Innovative coffee purveyor Go Get Em Tiger has abruptly closed its location at 930 Montana Ave in Santa Monica on Tuesday. Santa Monica’s other location on Main St. closed a while ago. GGET opened this location in 2022 with much excitement and an extended menu. I’m not sure what is happening with the chain, but their Culver City location, as well as other locations east of here are still open.
(Thanks Steve!)
In a town packed with powerhouse restaurants, quiet little Sushi Kiyono has been happily serving devoted locals for 27 years at 255 S Beverly Blvd. Sadly, that is about to come to an end. A gracious note on the front door cites retirement and says that the final day of service will be this Saturday November 22. The note also welcomes their replacement: The Brothers Sushi. An ABC application on the front confirms it. With locations in Woodland Hills, Santa Monica, and Culver City, The Brothers Sushi is the much lauded and wildly popular “high-end” sushi spot that offers seasonal “Omakase Chefs courses or Ala Carte options”.
It appears that after 10 years, smoked fish experts Wexler’s Deli have closed up shop at 616 Santa Monica Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica. This is not the end: A gracious note on the front door explains that they are pivoting to a wholesale business and you will soon be able to find their proprietary lox at hotels and restaurants. In other exciting news, the note also explains that “Sichuan Superette” Suá, will be taking over the space. If you haven’t had a chance to visit their charming Larchmont location, you can expect delightful hand-stirred matcha and coffee drinks, organic Sichuan grab-and-go, Asian snacks, and carefully curated pantry and home goods.
This is surprising news… Readers are writing to tell me that classic white tablecloth destination restaurant Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse has closed up shop in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. The signs have been pulled down and the space has been boarded over. This leaves a cavernous hole in the fine dining scene at the tony mall. I’ll keep watching to see what may develop.
Sad news from Brentwood. A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Nicole!) wrote to tell me that the neighborhood’s fave go-to for “Cali-Mex cuisine”, Casa de Campo, has closed up shop at 147 S Barrington Ave. Not sure what happened, but I’ll keep my eye on the space to see what may develop.
Update: It appears this location will soon be another location of beloved burger chain For The Win. (Thanks Corie!)
It was back in October of 2022 when I told you that national plant-based chain Planta was opening a gorgeous location in the old Pizzicotto and Kreation spaces at 11758 and 11754 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. Sadly, it appears that Planta has pulled up stakes at the address. A gracious note on the door doesn’t give a reason, and it directs fans of plant-based to Planta Cocina in The Marina. I’ll keep an eye on the space to see what may develop.
A reader found out more information here.
A concerned reader messaged me about some prominent closures along Culver Blvd. in Downtown Culver City. Chipotle, Sweet Lily, Shake Shack have vacated their respective locations. Janga by Derrick’s is also gone. Not sure what happened (except for Shake Shack, which you can read about here), but their disappearance leaves some gaping holes in a normally busy dining scene.
(Thaks Mitch!)
I first caught wind a New York-based “high-quality mochi ice cream” shop was opening its first West Coast location back in May of 2023. It took a long time (this is Santa Monica after all), but Mochidoki finally threw open their doors at 1133 Montana Ave in August of last year. Sadly, after a little more than a year, it appears Mochidoki has closed up shop at this location. If you’ve become a fan, you can still find their icy treats at the locations listed s on the poster below.
The two second floor restaurants in Brentwood Gardens Plaza, at 11677 San Vicente Blvd, have always been a bit problematic. I’ve long wondered if perhaps it is due to the fact that they’re not street-level. The space currently operated by Ospi has been through a number of excellent iterations over the years. But the other space has been home to California Pizza Kitchen for a very long time. Sadly, that chapter has come to a close. Readers have been letting me know that CPK has vacated the space. While there are still many locations around, this location was dear for many as it was their first encounter with the revolutionary California Cuisine brand that invented “The Original BBQ Chicken Pizza“.
