The incoming managing owners of the Saugus Cafe, speaking with KHTS on the condition of anonymity until the ownership transition is finalized, said they are eager to carry on the legacy of the nearly 140-year-old restaurant, one of the oldest continuously operating eateries in Los Angeles County.

Renovations are expected to take several weeks, with hopes to reopen as soon as possible. Proposed improvements include deep-cleaning and reorganizing the kitchen, updating the dining area, and renovating the adjoining bar.

James Alfaro | KHTS News

“It’s not going to close, it’s still going to be the Saugus Cafe,” said one of the new managing owners.

The new chef has spent the past week shadowing existing staff to understand customer preferences and ensure that signature dishes and top-selling items remain consistent for longtime patrons, according to the new managing owners.

Some changes are planned, including lower prices on traditional diner items, a streamlined menu, earlier breakfast hours and expanded use of the connected bar during lunch and dinner service.

“The first thing we have to do is clean everything — especially the kitchen. The kitchen is the most important part,” the new owner continued. 

Permitting and city approvals are already underway. 

The property owners hold rights to the name “Saugus Cafe,” confirming that the restaurant will continue operating under its historic name, according to the new managers.  Claims suggesting otherwise are inaccurate, per statements from both the new management and property owners. 

As a result, the restaurant is expected to reopen in just a few weeks under the Saugus Cafe name, preserving its status as the longest-operating restaurant in Los Angeles County.

The Saugus Cafe originally opened in 1886 as the “Saugus Eating House,” founded by James Herbert Tolfree, according to the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society. The restaurant was first located at the north end of the Saugus Rail Depot along the Southern Pacific rail line connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco, before relocating to its current site in 1916.

During the early days of filmmaking in the Santa Clarita Valley, the cafe became a popular stop for actors and film crews. It was also visited by two U.S. presidents, Benjamin Harrison in 1891 and Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, during their respective terms.

By 1940, the Original Saugus Cafe had become a well-known destination in northern Los Angeles County, but it experienced a decline that year after a highway rerouting diverted traffic away from the Saugus junction amid World War II-related economic challenges, according to the Los Angeles Almanac. 

The cafe briefly closed before reopening under new management in 1943.

Former Assemblyman and philanthropist Hank Arklin purchased the cafe in 1996. Alfredo Mercado, a longtime bartender who had worked at the restaurant for more than 15 years, took over day-to-day operations in 1998. 

The cafe faced additional challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting Mercado’s daughter, Yecenia Mercado, to launch a GoFundMe campaign in 2020 to help sustain the business amid public health restrictions.

In a letter posted on the cafe’s door, the Mercado family thanked the community for its support.

“On behalf of the Saugus Cafe staff and ownership, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to our community for the incredible support you have shown us throughout the years,” stated a letter from the cafe. “For 139 years, Saugus Cafe has been more than just a restaurant it has been a place where memories were made, stories were shared, and generations came together. We are truly honored to have served this community for so long.”

The Mercado family’s management of the Saugus Cafe is officially ended on Jan. 4, 2026. 

During the final week of operations under the Mercado family’s management, long lines stretched down the sidewalk and out the door, as rumors circulated throughout Southern California saying the historic restaurant would be closing permanently.

Sources familiar with the transition, including former mayor Bob Kellar, a close friend of the cafe’s ownership, previously confirmed that the restaurant would reopen following renovations and a management change, while remaining under the same property ownership.

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