Whether you ordered a Yo LA Tengo at the bar or devoured their remarkable cheeseburger on the patio lit by twinkling lights, the Everson Royce Bar, more commonly known as ERB, was simply the best hangout spot in Downtown Los Angeles’ Arts District. And unfortunately, the past tense will soon be required here.
On Friday, as it approaches its 11th anniversary, ERB announced it will close its doors on December 20. In a post on its Instagram account, the bar thanked its regulars and staff, but noted that Los Angeles was an “extremely difficult place to do business,” and suggested that more details would be forthcoming.
Located on the corner of 7th Street and Mateo Street, ERB debuted in 2015 when DTLA and the Arts District in particular were ascendant. It initially opened next to a satellite location of sister shop Silverlake Wine (which co-owner Randy Clement was also behind), but ERB quickly became the main attraction: Its simple “BAR” sign outside barely hinted at the sleek but welcoming tavern space that lurked inside, and certainly not the patio party waiting out back.
For Time outERB is on our list of best bars and one of our go-to happy hour suggestions. And sure, you went there mainly for the beer and cocktails, but chef Matt Molina’s simple, minimalist burger—a patty with cheese and house sauce—was so good that it’s also stuck on our list of best burgers for years.
“ERB is a site-specific installation of a never-ending party that, in our hearts, will last forever,” the bar shared on its Instagram. “If you are reading this and know and have felt the pure magic that is ERB, we would love to see you as many times as possible between now and December 20.”
If you stop by today, from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., you’ll find new drinks and an ice sled to celebrate the bar’s 11th anniversary. And the bar also says you can contact us if you want to host your own party.
The development follows the announcement of another unfortunate closure from co-owners Randy Clement and April Langford: West Altadena Wine and Spirits, a wine shop and patio along Lincoln Avenue that became a vital community gathering space after the 2025 Eaton Fire, will close its doors — and soon, with its last day of service this Sunday, Oct. 25. Good Neighbor Bar, the adjoining indoor cocktail venue, will remain open.
Closing the wine store and the patio is complicated; the owners attributed this to the “constant barrage and incessant attacks from some very unhappy neighbors” and decided that ultimately “enough is enough.” This follows a similar update over the summer, when a “for rent” advert appeared online; at the time, Clement and Langford said that “given the difficult business environment currently in Altadena – coupled with a neighbor who constantly calls and emails complaints to the county Planning Department, Alcohol Beverage Control, Department of Health, Building and Safety and the Sheriff’s Department – it has become almost impossible to operate.”
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