Photo courtesy of Barbara Egyud
Regular customers of the Hof’s Hut Restaurant on Pacific Coast Highway at 2nd St. gathered last Thursday for the first in a series of protests that participants hope will convince the chain’s owners to not close the beloved decades-old location.
Bearing signs reading “Save Our Hof’s Hut” and “Oh No! Hof’s Can’t Go!” more than 20 patrons of the Marina Hof’s Hut stood outside the front door for about 20 minutes cheering at passing cars that honked in support and discussing the fate of their favorite grub hub and watering hole.
The restaurant’s 50-year lease ran out sometime last year and according to Hof’s Hut’s public relations consultant Erin Peacock, who was present at the protest, the company has been unable to renegotiate new terms.
“The cost of the lease went up dramatically,” Peacock told the Post. “It went up and unfortunately, it didn’t make sense to keep this location open.”
But news of the closure has become more than a simple case of another neighborhood icon shutting its doors because of the bad economy.
Hof’s Hut owner Craig Hofman stirred the pot last week when he told the Press-Telegram that though the Marina Hof’s may be going away, “There are still options and Lucille’s is one of them.” Hofman’s company owns the BBQ chain and has replaced several Hof’s Hut locations with it, including the one on Second St. in Belmont Shore. Hofman also owns the west coast rights to a Midwest neopolitan pizza chain that will see its first two local locations open this year.
The idea that the classic family restaurant may be replaced with a different restaurant from the same family business, however, left many Hof’s Hut customers upset.
“Don’t send us to the other Hof’s Huts,” said Barbara Egyud, a protest participant. “I come to this [location] about three times a week. They say it may become a Lucille’s, but I don’t want to come to a Lucille’s. I love Hof’s.”
One of the main questions circulating among the protestors Thursday was that if the company can possibly negotiate a possible lease with Lucille’s, why can’t they negotiate it with Hof’s? Peacock says that though no lease at all has been signed for this location and that any talk of another one of the company’s restaurants replacing the Hof’s is just speculation, she also noted that Lucille’s and Hof’s Hut are two different restaurants.
“It’s economics,” she said. “It’s the difference between more of a family dining and more of a casual dining experience. It all comes down to revenues in and costs out.”
In addition to losing Hof’s Hut, the corner will also be undergoing other major changes as of March 1. The Gazettes reported a few weeks ago that the City National Bank and an adjoining real estate office will be closing so that the building can be converted into a CVS. The Albertson’s is also closing in March to undergo rennovations that will turn it into a Gelson’s Market, which will open later this year.
“The main thing is that this is about people,” said Diane Jacobus, the customer who organized last week’s protest. “And I think they’ve forgotten that.”
The next “Save Our Hof’s Hut” protest will take place Thursday, January 24 at 3:45PM at the Hofs Hut on PCH.
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