Long-standing Valley diner Four N 20 has closed its two locations in Valley Village and Sherman Oaks due to the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The restaurant, known for its pies, announced the closures on Facebook, where ownership posted a “thanks for the memories” message. The shuttering marks the end of a 40-plus year run for co-owners Michael O’Donnell and David Burkin, who together purchased the two remaining Four N 20 locations in the late 1970s. According to O’Donnell, the Sherman Oaks outlet at 5530 Van Nuys Blvd. closed last week, while the Valley Village location at 4723 Laurel Canyon Blvd. served its last plate around 3 p.m. on Sunday. “(Burkin and I) looked at the business and all the guidance you had to go through to open up at 50 percent, and we decided it just isn’t worth it,” O’Donnell told the Business Journal, referring to the county’s requirements for restaurants reopening their dining rooms. “The guidance is way over the top.” O’Donnell said Valley Village reopened its dining room for a few days at about 40 percent capacity – “we had like six tables,” he said – but revenue was too low to reasonably keep operating. “We tried for a few days and it just … it’s not what we wanted,” he said. O’Donnell said this isn’t necessarily the end for Four N 20, at least not in Valley Village. “I have offers already on the restaurant. I’ll entertain those in the next few weeks,” he said. “I have an employee who is interested, so we’re going to see if we can work out the details to maybe bring him in. He says he can (operate under the restrictions) and still make money.” The Sherman Oaks location, however, is gone for good. “We lost our lease there,” O’Donnell said.
Four N 20 Diners Close in Valley Village, Sherman Oaks
