Iconic Palm Restaurant Closing Its Doors Ahead Of Beverly Hills Move

WEST HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA.com) — A West Hollywood steakhouse best known for the caricatures of its celebrity customers and the entertainment industry power players that adorn its walls is closing its doors this week.

KNX 1070's Margaret Carrero reports the Palm Restaurant will be moving its kitchen to Beverly Hills after 40 years of making memories on Santa Monica Boulevard.

Since opening its doors in 1975, the Palm has served its classic steakhouse cuisine and generous "Palm-size" portions all while welcoming guests like family to the restaurant, according to co-owner Wally Ganzi.

That was the year The Palm tapped its own Gigi Del Maestro, a native New Yorker, to travel west to become the maitre'd at the new location. Del Maestro was known for greeting his West Hollywood clientele with great warmth and charm for more than 30 years before he died of cancer, said Ganzi.

But it's perhaps the veritable Wall of Fame featuring about 2,600 celebrity caricatures and cartoons - ranging from "Rat Pack"-era stars to more contemporary celebs - that has made the Palm a Los Angeles icon.

All the caricatures, however, won't be making the move to the new restaurant located at 267 North Canon Drive, which will span about 6,000 square feet and feature a private dining room.

"We have, I think now, almost 900 people coming, we're cutting the caricatures out and presenting them with a gift from us," said Ganzi. Others will be framed and hung up at the new Beverly Hills location, he added.

The move was spurred by the development of a mixed-use complex - including 19,000 square feet of retail space - scheduled to begin in July 2016.

Co-owners Ganzi and Bruce Bozzi Sr., along with 4th generation Bruce Bozzi, Jr., will be in the restaurant regularly up until the Sept. 30 closing.

The new Palm location is scheduled to open its doors in early November.