Evan Kleiman of KCRW’s Good Food has been the owner and chef of Angeli Caffe since 1984. But after 27 years, the Melrose restaurant is closing for good on Jan. 8.

LA Weekly has the email that Kleiman sent out regarding the closure:

Today I am meeting with my staff to let them know that I will be closing Angeli. Sunday, January 8 will be our last day. If you would like to meet as a group to ask me questions I am open to that. If you want to contact me separately that is fine too. This is a decision that I’ve known I had to make for the last couple of years and I can put it off no longer. I had hoped someone would come forward to buy the brand and carry it forward but up to now, that hasn’t happened.

I am devastated for my staff, especially those who have been with me for more than ten years, and the core group since the first day – That’s 27 years. I hope to find them all jobs. Or maybe a real angel will appear. Who knows. Anyway, I need to do as much business from now until the 8th as possible to be able to pay my final payroll etc.

A real bummer for Kleiman and local foodies. Hopefully the extra free time means another hour of Good Food on Sundays in addition to the Saturday show.