Psych! Downtown Disney’s Temporary Earl of Sandwich Is Not Closing This Week as Expected
Every so often, news comes across the MickeyBlog desk that I think must be some kind of mistake.
Sometimes, they are big announcements, like Disney’s decision to demolish the Rivers of America. Other times, they are fantastic events, like the time the EPCOT’s France pavilion was on fire and Peter Noone was breaking the news. Every so often, however, they are something so absurd that I can’t help but wonder if I am being pranked.
The story I am about to tell falls firmly in the latter category.
Downtown Disney’s Earl of Sandwich Gets a Reprieve
According to a new report from the O.C. Register, plans for the opening of Porto’s Bakery at Disneyland’s Downtown Disney have been delayed again, meaning that the temporary Earl of Sandwich is not closing this week as expected.
Before we delve into the latest development, we need to review how we arrived at this point.
The Never-Ending Saga of the Temporary Earl of Sandwich
In 2022, the original Downtown Disney Earl of Sandwich location closed as part of the park’s transformation of its west end. The plan was for the fan-favorite restaurant to relocate to a new location, which would feature a table-service restaurant and bar named Carnaby Tavern on the second floor.
Photo: Disney
Months later, Disneyland announced that La Brea Bakery was closing at Downtown Disney and would be replaced by Porto’s Bakery. Is everybody with me so far?
Delays, Delays, Delays
When plans for Porto’s opening were delayed, a temporary Earl of Sandwich restaurant opened in the former La Brea Bakery building. Additionally, a pop-up Earl of Sandwich opened near the Star Wars Trading Post.
After numerous delays, in June of this year, we reported that Porto’s Bakery was finally ready to move into its home, and thus, the temporary Earl of Sandwich would be closing.
Finally, a closing date of July 26 was announced, and the restaurant revealed it would lay off 167 employees while it awaited the construction of its new, permanent home.
Where Porto’s Bakery & Cafe Will Go
That brings us to today.
It’s Alive!
According to a new report from the O.C. Register, Earl of Sandwich employees have been informed that the restaurant’s closure has been pushed back by at least a month.
Disneyland officials added that work on Porto’s Bakery is still set to begin in the near future; however, the construction schedule is still being finalized.
As of this writing, the plan is to demolish La Brea Bakery and construct the new Porto’s Bakery as initially planned. When that project will actually start, however, is anyone’s guess.
For now, Earl of Sandwich fans can enjoy a few extra weeks at the temporary location before it closes for good.
With that being said, it wouldn’t surprise me if the temporary Earl of Sandwich outlives all of us at this point.
