Iconic Malibu Restaurant Closes, Lays Off Staff In Wake Of Fire And Mudslides

MALIBU, CA — Duke's Malibu has closed its doors and laid off its staff, but its owners this week said the move is only temporary and the iconic oceanfront restaurant will reopen at a future date.

The restaurant — which has been open on Pacific Coast Highway for nearly three decades — survived the Palisades Fire, but was damaged less than a month later in mudslides trigged by post-fire rainfall. And an ongoing closure of Pacific Coast Highway means the stretch of road that Duke's sits on its off-limits to tourists.

"Duke's Malibu is temporarily closed due to the mudslide that caused extensive damage," the restaurant wrote in an Instagram post Tuesday.

Duke's made that statement following reports earlier this week that the restaurant would be shutting down forever.

According to data from the state Employment Development Department, Duke's plans to lay off 126 employees on Friday. The publicly published data, which comes from notices employers are required to submit when they plan mass layoffs, labeled the Duke's layoffs as stemming from a "permanent" closure.

"Duke's Malibu is NOT permanently closed. We anticipate reopening this summer once we complete the clean up and repairs," Duke's statement reads. "We look forward to hiring back our employees and welcoming guests back in a few months."

As the Palisades Fire burned uncontrollably and devastated much of the area around Duke's, its parking lot served as a refuge for those impacted by the fire - as a place for first responders to triage burn victims, the restaurant said.

Less than a month later, heavy rains led to mudslides in recently burned areas in Malibu, causing what Duke's described as extensive damage at the restaurant.

Pacific Coast Highway between Chautauqua Boulevard and Sweetwater Canyon Road remains closed to all traffic, except for residents, businesses and emergency vehicles, as cleanup from the fire and mudslides continues.