When the Arco Towers with their underground shopping mall were dedicated on Jan. 30, 1973, the swanky Francois' restaurant offered a safe and comfortable haven from the desolation that then was downtown Los Angeles.
Those in search of quality cuisine had little choice but to either descend three floors beneath the 52-story towers to Francois' or rise 30 floors to The Tower atop what is now the Transamerica Occidental Life Building, a dozen blocks to the south.
But after dinner Thursday, award-winning Francois' quietly closed its doors forever.