Atwater Village’s Canelé Announces Next Week’s Closure With Tearful Letter

The time has officially come to say goodbye to Canelé, with owner Corina Weibel leaving behind an emotional email outlining her time at the restaurant and the plans for the final few evenings of service. The decade-old neighborhood mainstay is moving on to greener pastures on May 14 (while Weibel earns some well-deserved time off), though the building itself will soon flip to a new concept altogether.

In an email sent out late last night to customers, Weibel says that escrow on the address should be closed by May 15, which puts the final evening of service at Sunday, May 14. That means ten more days for casual dinners and bright brunches by one of the best in the biz.

The message also includes a couple of heartfelt passages about Weibel’s time spent behind the counter, including the following:

As we start to wind down, I think of the many hours I have spent cooking for my Canelé family. I have seen your families grow, and children mature as they became young adults. All of whom now make this community proud. A lot has happened in 11 years.

While I prepare to say goodbye, I realize that I have so much to celebrate. I'm grateful to have had the chance to share my dream with you and in doing so, have been able to witness the intricate flourishing of my shared community.

Canelé is going down swinging though, with a few big final dinners planned from now until the end. On Tuesday May 9 there’s going to be a pizza night with Jeff Bennett and Matt Beville for $37 a head, on Wednesday May 10 there’s a paella night (normally only a New Years Eve thing at the restaurant), and Thursday May 11 will be pasta night for all. Sunday, the final day ever for Canelé, will be a mishmash of favorites and whatever’s left to throw onto the stove. No matter what, it’s likely to be delicious.

As for the future of the Canelé space, it’s turning over to the Journeymen. Incoming owners Guy Tabibian and David Wilcox have plans to remake the place in their own new restaurant image, working a more truly tapas-style menu that has the chance, in its own way, to become a hit in the ‘hood. Across the street Ozu East Kitchen gave up the ghost in favor of a new restaurant project from wine guru Matthew Kaner, so there’s no shortage of things to be excited about coming up in Atwater Village.

• Journeymen in Atwater Village Aims to Remake the Neighborhood Restaurant [ELA]