The Music Center Partners with Speciality Coffee House Sip & Sonder and Iconic Burger Joint Carney's to Open New Locations As Part of the Performing Arts Center's Transformation of Campus-wide Dining Experience
Downtown L.A.’s Cultural Destination Becomes Culinary Destination with Addition of Home-Grown, Trusted Brands and Palate Pleasing Options for All-Day Dining
LOS ANGELES (November 3, 2021)—The Music Center today announced new partnerships with two well-known Los Angeles dining establishments as part of its plan to reimagine dining options on its campus. On November 5, 2021, the Black women-owned Sip & Sonder will open its second location as an outpost directly in front of The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, serving its mindfully-crafted, house-roasted coffees and signature bites and pastries. Beginning this winter, Carney’s, the family-owned restaurant chain known for its iconic train branding and one of the best burgers in L.A., will open its fourth location adjacent to The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, overlooking Grand Avenue.
As restaurants and dining locations at The Music Center continue to re-open and enhance offerings for all campus visitors, the performing arts center will be creating opportunities to showcase restaurants, chefs and other food service providers who contribute to L.A.’s vibrant and diverse culinary community. The Music Center and hospitality partner Levy recently announced a collaboration with native Angeleno Chef Ray Garcia to craft a new concept inside the anchor restaurant space at The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall. Upcoming announcements throughout the rest of 2021 and into 2022 will highlight additional partnerships with home-grown restaurants, a new catering experience for private and social gatherings and more details about the many dining experiences at the full-service restaurants located at The Music Center campus.
According to The Music Center’s president and CEO, Rachel Moore, adding both Sip & Sonder and Carney’s to the organization’s dining portfolio aligns with its vision to offer culinary experiences and price points for every palate. “The Music Center has always been a beacon for arts and culture, and now we’re excited to enhance our role as a culinary destination with some of L.A.’s favorite dining experiences,” Moore said. “Carney’s has been an L.A. icon for decades, and Sip & Sonder has recently burst onto the coffee scene. These two artisanal food purveyors, who share our commitment to building community and social interaction, are wonderful examples of what a creative, entrepreneurial spirit can make possible. By partnering with these much-loved brands, we not only expand the high quality food options available at The Music Center, but also invite locals and visitors to acquaint themselves with some of the best tastes Los Angeles has to offer, right in the heart of Downtown."
“When prompted with an opportunity to join The Music Center campus, we jumped,” said Shanita Nicholas, co-founder of Sip & Sonder. “Our mission is, and always has been, to create a space ‘For the Community. For the Culture.’ Our tagline highlights our vision for a place where culture is elevated, creativity encouraged, social responsibility championed, and connections made. We are thrilled to partner with an organization as iconic as The Music Center that not only supports those efforts, but also so closely aligns with us in its mission,” added Amanda-Jane Thomas, co-founder of Sip & Sonder.
“Carney’s is all about great food served in a memorable atmosphere, and The Music Center is one of the most memorable and popular destinations in L.A. We’re excited to open our newest location and be a part of a new L.A.-driven dining experience at a place that reaches so many in our community and from around the world,” said John Wolfe, owner of Carney’s.
About Sip & Sonder
Both practicing attorneys who met while working at a law firm, Amanda-Jane Thomas and Shanita Nicholas launched Sip & Sonder in 2017 to create a home for all Angelenos and connect community, coffee and culture. Their flagship coffee house and roastery—the first specialty coffee house in Inglewood, California—serves some of the best coffee in L.A. and features a creative studio and multi-purpose event space frequented by entrepreneurs, community groups and everyone in-between. During the pandemic, with their doors temporarily closed, Thomas and Nicholas continued to live their mission, launching the "Brewing for Good with Sip & Sonder" campaign. Each Friday, they delivered hot coffee and pastries to frontline workers on the COVID-19 floor at Centinela Hospital.
Beginning November 5, 2021, Sip & Sonder will be open at The Music Center from Tuesday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Alongside classic coffee drinks, Sip & Sonder will serve up specialty drinks such as the Cardi Rose, a Rose and Cardamom latte; or its REFRESH line of tonics and spritzers, including a Lavender Espresso Tonic. Sip & Sonder’s menu aims to push the same creative boundaries it hopes to evoke in its customers.
About Carney’s
Founded in 1975 by John Wolfe, Sr. and his wife, Pat Wolfe, Carney’s knows a thing or two about building lasting impressions. Carney’s original Sunset Strip location features an iconic Pacific Railroad passenger train that was built with a dual purpose: It stood out in an era when burger joints began popping up in L.A. and allowed the Wolfes the flexibility to pick up and move shop to a new location at the drop of a hat. Nearly 50 years later, the Sunset Strip location continues to thrive, and Carney’s is expanding to bring its renowned burgers and hot dogs to The Music Center campus, offering quick and delicious meals in an affordable, family-friendly environment.
Opening this winter, Carney’s at The Music Center will feature many current favorites, including classic hamburgers, cheeseburgers and piled-high chili dogs.
About The Music Center
The Music Center convenes artists, communities and ideas with the goal of deepening the cultural lives of every resident in Los Angeles County. The $70 million non-profit performing arts organization has two divisions: TMC Arts and TMC Ops. TMC Arts, The Music Center’s programming engine, provides year-round programming inside The Music Center’s four theatres, on Jerry Moss Plaza, outside at Grand Park—a 12-acre adjacent green space—in schools and other locations all over Los Angeles County and on a digital platform called The Music Center Offstage. TMC Arts presents world-class dance with Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center, free and low-cost public concerts and events, as well as live and digital K–12 arts education programs, workshops, performances, interactive experiences and special events. TMC Ops manages the theatres, the Plaza and Grand Park, which comprise $2 billion in county assets, on behalf of the County of Los Angeles. The Music Center is also home to four renowned resident companies—Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles Master Chorale, LA Opera and LA Phil. For more information, visit musiccenter.org. Follow The Music Center on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @MusicCenterLA.
About Levy
The disruptor in defining hospitality at the most-recognized cultural, entertainment, and sports destinations, Levy is recognized as the market leader and most critically acclaimed hospitality company in its industry. With restaurant roots, Levy has created many of the country’s defining dining experiences, from Michelin Star fine dining, to waterfront social gathering spots and elevated casual neighborhood restaurants. Twice named one of the 10 most innovative companies in sports by Fast Company magazine and one of the top three Best Employers for Diversity in America by Forbes, Levy’s diverse portfolio includes iconic cultural destinations and music venues, award-winning restaurants, major sports and entertainment venues, and convention centers; as well as the Super Bowl, Grammy Awards, US Open Tennis Tournament, Kentucky Derby, and NHL, MLB, NBA, NFL, and MLS All-Star Games. For more, visit www.levyrestaurants.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
# # #