Langer's Deli

Langer's Deli

Company type	Private
Industry	Restaurant, Delicatessen
Founded	June 1947 (1947-06)
Founder	Albert J. Langer
Headquarters	Los Angeles , United States
Area served	Los Angeles, California
Key people	Norm Langer (owner/manager)
Products	Pastrami sandwiches, deli foods
Website	www.langersdeli.com

Langer's Deli, formally known as Langer's Delicatessen-Restaurant, is a kosher-style delicatessen situated at 704 South Alvarado Street in the Westlake district of Los Angeles, directly across from MacArthur Park.

Established in 1947, Langer's has gained fame for its No. 19 pastrami on rye sandwich, which the Los Angeles Times once dubbed "the Marilyn Monroe of pastrami sandwiches." Since its inception, the establishment asserts it has sold over of pastrami, regarded by many as among the finest globally.

History

Albert J. Langer launched Langer's Deli in June 1947, initially catering to Jewish immigrants settling in Los Angeles. He purchased the Alvarado Street location from German immigrants for $14,500 (), having previously sold a smaller deli in what is now Koreatown. Starting with just $500 combined with loans from partners, Langer, alongside his wife Jean and a dishwasher, worked sixteen-hour shifts. Corned beef sandwiches were priced at 35 cents during those early years. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, the majority of patrons were Jewish immigrants residing near MacArthur Park.

Although many Jewish-owned businesses in Westlake migrated westward by the 1960s and the neighborhood experienced decline through the 1980s, Langer’s remained operational. By 1990, gang violence and the crack epidemic had severely reduced customer traffic, prompting considerations of closure by 1993.

Langer attributes the deli’s continued existence to the launch of the Red Line subway; the nearby Westlake/MacArthur Park station brought downtown office employees to the restaurant. Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky humorously remarked that the $1.2 billion investment in the subway was justified solely to keep Langer’s open. Nevertheless, challenges in the area have persisted: a fare increase on Metro services caused a 30% revenue decline in 1997, and unlicensed street vendors contributed to a 23% drop in sales in 2015.

Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2007, the intersection of 7th and Alvarado Streets was renamed Langer's Square on January 23, 2008—Albert Langer’s 95th birthday. Albert Langer died on June 26, 2007; ownership passed to his son Norm, who began working at Langer’s in 1962 and took over management during the early 1990s.

Location and operations

Occupying a space at Alvarado and 7th Streets, Langer's Deli originally seated only twelve guests but expanded to accommodate 137 after Albert Langer acquired neighboring properties in 1953 and again in 1967, creating its present footprint. The establishment remains family-operated while the real estate is owned by the family of John Alle, a longtime friend and broker associated with the Langers. The property was put on the market in 2018.

Until the early 1990s, Langer's stayed open until 3:00 am to serve patrons from nearby bars. However, shifting neighborhood demographics led to shorter hours and staff reductions; since 1993, its schedule has been from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Saturday, with Sunday closures. Occasionally, hours are extended for special occasions like anniversaries or local art displays.

While mainly offering dine-in service, curbside pickup—initiated by employee Alex Barragan—has become an important revenue source, handling between 35 and 70 orders daily.

The deli employs unionized staff known for their loyalty and benefits support. Many workers also have experience at Canter's in Fairfax District, reflecting a shared labor pool dating back to Albert Langer’s early employment at Canter’s during the 1930s.

Operations amid the COVID-19 crisis

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, Langer's ceased dine-in services on March 16, 2020, transitioning exclusively to takeout orders. The establishment resumed indoor dining on June 15, 2021, coinciding with California's removal of pandemic restrictions, celebrated with a ribbon-cutting event attended by Norm Langer and city representatives.

On July 31, 2021, in response to the rise of the Delta variant, Langer's introduced a vaccination mandate for customers, requiring proof of immunization for entry. This policy led to approximately twelve daily denials but was largely accepted by patrons. The rule also extended to staff members, with nearly all employees vaccinated.

Honors and distinctions

In 1997, Councilman Mike Hernandez put forward a resolution in the Los Angeles City Council recognizing the restaurant. Subsequently, in 2001, Langer's earned the prestigious America's Classics award from the James Beard Foundation, becoming the second eatery in Los Angeles to receive this honor after Philippe's in 1999.

On May 28, 2019, Langer's was designated as a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand recipient—one among 86 establishments acknowledged during the inaugural California Michelin Guide release. Additionally, on January 11, 2021, Food & Wine acclaimed the No. 19 sandwich as California’s top sandwich.

See also

• List of Ashkenazi Jewish restaurants