Amy ScattergoodAfter weathering enough misfortunes to make Job's afternoon look like a walk in the park (the 2010 Haitian earthquake, his own restaurant fire), George Laguerre is closing his downtown Haitian restaurant. TiGeorges' Chicken will be open through this month, but will close its doors on Jan. 31.
As Downtown News reported earlier today, business has been dwindling and Laguerre finally decided that it didn't make economic sense to continue. “I cannot run two houses,” Laguerre told us by phone this morning.
George Laguerre; Credit: Kevin Scanlon
By which Laguerre means his Los Angeles restaurant and the coffee business his father started in Haiti many years ago. “In 2007 I started putting back together what my dad had started,” Laguerre said. But traveling back and forth between his native Haiti and Los Angeles proved both costly and very time-consuming, and it took a toll on the restaurant.
“Every time I go, I lose so much; eventually I'd have lost them both.” So Laguerre is closing his restaurant and moving back to Haiti to run the family business full-time.
“You don't want to see me go?” Laguerre said. We do not. As for what will happen to the location, Laguerre said he has tried to find a buyer but so far has not been successful.
So if you want to order a cup of TiGeorges' Chicken's Haitian coffee or an Island Combo (#37 on our list of 100 Favorite Dishes), you've got four weeks. Maybe get in your car.
Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.