A new Taiwan bubble Tea shop is opening up at 9607 S Santa Monica Blvd in Beverly Hills. But not just any shop. Bright red window paper is announcing the arrival of Gong Cha. Gong Cha began in Taiwan in 1996 and have since spread to 2,100 stores worldwide, including a few in SoCal, with a vision “to serve a billion cups of happiness”.
Brentwood’s popular pie purveyor Flour Pizzeria is expanding to Beverly Hills. There’s window paper and construction at 243 S Beverly Dr, formerly home to Upper Crust Pizza, confirming the news. Flour Pizzeria promises “artisan-level” New York-style pies at “fast-food pricing” and certainly has become the spot in Brentwood to grab a crispy slice (or a whole pie).
SOCALO, the acclaimed restaurant from busy celebrity chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, closed in February citing fallout from COVID and industry strikes. But the location at 1920 Santa Monica Blvd isn’t staying empty for long. There are window posters up announcing the arrival of Metro Cafe. Metro Cafe has locations in Culver City and El Segundo and describe themeselves as “sustainable and locally sourced food with a friendly ambiance”.
(Thanks Carol!)
Last month I told you about hip lifestyle brand Cotti Coffee moving into a space on Lincoln Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica. The brand’s second Santa Monica location will be located at 1353 Third St Promenade. Cotti Coffi began in China in 2022 and has quickly risen to a presence in “33 countries with 18,000+ stores, [and is] ranked 3rd globally.” The menu offers innovative drinks, light meals, and merch.
There’s a new healthy option moving into 4325 Glencoe Ave Unit C1, in the Marina Marketplace shopping center. Organic Planet Deli has their signs up and they look close to opening. I couldn’t find a lot of information on the new deli, so if you know more, let me know…
It looks like a new South Asian concept is coming to Santa Monica. There’s a window poster up on the old Tumbi space at 115 Santa Monica Blvd. announcing the arrival of Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen. With two other SoCal locations and a Michelin nod, Khan Saab is a “bold, modern expression of South Asian cuisine” and offers a menu that is 100% halal, including a craft non-alcoholic bar. Expect steak, kabobs, a wide selection of curries, biryani, and street eats. Read more about this exciting new eatery, including the backstory of the chef and his association with the previous tenant Tumbi, here.
With the depressingly high number of vacant storefronts in Downtown Santa Monica, one glimmer of hope is that there appears to be a number of new eateries moving in. There is a small Coastal Commission pending application on the front of 1403 Third St. Promenade that gives us the name of Mezemex Mexican Grill as one of these new eateries. This space was previously the longtime home of a branch of Wetzel’s Pretzels. I can’t find much information on this business, so if you have info, let us know.
Two hotly anticipated new Santa Monica eateries are ready to throw open their doors. There’s a sandwich board outside of the new Downtown Santa Monica branch of crazy/popular poultry purveyor Raising Cane’s announcing their June 10 opening at the corner of Third St. and Santa Monica Blvd. And a window poster over on the new Montana Ave location of The Win-Dow gives the opening date as Tuesday, June 9. The Win-Dow has a full opening week of activities including free double cheeseburgers (with purchase) on opening day. You’re welcome.
Update: The flashing new Westwood branch of Raising Cane’s is scheduled to open June 29.
People have been asking me what was going on in the old Pita Bar + Grill space at 1168 S Barrington (corner of Wilshire) in Los Angeles. There has been a lot of noticeable activity at the location. Recently, small window notices went up with pictures of Vietnamese dishes and a name: Vue Ve. Vue Ve has locations in Little Tokyo and NoHo and boasts a broad menu of “classic Vietnamese dishes at a great price”.
Toddrickallen 