Back in November of last year, I noticed that a branch of “fast fire’d” build-your-own pizza restaurant Blaze Pizza was moving into the spot that used to house Qdoba at 5221 Rosecrans Ave. in Hawthorne (just to the west of the 405). Well, Blaze will throw open its doors today (Thursday March 3rd). And to top it off, on Friday (March 4th), if you follow them on social media, you get a free pizza from 11am until 10pm.
Almost two years ago, I told you about the proposed renovation of the dusty old food court at 1315 Third Street Promenade. Well, it has taken them long enough, but the flashy new Gallery food hall is now open. But don’t get yours hope up yet. Only McDonald’s has reopened and Subway is expected to soon as well, but other than that, nothing else has moved in yet.
It’s been a week of juice news. I recently noticed that Santa Monica’s branch of healthy drink provider Orchard Flats Cold Pressed Juicery has closed its doors at 705 Montana Ave. And their other locations in Burbank, Studio City, La Canada Flintridge, and on Melrose have closed as well, according to Yelp. So it looks like this is the end of yet another juice shop. Could this be a trend? Hmmm…
In more juice news… It was only last year that I noticed that “never conventional” juice company Juice Served Here was heading to the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. After pouring healthy libations from their diminutive first floor location in the center of the mall for a little under a year, JSH has moved to a flashy new prominent location in the food court. The move was probably due to the fact that most of the mall has now closed in order to make way for the glitzy new 2.0 version of the popular shopping destination arriving sometime next year.
The space at 368 N. Camden in Beverly Hills can’t seem to hold on to a tenant. The latest casualty was the US’s promising first branch of Canadian smoothie and juice company Liquid Nutrition, which opened in November of 2014. I’ll keep my eye on the space to see who will be the next to roll the dice…
Recently, I told you about the closure of longtime resident Euro Caffe at 9559 S. Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills. An ABC application posted on the front door indicates that the replacement restaurant will be a suspiciously similar-named Oro Caffe, about which I can find little information. But as it turns out, there’s more to the story. Euro Caffe isn’t riding off into the sunset. It appears to be relocating to The Courtyard at 427 N. Canon Dr. I’ll keep watching both locations for more news…
Sadly, I’ve yet another closure to report. Purveyor of sugary treats Beverly Hills Brownie Company has iced its last blondie at 315 N. Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills. The for lease sign in the window indicates that they haven’t lined up a new tenant quite yet.
It looks like a sleek new coffee purveyor is coming soon to the space at 100-A S. Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills. The papered-over windows inform us that the new coffee shop will be an outpost of La Colombe Coffee Roasters. Originally hailing from Philadelphia and founded by Todd Carmichael and Jean Philippe Iberti, La Colombe has been spreading its message that “America deserves better coffee” across the East Coast and Chicago areas for 20 years. Read more about the philanthropic and committed company here.
2016 is turning out to be a rough year for restaurant closures. The latest? While there’s no hard evidence except a disconnected phone line, it appears obvious that one of Santa Monica’s long-standing fixtures, George’s Bistro has unceremoniously closed its doors at 1321 Third Street Promenade. The windows are papered over and the furniture has been removed. There’s no word on a replacement, but I’ll keep watch.
It looks like after 21 years of supplying the good folks of Beverly Hills with carbohydrates and cleverly flavored cream cheeses, St. Urbain Street Bagels has closed its doors at 451 N. Beverly Dr. A sad note taped to the front door thanks customers for support and reminds them that they have another location on W. Olympic Blvd. Windows are papered over, but there’s no indication of what may be replacing it so I’ll keep watching.
On a tip from a reader (thanks DS!) I went to check out what was going on in the old La Cachette Bistro space at 1733 Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica. An ABC application posted in the window informs us that the space, which has long sat vacant, will soon be inhabited by a branch of Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern. It looks like they’ve got a way to go and there’s no word on an opening date, but until then, you can read more about the mini-chain here.
I don’t know what is going on with that particular block of Beverly Hills, but this is the third restaurant closure in recent months. It appears that long-time resident Euro Caffe, at 9559 S. Santa Monica Blvd. has closed its doors. The place is gutted and the windows are papered over. And while there’s no indication anywhere that it actually has closed (not even Yelp users have reported it closed yet), the “for lease” sign in the window is a fairly good indication that it ain’t coming back…
It looks like a brand new free-standing branch of hometown coffee chain Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is being built on the corner of Overland and National Blvd. in Palms. And it looks like there’s still room on the southeast corner lot to accommodate another restaurant as well. As always, I’ll keep my eye on it…
Back in 2013, I noticed a new yogurt shop had opened on Bedford Dr. in Beverly Hills. Since then, Go Greek Yogurteria has opened two more locations and has two more on the way. One is coming to Corona Del Mar, and the other is set to land in Santa Monica. Signs are up in the window of what must be a very choice location at 1431 Ocean Ave. (in the Pacific Plaza building) indicating that creamy treat shop is on the way. Go Greek offers a menu of frozen and fresh Greek yogurt with toppings or in combination bowls that you can read more about here.
Well, I didn’t see this coming… According to signs posted on the door, perpetually busy and cheekily-named Pink Taco has closed its doors on the second floor of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. I’ve no idea what will take over the space and popular outdoor patio facing Santa Monica Blvd. With all the new construction and upcoming promised eateries, the mall will be barely recognizable sometime next year. I’ll keep you posted…
After over 40 years at 11916 Wilshire Blvd. in West Los Angeles, dusty landmark pizzeria Divita’s has closed its ancient doors. Wasting now time whatsoever, it appears a new tenant is moving in. The windows are papered over with quotes about wine from famous people and posted on the door is this mysterious message, “Coming Soon: Your new local and independent restaurant and wine bar”. The note is signed Vincent & Chase. I’m not sure if that’s the name of the new establishment or just the names of the proprietors. I guess we’ll have to wait and see…
And the restaurants keep coming to Playa Vista… Sandwich chain Panini Café is now open in The Runway shopping area, right across the way from the recently unveiled Sol Cocina at 12751 W. Millennium. Read more and check out their Mediterranean/Italian menu here.
I guess we haven’t seen the end of the whole frozen yogurt thing quite yet… Shops continue to pop up like weeds. The latest? It looks like the newly remodeled shopping center on the southwest corner of Lincoln Blvd. and Pico in Santa Monica is about to get its very own Yogurtland soon.
Back in October, I did a little digging to find out what was going on with Sol Cocina, which had promised a Spring 2015 opening but was nowhere to be seen. A great many of you have been carefully following this story, so here’s welcome news: Playa Vista’s branch of mini-chain Sol Mexican Cocina finally threw open its doors yesterday (Tuesday January 19th) in a big and spacious location with a wrap-around patio on the corner of Millennium and Town Center Dr. in The Runway. Look for a menu of innovative classic Baja dishes designed by Sol’s Executive Chef and cookbook author Deborah Schnieder.
I recently noticed a lot of activity in the space that used to house Italian coffee shop Spazio Caffe at 245 S. Main St. in Venice. As it turns out, the store is being readied for its new inhabitant, none other than Kippy’s! ice cream shop. They’ll be closing their current location at 326 Lincoln Blvd. by Friday January 22nd. And it looks like they’re hoping to start peddling their organic, non-dairy “scoops of happiness” by the end of January or early February in their new location.
Toddrickallen 