Water Main Break Causes Chaos for Local Business
Tadeh Ghazalian discovered on Thursday morning that his restaurant, Dialog Cafe, was affected by a significant water main break. A video showing water flooding the street right by his family’s establishment was circulating on Instagram. Messages from concerned friends, family, and staff indicated that a sinkhole had opened at a busy Sunset Strip intersection, causing damage to the popular cafe.
The broken 110-year-old underground pipe released 17 million gallons of water in West Hollywood, flooding various places. The rupture also led to a sinkhole near Sunset Boulevard and Holloway Drive, triggering road closures.
Efforts to Repair and Reopen
Repair crews from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power are replacing the pipe. Streets may reopen by Monday, but local businesses, including Dialog Cafe, could face extended delays before resuming operations. Rafik and Kenar Ghazalian, Armenian immigrants who founded Dialog Cafe in 2007, adapted their business to a European cafe model. Their son, Tadeh, an accountant, joined the family business and currently runs it.
Dialog Cafe recently expanded with a second location and before the flood, it was bustling with patrons queuing around the building. However, the flood caused severe damage to the West Hollywood location.
Assessing the Damage
Upon arriving at the cafe on Thursday morning, Tadeh Ghazalian saw extensive damage. Mud and water filled the basement where storage and bathrooms are located. Floors, walls, and doors were destroyed. Ghazalian used plywood to secure the back door damaged by water.
Gas and electricity were restored late Thursday, allowing Ghazalian’s team to provide free pastries and coffee for repair crews. Customers still reach out for popular breakfast items despite the indefinite closure of the cafe. Ghazalian is touched by the community’s support.
Support and Recovery Plans
“We had a person literally just come up to me, crying, and [they] just gave me a hug.”
Offers of storage space and kitchen use from other business owners reflect strong community support. Lighthearted comments from fans, such as wishing the sinkhole would spare the cafe, have helped boost spirits.
Dialog Cafe established a GoFundMe to support staff and cover repair costs, possibly relocating temporarily during repairs.
Broader Area Impact
Mel’s Drive-In noticed a 30-40% dip in sales due to closed roads, despite being a half-mile away. Business is slower even after partial reopening of roads, as people seem to avoid the area.
Colton Weiss, co-owner of Mel’s Drive-In, expressed sympathy for affected businesses and noted the disruptions caused by the water main break.
Leave a Reply