The temporary location will serve Dialog’s full menu and, remarkably, the same team it employed before its longtime home was wrecked by flooding. The original corner on Holloway Drive remains closed as the cafe works through a rebuild that it says will take time.
“Our corner on Holloway is a big part of what makes Dialog feel like Dialog, and we love it as much as you do,” the restaurant wrote in an Instagram post Wednesday. “The damage there was extensive, and rebuilding it properly is going to take time. But Holloway is coming back.”
The disaster struck in July, when a 36-inch water transmission trunk line beneath Sunset Boulevard at Holloway Drive unleashed an estimated 17 million gallons of water through the neighborhood. The break turned Holloway Drive into a churning river, opened a massive sinkhole and buried Dialog Cafe under feet of mud and debris.
For a neighborhood already reeling from relentless business shutterings, the sudden loss of the bustling cafe — known for its breakfast burritos, wraps and coffee — nearly felt like a final blow. But Dialog has managed to avoid joining the list of casualties. For now, the Sun Rose will be “our home,” owners said, adding that they want the temporary location to retain the familiar feel of the original, creating the kind of ambiance that “you can settle into and stay awhile.”
Fans flooded the announcement with relief. “There are too many WeHo staples that have shut down lately we don’t want to see you gone too,” one commenter wrote. “The community needs this! Weho feels incomplete without Dialog,” another fan declared. “So pumped! Makes me so happy to hear this,” another wrote. “Dialog is the embodiment of character and resiliency. We all love you guys and we can’t wait to see you!”
In another unexpected twist, Dialog announced it will refund every dollar donated to its post-flood GoFundMe. The cafe initially sought $500,000 after the disaster, saying the money could help support staff, pay emergency cleanup costs, replace damaged equipment and help finance its recovery. The fundraiser ultimately collected more than $55,000 from hundreds of donors.
While the residency secures immediate survival and keeps the staff employed, the road home remains long. Until its original site of nearly 18 years is salvaged, Dialog will lean on Sunset Strip foot traffic and loyal old-timers to keep the coffee brewing.