Podcast Summary: "The Fame Game with Heidi & Spencer"

Episode: The Truth Behind Why Restaurants Are Shutting Down and How To Save Them

Date: March 19, 2026
Hosts: Spencer Pratt, Heidi Montag (with guest Seth of @sethontheseen)
Podcast Network: Studio71

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the mounting issues behind the widespread closures of restaurants, especially in Los Angeles. Heidi and Spencer are joined by Seth of @sethontheseen, an Instagram account documenting LA’s ever-changing food scene and the closures plaguing local businesses. The hosts and their guest dissect personal stories, systemic challenges, and possible solutions, delivering their classic blend of candid, funny, and heartfelt commentary. The discussion not only unpacks the economic, political, and cultural factors contributing to restaurant failures but also considers the broader impacts on community life, nostalgia, and the fabric of LA.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Seth's Account and Mission (01:39–02:53)

• Seth shares his journey from nostalgically following the closure of a beloved West Hollywood restaurant to becoming a go-to source for news on LA’s restaurant scene.

  • Quote:

    "I just sort of became this investigative journalist to stalk them professionally... and then that just snowballed into really what I've created now."
    — Seth (01:48)

• Seth's account started as restaurant reopening updates but evolved to tracking why so many LA spots close — from personal tips to community heartbreak.

2. The Emotional & Community Impact of Closures (03:14–04:00)

• Restaurants are not just businesses; they’re places of nostalgia, first dates, family visits, and community.

  • Quote:

    "Restaurants have a lot of emotions tied to them... there's that connection that's lost when these restaurants close."
    — Seth (03:14)

• Spencer and Heidi reflect on their own memories and explain why specific restaurants mean so much to local culture.

3. The Core Reasons Behind Restaurant Closures (04:00–05:40)

• Rent Spikes:

  • Landlords doubling/tripling rents at lease renewal; many prefer empty spaces to rent reductions.
  • Quote:

    "You're losing these, again, communities and places that have memories to you just because of these greedy landlords."
    — Seth (04:00)

• Labor Costs:

  • Minimum wage increases and higher pay needed to attract management.

• General Inflation:

  • Increased food and operational costs with slim margins.
  • Seth frames it as a “three-pronged approach,” with all factors combining to make survival nearly impossible.

4. Changing Economics & Access for Small Businesses (06:22–09:36)

• Spencer and Jordan bemoan the shift: fewer small business owners, more “restaurant as a hobby” billionaires.

• It's now so expensive that only the ultra-wealthy can afford to open, causing cultural loss and stagnation in local scenes.

  • Quote:

    "You almost have to be a multi-millionaire or billionaire... There's just no depth to it. There's no culture that they're building."
    — Seth (08:36)

• Broader questions about LA and America: Is the economy still accessible to regular people, or just big players?

5. LA vs. Other Cities: Is This Trend Unique? (10:17–10:49; 17:53–18:01)

• Seth confirms the crisis is most acute in LA, though he tracks travel and restaurant scenes abroad as well.
• Reference to issues in other cities but not to the same extreme as LA.

6. The Ripple Effects: Employment, Opportunity, Hollywood (11:59–13:09; 15:21–15:58)

• Restaurant closures mean widespread job loss — not just cooks and servers, but also an end of a “rite of passage” for aspiring actors and creatives.
  • Quote:

    "If you were like a gorgeous girl from Texas... as a server, you could survive. [But now] there's not even Hollywood enough to be a bit part actor."
    — Heidi (12:43)

  • The Hollywood strikes and film productions moving out have compounded the problem, drying up the entertainment industry’s supplementary ecosystem.

7. The Role of City Policy & Problematic Code Enforcement (18:40–22:56; 27:08–29:37)

• Safety concerns and visible homelessness deter diners, especially when patios are affected.

• The regulatory burden is not evenly shared:

  • Brick-and-mortar spots face inspections, taxes, health standards, while street vendors and food trucks are less regulated but increasingly popular.
  • Quote:

    "It just seems like across the city, there's different rules for different people."
    — Seth (22:54)

• Arbitrary/overzealous complaints can push city departments to shut down businesses (Beito’s Market story at 27:22), and there's resentment that one or two "haters" can destroy a neighborhood establishment.

