LOS ANGELES — The legendary Los Angeles eatery Langer’s Deli has been serving the community for 77 years. But its owner is considering closing down the popular deli if the city doesn’t do more to help cleanup the Westlake area. 

Known around the globe for its popular pastrami, Langer’s is a popular destination for locals and tourists. Norm Langer owns the deli and is tired of battling city officials in trying to get the surrounding neighborhood cleaned up. 

“I’m getting tired of pushing the cart uphill,” Langer said. “If I have to keep pushing the cart uphill, I will close it.”

Langer says there are several food and retail vendors set up illegally on 7th Street between Westlake Avenue and Alvarado Street. The 79-year-old says the vehicles and tables are set up in areas that are marked for no parking, and that the stretch of road in front of his deli is frequently dirty, and with Macarthur Park located across the street, he sees illegal activities in the area as well. 

“I don’t want the customers to lose their appetite walking by an alley that smells,” Langer said. “That hasn’t been cleaned in months.”

In August, LA Mayor Karen Bass met with Langer to address his concerns, and several other elected officials have also stopped by the deli to show their support for Langer. 

Eunisses Hernandez is the city councilor for Dist. 1, which is where Langer’s is located. She says the city is trying to step up its efforts to help clean up the area, and find a happy medium for small business owners, and street vendors who operate in the area. 

“We are working with the mayor’s office to see what additional sanitation services we can bring, what other infrastructure we can bring to support our small businesses,” Hernandez said. “But we also want to make sure our vendors are good neighbors and that they know the rules of operation.”

Langer is hopeful to keep his doors for a few more years, with the eyes of the world set to be on Los Angeles with two global sporting events scheduled to be in the city. 

“I would like to stay here until after the Olympics,” Langer said. “I would like this to have been a family tradition that has lived on.”