\
AN ICONIC diner is set to open its first-ever location outside of Southern California in its 75-year history.
Famed for its Googie architecture, Norms is heading to Las Vegas for the first time, as the franchise expands to a new state.
1
The diner, which was founded in Los Angeles in 1949, has 23 locations but had never expanded beyond SoCal – until now.
The futuristic style cafe is set to open on West Charleston Boulevard, with a grand opening set for November.
To mark the exciting new chapter, the restaurant will host the Norms Las Vegas: Hotcake Eating Championship on November 9.
The inaugural event will celebrate the 75th year anniversary of the popular diner
However not everyone is keen on the event.
Taking to Facebook, one person commented: “Too far from me & had gag reflexes the last time I did a pancake endurance challenge.
“Probably one of my biggest disappointments thus far.”
A second person who tagged a friend commented: “I assume you love two things in this world. Hot cakes. And Vegas. It’s your time to shine.”
While a third person excited for the hotcake challenge simply wrote: “Registered!”
Inspired by the American optimism following World War II, Google architecture features angled roofs, stretches of glass, and the use of geometric shapes to suggest energy or speed.
Most recognisable, however, is the signature Norms sign.
Each letter is set withing a vertical stack of sawtooth pennants, as if it show the letters streaking past.
While Norms is opening a new store, several chain restaurants around the states have closed.
The latest restaurant to face the chopping block is LaRosa’s Pizza joint in Louisville, Kentucky.
LaRosa’s has been a family favorite across the US since the chain opened its doors in 1954. Its competitors include Mod Pizza.
The restaurant chain was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio, and most of its locations are dotted around the state.
But the company has a presence in Kentucky and Indiana.
The outlet in Louisville, which opened in January 2023, is now a thing of the past and any note of the establishment’s existence has been wiped from the company’s website.
Its final day of business was September 29 and bosses said in a statement that the decision to close the restaurant was difficult.
“Unfortunately, over time, Springhurst sales did not consistently meet expectations and we made the difficult decision to close its doors,” a spokesperson told The Louisville Courier Journal.
Bosses acknowledged the response it had received from diners.
The said: “The local enthusiasm for our pizzeria was heartwarming.”
The closure comes just weeks after LaRosa’s chiefs decided to shut its restaurant in Dublin, central Ohio.
Restaurant closures in 2024
BOSSES at major dining chains have announced a series of restaurant closures. The U.S. Sun has compiled a list of the chain’s affected.
- Cracker Barrel: Stores in Medford, Oregon, Columbia, South Carolina, and Sacramento, California, have closed.
- Mod Pizza: Bosses dramatically shuttered 27 shops in April, including some in the state of California.
- Frisch’s Big Boy: Restaurant chiefs confirmed the closure of a restaurant in Covington, Kentucky in April.
- Outback Steakhouse: The chain will shutter 41 ‘underperforming’ locations this year.
- Two Bucks: Four restaurants in Ohio closed in April.
- Chili’s: A restaurant in Port Arthur, Texas, has shut permanently as well as one in Irvine, California, and one in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
- Friendly’s: Bosses confirmed an establishment in Ronkonkoma, Long Island will close.
- Pizza Hut: A restaurant in Glen Falls, New York, closed at the end of March, followed by four in Ohio in June and 15 in Indiana. This was followed in July by a bankruptcy filing from its parent company which announced the closure of 150 locations.
- Carl’s Jr.: The first Boise, Idaho location has closed.
- In-N-Out: An Oakland location closed earlier in the year due to crime in the area.
- Cheesecake Factory: The chain is set to shutter a location in Memphis, Tennessee in July.
- Applebee’s: Announced the closure of between 25 and 35 locations this year.
- Red Lobster: The seafood chain filed for bankruptcy in May and shuttered over 100 locations.
- Taco John’s: Shuttered a restaurant in Minnesota and put the building up for sale in May.
- Frisco’s Chicken: The poultry restaurant shuttered all of its locations over the summer
- Rubio’s Coastal Grill: Has announced the closure of 48 locations in California after filing for bankruptcy.
- Burger King: Shuttered a location in California in June after 30 years.
- Foster’s Freeze: Shuttered a location in California after five decades in business due to financial struggles.
- Chicken Salad Chick: After nine years the restaurant shuttered one location in Jacksonville, Florida, with no reason given.
- México Lindo: The New York City-based restaurant announced its final day after 52 years and finally shuttered its doors for good on July 31.
- American Dream Pizza: Closed all of its locations in Oregon in July.
- Tender Greens: The Southern California-based chain filed for bankruptcy.
- Lefty’s Famous Cheesesteaks, Hoagies, & Grill: Abruptly shuttered 18 locations in July due to a family feud.
- Firehouse Subs: Shuttered a location in the Tri-Cities area of Washington State over the summer citing “unforeseen circumstances”
- Taco Time: The Taco Bell rival shuttered a location in Seattle after 50 years following a death in the franchise owner’s family.
- Burgerim: Shuttered a location in Burlington, Massachusetts in July, reigniting bankruptcy fears from 2020.
- Denny’s: The chain has shuttered over 40 locations so far this year with the owner of the one outlet blaming vandalism.
- Starbucks: The chain shuttered one of its most iconic locations in New York City after almost three decades with fans blaming crime. It also lost a location in Seattle.
- Subway: In August, the sandwich chain shuttered over 20 locations across the US and Canada after a franchisee lost money after being a victim of fraud.
- IHOP: A restaurant in New Hampshire shut its doors after 24 years, leaving four locations in the state.
- Switchback Coffee Roasters: The popular chain filed for bankruptcy in August after over a decade in business.
- Jimmy John’s: The sandwich shop chain shuttered a location in Nevada on August 19 after 12 years citing overexpansion issues.
- KFC: Closed the remaining three locations in Rockford, Illinois all on the same day on August 19. In total, it closed six locations across four cities in Illinois.
- Rusty Bucket: The chicken shop chain confirmed it would officially leave Florida as it announced a handful of closures including in Sarasota and Ohio.
- Buca di Beppo: The Olive Garden rival abruptly shuttered 44 locations across five states before filing for bankruptcy.
- Red Robin: Announced the closure of its Ashburn, Virginia location on August 25 after 15 years in business.
- Noodles & Company: Shuttered dozens of locations due to their contribution to around $2 million worth of losses.
- Shoney’s: The classic American-style food chain founded in 1947 officially exited Ohio after three decades of business as it reduced its operational footprint.
- Homegrown: The sandwich chain based in Seattle announced the closure of 10 locations leaving 150 employees in the lurch.
- World of Beer: Filed for bankruptcy after closing 14 outlets.
- Arby’s: The chain announced a number of closures this year including in Lexington, Kentucky, Akron, Ohio,
- Uno Pizzeria & Grill: Shuttered a location in New Jersey in July, leaving just two in the state, followed by the closure of a Baltimore location in August.
- Hart House: Shutterd all four locations in California in September just two years after the vegan fast-food restaurant chain was launched by actor and comedian Kevin Hart.
