LA’s Immaculate German Destination Alpine Village to Close After 51 Years

Iconic German countryside-themed restaurant Alpine Village is set to close its doors this coming April, reports the Daily Breeze. The 51-year-old restaurant and two-story bar, located in Torrance, has been the site of countless Oktoberfest celebrations and other big gatherings over the decades, but ownership says the place has been losing money for years.

Alpine Village is something of a Southern California icon, owing to its very visible location next to the 110 freeway and its unique design. The sprawling property is meant to recreate a traditional German village, and during the busy Oktoberfest season beer drinkers and weekend revelers descend for group parties in the beer garden setup. Those big few weeks, however, have not been enough to keep the place financially viable year-round, however. Ownership’s lawyer, Paul Pearlson, told the Daily Breeze that “It’s been losing money and they’ve tried to do everything they can, but unfortunately nothing has worked.”

The upcoming end of the restaurant side of Alpine Village does not mean the end of the expansive grounds in total, however. The area, which used to house attractions like a petting zoo and sporting fields, is likely to be landmarked for preservation, in part because of a petition circulated by fans of the property last year. Other aspects, like the Alpine Market and bakery area, and the ongoing swap meet, will be unaffected by the closure, though eventually much of the freeway-adjacent property will be redeveloped. Expect a formal closure for the Alpine Village restaurant and bar sometime in mid-April.

• 18 Essential Japanese Restaurants to Try in the South Bay [ELA]