8. Real Estate Economics: Vacant Spaces & Write-Offs (25:53–26:40)

• Landlords often keep spaces empty rather than lowering rent, possibly for tax write-offs, contributing to an emptying of once-busy streets like the Promenade.
  • Quote:

    "It's just so crazy that they rather have it sitting empty than give someone the opportunity to be there and make some money."
    — Jordan (25:53)

  • Rising exclusivity of the past is gone; Instagram and TikTok have changed access, trends, and hype.

9. Government Failures & Policy Ideals (18:40–20:41; 33:06–36:51)

• The city sometimes worsens hardships: draconian enforcement over noise, liquor licenses pulled over minor complaints, parking restrictions hurting businesses.
• Parking, infrastructure, and gentrification (e.g., billboards replacing parking) erode accessibility and kill foot traffic for nearby small businesses.

10. Looking Forward: Solutions and Community Mobilization (19:19–20:09; 42:20–43:27)

• Listen to Owners: Seth urges local government to actually speak to small business owners new and old to identify root problems and iterate policy solutions.

• Regulatory Fairness: Create consistent standards for all types of food businesses.

• Community Alerts: Transparency about restaurants struggling to prompt a community rally and increased patronage.

  • Quote:

    "They put on social media that they were on a shoestring. They were about to close… They have lines, online orders... that's what makes it rewarding for me, is that I can help change these restaurants' trajectory with a simple video."
    — Seth (42:20)

• Preserving Local Culture: Awareness and communal action can help save the remnants of a richer LA past.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Nostalgia and Loss:

  "They're not just restaurants...the food is just a place where the memories happen."
  — Heidi Montag (08:04)

• On Hollywood Lore:

  "It was such an incredible opportunity to be a waiter or waitress here because you were discovered. Like that's where directors would come in and eat and be like, you need to be in my next movie."
  — Jordan (15:21)

• On the Disparity of Enforcement:

  "If you're a crazed homeless person going to the bathroom on the side of the street and you don't get in trouble, but Seth goes... he becomes now a sex offender..."
  — Heidi Montag, humorously illustrating two-tier systems (22:00)

• On the Erosion of Local Opportunity:

  "It was. The city had this magic about it, which it still does, but it's dim. I would say it's not as bright as it used to be."
  — Seth (25:19)

• On Leaving LA:

  "I've talked to a couple of restaurant owners and chefs that are moving out of state because there’s just so many less regulations."
  — Seth (35:21)

• Heartwarming Connection:
  Seth and Jordan share they met at a pool party bonding over a Heidi track, sparking a long friendship (38:30–39:00).

Key Timestamps & Segments

• 01:39–02:53: Seth’s introduction and background of @sethontheseen
• 03:14–04:00: Emotional and communal impact of restaurant closures
• 04:00–05:40: Core economic reasons for closures: rent, labor, inflation
• 11:34–12:43: Devastating job losses from closures; shrinking ladder for newcomers in LA
• 18:40–22:56: Safety, homelessness, uneven code enforcement, and policy frustrations
• 27:22–29:37: Stories of overzealous complaints shutting down local businesses (Beito’s Market)
• 33:06–36:51: How city policy, parking, and development worsen small business struggles
• 42:20–43:27: Community mobilization can actually save at-risk restaurants (Ronin on 3rd story)
• 38:30–39:00: A personal, joyful story — friendship via a Heidi song

Closing Thoughts & Calls to Action

Seth encourages optimism and communal engagement, emphasizing LA’s potential to recover its “magic” if policies become fairer and communities rally behind local businesses. The group ends with a plea to follow @sethontheseen, support local restaurants, and spread awareness to help preserve what makes LA special.

Where to Follow the Guest

• Instagram & TikTok: @sethontheseen
• Newsletter (beta): Find latest LA restaurant news and closures via link in bio

For listeners who miss the “old LA” or anyone invested in the fate of small businesses, this episode merges nostalgia, policy critique, and actionable hope — all in the signature candid, lively, and occasionally irreverent tone of Speidi.