. It’s very creepy

Tom
Tom
10 months ago
Reply to  Jason

It was sold by Jane a few years ago and was noticeably going downhill. Easier to blame California than their poor business choices. I’m surprised they didn’t blame Cookies as well. Or Dr. Atkins..

ctc
ctc
10 months ago

While I’m sure increasing wages and rents played a role, I suspect there was more to the story than that. They were well aware of the pending cost of business increases, yet they continued to actively expand and reinvest in existing stores. Then, they decide it would be better to abruptly close down rather than try adjusting their business model. That just doesn’t add up.

Larry Block
10 months ago
Reply to  ctc

sorry you cant add up all the businesses that left and the reasons they cited.

Morty
Morty
10 months ago

Believe me, this is just the beginning. High rents, high labor costs, rising ingredient costs and bank line of credit costs which have doubled in the last year are killing off these small businesses. Even worse, most elected politicians don’t have a clue about business they are just life long bureaucrats. All they seem to care about is pleasing their master the Unite union. That is just a death wish for businesses all over WEHO and LA. It’s very sad.

Payroll Tax
Payroll Tax
10 months ago

An interesting side note from Former President Trump proposing that should he win the election,he plans to ban the Payroll Tax putting several thousands of dollars per year in the pocket of workers, presumably his supporters. What he failed to mention is that those taxes fund Social Security, Medicare, Veterans Benefits and more. He seems to be promoting ready cash/quick check benefits to his sheep.

Kevin
Kevin
10 months ago

Isn’t this location in LA and not Weho? Overpriced and to be honest just ok. Pavilions bakery makes great cakes for half the cost.

Joshua88
Joshua88
10 months ago

Interesting that the LAT article offers the same quote but none of the commentary on an “increase in wages.”

WehoQueen
WehoQueen
10 months ago

Thank you to the Sepis, Ericksons and Byers and Horvaths of the world who envision a $30 an hour minimum wage.

greeneyedguy
greeneyedguy
10 months ago
Reply to  WehoQueen

This place isn’t even located in their jurisdiction. Irrelevant.

WehoQueen
WehoQueen
10 months ago
Reply to  greeneyedguy

I never suggested what city/cities the business is located in. And it’s well known Horvath, who I mentioned, has little to do with Weho. The mindset of those 4 people are the problem. I regret that needed to be explained to you.

greeneyedguy
greeneyedguy
10 months ago
Reply to  WehoQueen

It’s implied…why are you “thanking” the West Hollywood city council when this business isn’t located there. You just want to blame everything wrong with the world on your political enemies. Grow up.

Joshua88
Joshua88
10 months ago
Reply to  WehoQueen

New Year: New You.
I didn’t wish for enough.

Be happy and go in peace.

greeneyedguy
greeneyedguy
10 months ago

I just want to remind everyone to support great local businesses.

Junior Cookies is right here in West Hollywood and they make amazing MADE TO ORDER cookies. They come out with new flavors every month or so.

TomSmart
TomSmart
10 months ago

HA! California must figure out a way forward without them.

Joan Henehan
Joan Henehan
10 months ago

Another one bites the dust…

JF1
JF1
10 months ago
Reply to  Joan Henehan

Yup, so sad.