Riordan Nears Deal to Buy Mort’s Deli

Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan brought good news to the Palisades AARP holiday luncheon last Wednesday, announcing that he’s close to reaching an agreement to buy Mort’s Deli on Swarthmore. “I finally reached a verbal agreement with the landlord last Friday,” Riordan said in his opening remarks as guest speaker. “[The negotiations] have been very hard, and we weren’t sure it would happen. Now we’re just waiting for a written agreement. So say a prayer that it works out.” He emphasized that the landmark eatery “is still going to be called Mort’s. It’s good business and it makes sense.” But he will open an adjacent restaurant in the Oak Room in order to take advantage of owner Bobbie Farberow’s tough-to-acquire liquor license. She has been quietly seeking a buyer for about two years and was sitting at a front-row table as Riordan went public with his negotiations. Acknowledging the importance of the Oak Room as a meeting place for various community organizations and activities, Riordan said the room would be available to the public during the day, but would become “an evening dinner cafe.” “I think Mort would be proud of what we do there, and Bobbie will be the inspiration,” said Riordan, a wealthy attorney, entrepreneur and philanthropist who already owns The Pantry in downtown Los Angeles and Gladstone’s restaurant in the Palisades. He lives in Brentwood and has often had breakfast meetings at Mort’s over the years. Last Saturday afternoon, as she worked the cash register at her deli, Farberow was hopeful that she would now be able to sell her business and retire, seven years after her husband Mort’s death. ‘It would be so wonderful if the landlord [Palisades Partners] gives the mayor a written agreement,’ she said. ‘He loves our community, he will be generous with the community, and he loved Mort. That means a lot to me. I don’t want to sell to some stranger. I’ve said ‘No’ to all of them because I wanted somebody I knew who would feel strongly about the community, like Mort and I did’and I think I’ve come as close to that as I could.’