The capricious food/beverage world of Santa Monica’s Third St. Promenade is a nearly constant environment of change. The City’s renewed push to improve conditions for businesses will hopefully bring a fresh crop of arrivals. But there are already new businesses moving in. There are the heavy hitters like Raising Cane’s, and there are also some new enterprises willing to chance Downtown SM. One of these is a new java joint, Dragon Alley Coffee Shop, that is currently setting up housekeeping at 312 Santa Monica Blvd. The still-developing website reveals that Dragon Alley is the dream project of Sage and Richard Chand, whose inspiring story you can read about here. We wish them the best of luck.
Toddrickallen 
The mention of Dragon Alley being a “dream project” for Sage and Richard Chand really stood out—too often we see chains taking over, so a family-run spot with a personal story feels like a needed shift for that stretch of Santa Monica Blvd. Having watched a few indie shops shutter nearby, it’s refreshing to see something rooted in genuine passion rather than just a formula. Curious to see if their story and menu can build the kind of loyal crowd that survives this neighborhood’s turnover.