“Not long ago I came upon a zombie-like scene of contorted people gathered in the northwest corner of the park, their bodies rigid from overdoses of fentanyl or other killer drugs. That’s two blocks away from Langer’s Deli, and I thought about him, and how disorienting it can be to grow old in a world unlike the one we remember or the one we imagined.”
"“I’m considering closing,” Langer told me, even though he considers his customers and employees “100% safe,” perhaps in part because uniformed cops frequent his deli and the southeast corner of the park is relatively calm.
Langer’s, closing? That would be a hole-in-your-soul development.
Los Angeles is constantly reworking itself, but maybe that’s why the age-defiant, resilient establishments hold a special place in our hearts. Philippe, Guelaguetza, Pink’s, El Cholo, Musso & Frank, and Langer’s — the Hall of Famers. It’s hard to imagine MacArthur Park — and the city — without one of its most iconic anchors.
“It’s a strong consideration,” Langer insisted, saying he’s exhausted by City Hall’s face-plant when it comes to answering the basic needs of nearby residents and merchants."