Business & Tech

Has the Grilled Cheese and Cupcake Company Closed?

Several weeks have gone by without the cafe opening for business.

Shortly after I started working at North Hollywood-Toluca Lake Patch, I made it a mission to find the best sandwich in town.

One of the first places I went to check out was the new at 4820 Laurel Canyon Blvd. in Valley Village that opened in February.

We of the place about six months ago and what columnist Danielle Directo-Meston had to say about the exotic sounding sandwiches with gruyère and caramelized onions triggered my appetite.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Even some Yelp reviewers were kind, giving the business an overall three-and-a-half star rating out of five.

I parked my car at the small strip mall and eagerly made my way to the entrance with my craving for grilled cheese at threat-level red, only to find the place closed at 1 p.m.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

That was about two-and-a-half weeks ago. Since then, I've driven by at least two or three times a week to find the eatery closed. Inside, there's tables, chairs, a fridge stuffed with soda cans and other restaurant equipment, but not a soul to be seen.

There are no indications of any remodeling.

Just behind the glass door entrance is a pile of mail that looks like it's been stacking for days.

After doing some digging, I don't have a conclusive answer, but several signs point to the closure of the Grilled Cheese and Cupcake Company.

In late July, L.A. County's Department of Health Services ordered the cafe to close for a few days when inspectors found out the owner, Dorian Dan, was operating without a health permit, said Eric Edwards, an environmental health manager.

It's somewhat common for new management to not realize health permits do not transfer from owner to owner, he said.

After a short hearing, the eatery was granted a health permit and the greenlight to reopen, but it doesn't look like it ever did.

"That's a decision that's on their part, not ours," Edwards said.

A few employees of other businesses at the shopping center say they haven't seen anything going on at Grilled Cheese and Cupcake Company or anyone coming and going.

In addition, the cafe's phone number appears to have been disconnected and its website has been taken down.

Finally, calls to Dan for comment were not returned.

So for now, grilled cheese and cupcake seekers, including myself, have to turn elsewhere in the San Fernando Valley to satisfy their cravings.

Patch will keep you updated on any news regarding the Grilled Cheese and Cupcakes Company.

If you have any information about its status, post them in the comments or send me a note at arin@patch.com.

Be sure to sign up for our newsletter, follow North Hollywood-Toluca Lake Patch on Twitter and "Like" us on Facebook.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from North Hollywood-Toluca Lake