There was excitement in the prospect that once revered Lucy’s El Adobe Café on Melrose would open after a long hiatus. There was construction and workers on site, and then…
Patricia “Patty” Casado, the daughter of Lucy’s El Adobe Café founders Frank and Lucy Casado — and the family member who fought to regain ownership of the longtime Hollywood restaurant — has died after a brief illness. She was a central figure in recent efforts to restore and reopen the Melrose Avenue landmark.
Lucy’s El Adobe Café, located at 5536 Melrose Avenue directly across from Paramount Pictures, opened in 1964 and became one of Los Angeles’ best-known family-owned Mexican restaurants. Over the decades, it developed a loyal following among studio employees, entertainment industry figures, politicians and neighborhood residents.
Casado grew up around the restaurant and remained closely tied to it throughout her life. Following the death of her mother, Lucy Casado, in 2017, a dispute within the family over control of the business led to litigation and a prolonged closure of the restaurant.
Casado pursued legal action to regain control of the property and business operations. After a protracted court battle, she ultimately reestablished her role in the ownership structure and began working toward restoring the restaurant and preparing it for reopening.
Supporters say she viewed the effort as both a business and preservation issue.
“She felt a responsibility to protect what her parents built,” said one longtime family friend. “For her, this was about keeping the restaurant in the family and maintaining its place in Los Angeles history.”
Lucy’s El Adobe Café has long held cultural significance beyond its menu. The restaurant was known as a gathering place for members of the entertainment community and was widely reported as the site where former California governor Jerry Brown met singer Linda Ronstadt in the 1970s — a relationship that later drew national attention.
In recent years, restoration efforts were underway, with plans to reopen after several years of inactivity. Community members had expressed optimism about seeing the restaurant return to operation.
Casado’s death comes at a pivotal moment for the business. It remains unclear how reopening plans will proceed, though supporters say her work laid the groundwork for the café’s potential revival.
“She was determined,” another associate said. “Even when the process was complicated and slow, she stayed focused on getting the doors open again.”
Casado is remembered by friends and former patrons as deeply committed to her family’s legacy and to preserving one of Hollywood’s enduring neighborhood institutions.
Further details regarding memorial services or the future of Lucy’s El Adobe Café have not yet been announced.
