After going through intermittent closures, management and menu changes since the pandemic, a 55-year-old corner restaurant in Long Beach is trying to stay afloat.
Several former employees have returned to work at Egg Heaven Café to revive the business, which opened in 1969. Gaby Sanchez, who first started working at Egg Heaven in 2012, told KNX News’ Margaret Carrero she left her job at a physical therapy center after seeing the beloved restaurant struggling.
“This is a place where I literally know everyone that comes in here, all my regulars,” she said. “I really didn't want this place to close down.”
Sanchez said they brought back the restaurant’s old menu and original cook for a grand reopening about a month and a half ago, but they’re still not making the sales they once did. If things don’t turn around, Sanchez doesn’t think the owner will be able to stay open for more than two more months.
Lauren, a Long Beach local who’s been coming to Egg Heaven Café for over a decade, said she would hate to see the restaurant go.
“This quickly became my favorite little breakfast spot,” she said. “I just love the atmosphere. You walk in, you see the same two girls working here every day, the same chefs in the back, the ‘60s music, it just feels cozy and familiar, just like a small town kind of vibe.”
She said she’s been trying to come in with her family regularly to help keep the business afloat.
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