Readers were sending me news of recent closures in Westwood Village, so I went by to have a look. Sure enough, after five and a half years, Tocaya Organica has decamped from their commodious location at 1140 Gayley Ave. Also recently disappeared is Pressed Juicery from their address at 10878 Kinross Ave. I’ll keep my eye on the spaces to see what may develop…
This caught me by surprise, but I’ve been hearing rumors portending this for quite a while. Sadly, after an extensive build-out that culminated in a triumphant return to Santa Monica, Osteria Del Fornaio has closed its doors at 401 Wilshire Blvd. Ste 140. People were genuinely excited when they opened only back in April of 2022, with a bright fresh look and a popular happy hour. I’m not sure what happened, but the space is currently being gutted. I’m told this location is not destined to be empty for long. More rumors are circulating about the new tenant, which I can’t confirm at this time. Watch this space…
I’m hearing from shocked readers that popular local party spot BJ”s Restaurant & Brewhouse has served their last pizza after a 28-year run at 938 Broxton Ave. in Westwood Village. A gracious notice in the window announces the sad news and directs fans to their other locations in Culver City, Glendale, and Burbank. BJ’s closure leaves one sole business left on the west side of this once busy block, Falafel, Inc.
I’ve been covering the story of Santa Monica’s long-suffering food hall, The Gallery at 1315 3rd Street Promenade, for years. It was a Promenade fast food sanctuary for a while, then and upscale destination including David Beran’s Dialogue, and in its last gasp, a ghost kitchen. Now it is empty. A sharp-eyed reader noticed a new ABC application in the window. Sadly, The Gallery will no longer be exclusively a dining destination. Holey Moley, which is an indoor miniature golf concept with a bar is moving in. This will be LA’s first location. Read more about this mysterious newcomer here.
(Thanks Jordan!)
This was certainly a surprise… I’m hearing from shocked readers that Culver City’s branch of classic health food store Co-opportunity Market has disappeared from their location at 8770 Washington Blvd. The Co-op began life in 1974 in Santa Monica, where it continues to exist. This location opened in 2017 and appeared to be tracking a more Erewhon vibe than its old school hippie predecessor. I’m not sure what happened, but I’ll keep watching the space to see what may develop.
(Thanks again, Andrew!)
Sadly, it appears the reign of mint mojito coffee is coming to an end in Downtown Santa Monica. There’s a gracious notice on the front door of the Philz Coffee at 525 Santa Monica Blvd. that states their last day will be April 30, 2024. Not sure what happened to this branch of the Bay Area third wave coffee darling, but if you’re desperate for a cup of minty caffeinated goodness, check out their other locations here.
(Thanks Ely!)
Sadly, after a long run as one of Beverly Hills’ go-to spots for breakfast/lunch, a solid local fave is about to close its doors. Scrawled on the chalkboard that hangs on the front of The Farm of Beverly Hills‘ 439 N. Beverly Drive location are the words, “Thank you for 26 years! March 3rd will be our last day of service“. That means you still have a few days to snag a table and reminisce about all those power lunches from years gone by….
(Thanks Tony!)
The troubled space on the corner of Wilshire and 4th in Downtown Santa Monica has had its share of issues. For a long while, it was a sputtering branch of P.F. Chang’s. That disappeared in 2021. Then a new contender, Lotus Dim Sum Dumpling House, gave the spot a chance and opened about a year and a half ago. Sadly, it now appears they too have given up the ghost. I’ll keep watching to see what may give the commodious location a go.
This is a bit of a surprise… It was back in 2019 when I told you about the new branch of “modern Chinese” chain Chin Chin that opened in the old P.F. Chang space at 2041 Rosecrans in El Segundo. Sadly, they it appears they have already given up the ghost at this location. I’ll keep watching the tricky address to see who’s brave enough to attempt it.
(Thanks A.!)
The space at 1315 Third St. Promenade has had a tumultuous history. In the past, it has been the home of The Gallery Food Hall, and hosted such luminaries as Falafel King, and Dave Beran’s elegant Dialogue, and STRFSH by The Voltaggio Brothers. Hopes were high when ghost kitchen Kitchen United MIX took over the tricky location last year with a fresh spate of eateries. That hope appears to have been dashed on the rocks as evidenced by the note taped to the front door stating that they are “closed until further notice” (and offering some stern bathroom advice). I’ll keep watching to see what’s going on…
Well, I can’t exactly say this was a surprise… While other locations of Mexican party spot Kalaveras are quite popular, Santa Monica’s branch has long struggled to attract crowds. Perhaps this was because of the cursed location (it was previously the doomed home of Belcampo), or its proximity to perennially popular El Cholo across the street. But whatever the reason, Kalaveras has abandoned this location at 1026 Wilshire Blvd. I’ll keep watching the tricky space to see what may develop…
Toddrickallen 