Photo Credit: Le Petit Four 

Le Petit Four, the beloved West Hollywood restaurant that has been a fixture on Sunset Plaza since 1981, closed its doors on March 31, 2025, after 44 years of business.

Owner Alexandre Morgenthaler, who has operated the restaurant since 1999, cited rising costs and declining foot traffic as factors making it impossible to keep the business running.

In an Instagram statement, management expressed gratitude for decades of community support: "After over 40 years on Sunset Plaza, Le Petit Four will officially close. A beloved Los Angeles landmark since 1981, we've had the honor of serving generations of locals and visitors. Despite Morgenthaler's efforts to keep doors open, challenges including a 30% minimum wage increase since COVID and soaring rent, alongside declining foot traffic, made this decision unavoidable."

The post urged patrons to support staff during the restaurant's final days: "Your support over the years has meant everything. In this final stretch, we especially ask for your help in showing love to our incredible team who poured their hearts into this place daily. Let's make these last moments count. Dine with us, share your stories, and help us celebrate as this landmark deserves."

This marks a second blow to the Sunset Strip following Rock & Reilly's pub closure earlier this month. These closures illustrate a common vulnerability in the restaurant industry, where leasing rather than owning property leaves businesses susceptible to market fluctuations and landlord decisions.

Located at 8654 W. Sunset Blvd., Le Petit Four began in 1981 as a pastry shop featuring gourmet treats from Paris's Fauchon. In the late 1990s, friends Alexandre Morgenthaler and Robert Bigonnet transformed it into a restaurant, with Morgenthaler taking sole leadership in 2013. For over three decades, it has welcomed celebrities and locals alike, serving French-inspired cuisine in its lively atmosphere.