Cafe Tropical’s purple facade. (Courtesy of Cafe Tropical)
FOR HALF A CENTURY, the friendly facade of Silver Lake’s Cafe Tropical rose up at the corner of Sunset and Silver Lake boulevards, its pastel purple exterior and delicious Cuban coffee and pastries welcoming neighbors, tourists, and thousands of Angelenos seeking sobriety at the 12-step meetings held in its back room.
When the cafe abruptly closed in November of 2023, people across the city mourned. As a story of debt and family conflict on the part of a previous owner tumbled into public view, a community eager to protect its Cubano clubhouse sprang into action, raising $11,895 for the employees laid off on short notice.
Then in early 2024, three regulars — Ed Cornell, Danny Khorunzhiy, and Rene Navarrette — stepped up to save Cafe Tropical: they bought the business, revamped the menu (while preserving the classics), and rehired most of the staff.
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