Failure to launch?

Aviator Melrose, a retro airplane-themed Los Angeles bar and restaurant outfitted with vintage plane seats and a swanky airport lounge, is permanently closing this weekend after just one year in business.

But as the bar approaches its final descent, some Angelenos say it’s the first they’ve heard of the joint.

The bar announced its departure in an Instagram post.

“After so many unforgettable nights, incredible memories, and wonderful people we’ve had the pleasure of meeting along the way, we’ve made the difficult decision to close The Aviator Melrose,” the post read.

“What started as a dream of creating a special place for people to come together turned into something that meant so much more to us.”

The bar did not say why it was closing, but said that their final day of business would be Saturday, Nov. 14. The bar will serve drinks only, with its kitchen already closed.

Opened in July 2025, Aviator transformed a typical LA storefront into a space-age time capsule. The main area of the bar transports patrons into a midcentury airplane cabin, complete with vintage orange airplane seats, windows and even overhead bins decorated with retro luggage.

Cocktails ranged from $19 to $24, with classics including martinis, Manhattans and old fashioneds. The bar also served wine and beer.

Aviator also offered a small selection of food, including crispy popcorn chicken, mini beef sliders and airplane staples like warm nuts. On the pricier side, the bar offered an $85 “sky-high baked potato” topped with crème fraiche, chives and caviar.

To complete the in-flight experience, servers wore flight attendant uniforms and delivered drinks on rolling carts. Tables were topped with travel-themed props, including passports and magazines.

Despite its viral-ready interior, some Angelenos said they had never heard of the bar until it announced its closure.

“Wow never heard of it but now it’s too late,” one Instagram commenter wrote.

“Literally never heard about it, and I live a few blocks away from Melrose.. shame, with the right marketing, it really could’ve taken off,” another wrote.

“Maybe they’d stay open if we all knew it was open,” a third wrote.

The shutdown comes amid LA’s wave of bar and restaurant closures, as buisness owners sound the alarm over raising rents, utilities and labor costs.

Just last week, Augustine Wine Bar in Sherman Oaks announced they will be closing next month after owners said they could not raise prices high enough to become profitable. In Downtown LA, popular downtown spot Everson Royce Bar will also close before the end of the year, with owners calling Los Angeles a “disturbingly difficult” place to do business.

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