The temporary Earl of Sandwich restaurant that took over the shuttered La Brea Bakery in Downtown Disney has finally closed after years of stops and starts to make way for the construction of the off-again, on-again Porto’s Bakery that will take over the prime location next to Disneyland.
The Earl of Sandwich fast-casual restaurant and Earl of Sandwich Tavern sit-down restaurant on the east end of Downtown Disney have closed, according to Disneyland officials.
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The new permanent Earl of Sandwich location under construction on the west end of Downtown Disney will open this winter, according to company officials.
A new Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby gastropub will be located atop the Earl of Sandwich fast-casual restaurant.
The nomadic Earl of Sandwich has closed and opened several times over the past decade at Downtown Disney.
The original west side restaurant closed in 2018 to make room for a Disney hotel project that was ultimately canceled — allowing Earl of Sandwich to reopen a few months later in the same location.
The original Earl of Sandwich restaurant was torn down in 2022 along with AMC Theatre, Starbucks West and Sugarboo and Co. as part of the renovation of the west end of Downtown Disney.
Porto’s decision to open a Downtown Disney location on the site of the former La Brea Bakery was announced to much fanfare during the D23 Expo in 2022 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
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La Brea Bakery closed in early 2023 to make way for the new Porto’s — but construction never started as expected.
A temporary Earl of Sandwich opened in 2023 in the former La Brea Bakery while plans for the new Porto’s were delayed.
In early 2024, Earl of Sandwich announced plans for a new location on the west end of Downtown Disney.
A demolition permit for the former La Brea Bakery filed in April with the Anaheim Planning and Building Department also called for the removal of two nearby Disneyland ticket booths.
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Earl of Sandwich announced plans to close the temporary east end location in July, but kept the restaurant open until this past weekend.
Disneyland recently closed ticket booths 7 and 8 and relocated ticket sales to the Guest Relations building beside Disneyland’s front gates in preparation for the demolition of the former La Brea Bakery building, according to MiceChat.
Porto’s Bakery & Cafe officials have announced construction will begin in 2025 on its Downtown Disney location.
The Earl of Sandwich pop-up trailer on the west end of Downtown Disney that opened in 2024 across from the former ESPN Zone will continue to serve sandwiches, wraps, salads and desserts.