It was almost three years ago that I first noticed that a branch of Caffe Primo was intending on moving into the corner space at 7th and Arizona in Downtown Santa Monica, across the street from wildly popular Cassia. But all that appears to have changed. Recently, all the window announcements were pulled down, and a for lease sign has gone up on the vacant space. It looks like the West Hollywood location is gone as well. I’m not sure what happened, but I’ll keep watching to see what develops.
A solid year ago, I told you about a new French pastry shop moving into a corner space on Montana Ave. in Santa Monica that used to house French fragrance folks L’Occitane. I’m not sure what took so long, but Le Macaron is now open and offering sublime creative confections from their charming spot at 1301 Montana Ave. With locations throughout the US, this is the first LA area shop for the Florida based chain. Besides macarons, look for a selection of pastries, breads, chocolates, and coffees.
Bowls, those complicated combinations of über-healthy ingredients commingling in a container, remain hot commodities. The latest to try their hand at attracting the attention of the yoga set in Downtown Santa Monica is Backyard Bowls. With a smattering of locations across Santa Barbara and LA, they look fairly close to opening at 1317A 7th St. Expect a menu of açaí bowls, smoothies, hot porridges, and toasts, that you can read more about here.
I’d thought we’d seen a slow down in the poke phenomena that has descended upon us in recent years, but apparently not. Another contender is vying for our attention in Santa Monica. Signs are up on the space that once was occupied by Rita’s Frozen Custard, at 2307 Main St., announcing that self-described “King of Poke” PoKing will soon be moving in.
Because so many of you are tracking the progress of the developing Westfield Century City Shopping Center, I’m giving you the details as I encounter them. The latest? The food court has expanded its floor space by a great deal. I know it’s hard to tell from these photos, but a new glass wall has been built creating increased floor space. If you look at the first photo, what you’re looking at is the erstwhile news stand that stood in the outdoor area across from the former Coral Tree Express ( on the far right of the photo). You can see that the area is now enclosed. The second photo is standing where the old doors used to be and looking toward Meizhou Dongpo, that is now just outside the new entrance. What’s going to occupy all this extra space? I guess we’ll have to wait and see…
When Govind Armstrong’s southern-inflected hot spot Willie Jane disappeared at 1031 Abbot Kinney in Venice, it caused a great deal of hoopla. Known for its popular biscuits, it closed up shop abruptly back in December. But something new is coming to the space. And according to the recently posted ABC change of ownership application, the new restaurant is named as Willie Jane as well, although this doesn’t necessarily indicate the final name of the new eatery. A name listed on the application is one long associated with Abbot Kinney, Dan Abrams. I don’t have much information on this, but if you’re curious, here’s a place to start looking…
Is competition in the food scene getting too stiff in the El Segundo area? New multi-use complexes are popping up right and left. There’s the developing Elevon project, Apollo Landing, and Manhattan Village is getting a much-needed redo. But there are signs that things are wearing thin. Many empty spaces still sit in the newish The Point. And older shopping centers are beginning to bleed tenants. Plaza El Segundo has had a number of vacant storefronts for a while. Recently, customized burger joint The Counter pulled up stakes there. Courageous expanding Indian restaurant chain Samosa House has settled in and is giving it a go, making this their fifth location. We wish them the best of luck.
Just in time for a hot summer… Since I first told you about indications of a new icy treat shop moving into the commodious space at 11813 W. Santa Monica Blvd. in LA, a great many of you have been following its progress. Helados La Michoacana has recently thrown open its doors for business. A cursory peek inside reveals what looks like miles of wrap-around freezer counters loaded with every imaginable ice cream, frozen pop, and juice.
It’s often been said that when God closes a frozen yogurt joint, he opens a fast food pasta restaurant… Here are the latest changes to the stumbling Santa Monica Place food scene. Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt has closed up shop just outside the food court. And plucky contender Z Pastabar has opened inside the food court, which is now completely occupied.
Along Wilshire Blvd. In Santa Monica, drive-through fast food is a rarity. And it got even rarer when Jack In The Box closed down at 2423 Wilshire. But fear not time-pressed commuters! The building will eventually be converted into a Del Taco according to the design review notice posted in the window.
A sad day for Indian food on the Westside… Longstanding Santa Monica institution Nawab of India has vacated its cavernous space at 1621 Wilshire Blvd. I’ll keep watching to see what develops.
It wasn’t that long ago that I told you about the closure of N.Y.&C. Pizzeria at 1120 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica. Wasting no time whatsoever, it looks like a new contender has taken over the spot. Rock’n Pies Pizza Co. is currently in soft opening for lunch, with the eventual goals of an expanded menu, late-night delivery, and beer and wine.
What was once a very quiet section of Downtown Santa Monica is quickly transforming into a restaurant destination. Just to the right of Cava and the upcoming HiHo, at 1320 2nd St. Suite A, a brand new handmade pasta joint calling itself Uovo Pasta will soon be joining the list. And it looks like they’re fairly close to opening…
Santa Monica Yacht Club closed its doors at 820 Santa Monica Blvd. a bit ago so Andrew Kirschner could focus his attention on Tar & Roses, his other restaurant a block away, at least according to the notice taped to the front door. Recently however, an ABC ownership change application has appeared and names the new restaurant as… Santa Monica Yacht Club. If you examine the application online, you can see that a familiar name is listed as an officer: Nyesha Arrington, who left Leona in Venice back in February to pursue other projects.
In a push to make banking more friendly, financial giant Capital One has been opening community cafés across the country. And now Santa Monica looks like their next target. Going into a brand new building on the corner of 4th and Broadway in Downtown Santa Monica, on what used to be an unsightly parking lot, the new Capital One Café will offer Peet’s beverages and “local pastry” in addition to internet and banking services.
“Modern Organic Mexican” restaurant Tocaya Organica continues its inexorable march toward world domination. The latest evidence? The rapidly expanding chain has landed a spot at 1140 Gayley Ave. in Westwood.
Late last year, Eater gave us information about Artisanal Brewers Collective’s take over the iconic Yamato space at 1099 Westwood Blvd. It appears that plans are going forward, as late last week, an ABC license application was pasted to the front confirming just that. And the name of the new craft beer establishment? It is listed on the application as Broxton.
Sadly, it appears that quotidian sandwich shop Capriotti’s has quietly slipped out of their Golden Triangle location at 9683 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills. Signs have come down and the space is gutted. I’ll keep watching to see what might move in.
Hey, I get it… A great many of you are riveted by the transformation of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center and are constantly checking for updates. I’m eagerly watching as well. This is what the food court looks like right now…
In oenophile news… You could be forgiven if you didn’t expect to see an ABC license application posted to the front of one of the big flashy storefronts on tony Rodeo Dr. in Beverly Hills. Yet there one is taped to the door at 408 Rodeo, a cavernous space that used to house luxury porcelain maker Lladró . The location has sat empty for a while, but according to the application, it will soon be the SoCal home of Napa Valley’s St. Supery Winery. The license application is a “02 Winegrower“, which means a non-retail type, so I’m not certain what’s going on here. I guess we’ll just have to keep watching…
Toddrickallen 