Category Archives: Closed

Westwood Loses An Iconic Restaurant Space…

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Years ago, if you went to a movie in Westwood (yes, people used to do that), chances are you stopped by Jerry’s Deli beforehand.  Unfortunately, Jerry’s went extinct in Westwood three years ago and the iconic, cavernous space at 10925 Weyburn Ave. has sat empty ever since.  I’ve been watching to see who would finally take down the decrepid for lease sign and breathe new life into an old classic.  Well, signs did come down recently, and sadly, according to the notice of public hearing posted on the front, the old Jerry’s will be a future “financial service center”. 

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Open Oven Pizza Closes In Westwood

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Selling pizza to hungry students in Westwood is like shooting fish in a barrel, but competition is stiff.  Back in 2014, the build-you-own concept Open Oven Pizza opened its doors to the hungry masses at 1131 Westwood Blvd.  While there is no clear indication of closure, it has sat idle for a while and Yelp is declaring it closed, so I’m calling it closed as well.

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Take A Bao Disappears From Century City

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I’ve been carefully watching the bleeding of eateries from the food court of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center.  While I don’t have confirmation, I’m beginning to wonder if the restaurants must leave because of an upcoming renovation to the court to keep it in line with the flashy new mall, set to be unveiled sometime next year.  The latest casualty:  Asian bun and noodle joint Take A Bao recently disappeared.  As always, I’ll keep my eye on things…takeabao

The Hungry Cat Closes In Santa Monica, Closing In Santa Barbara As Well!

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Recently, a reader pointed out to me that Santa Monica’s outlet of David Lentz’s seafood joint, The Hungry Cat appeared to be closed.  When I went by to inspect last week, a note in the window stated that they were closed for renovations (frequently restaurant code for permanently closed).  However, in the past week, a prominent sign announcing restaurant space available went up that lets us know that they have indeed closed.  Any mention of the Santa Monica branch has been scrubbed from the website and Yelp lists it as closed.  But that’s not all:  The website also declares that the Santa Barbara branch will also be shutting down.  They list a number of reasons including; declining business, the current economic climate, and an offer they couldn’t refuse.  They will be open until Christmas. The Hollywood branch will apparently remain open.

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Another One Bites The Dust In Century City…

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We wait with bated breath for the changes that are coming to the Westfield Century City Shopping Center.  And as things dramatically transform in the food scene, yet another eatery falls to the wayside.  It was only just two years ago that I told you that Vietnamese restaurant NiBi Pho Bistro had secured a space in the famously capricious food court.  Plywood recently went up over the space informing us that they have closed.  That leaves only eight eating places left in the court by my count…

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Cozymel’s Gives Up The Ghost In El Segundo

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After a 20 year run in El Segundo, iconic Mexican-themed Cozymel’s Coastal Mex has closed its doors at 2171 Rosecrans Ave.  If you find yourself struggling without their much-lauded guacamole, the popular lunch spot has two sister restaurants in Wheaton, Ill. and Westbury, NY. No word on what may be taking over the sizeable and prominent stone building, but I’ll keep my eye on it.

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Garlo’s Aussie Pie Shop Closes In Westwood Village

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Westwood Village has a notoriously capricious food scene. Only the bravest make a stand here, and not always with the best results.  Sadly, Garlo’s Aussie Pie Shop has thrown in the towel at 1010 Glendon Ave. as evidenced by the for lease sign on the front.  All may not be lost though:  A message on their website states that they are “on the move” and promises big news soon…

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Buca Di Beppo Gives Up The Ghost In Santa Monica

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I recently noticed that after a long run at 1442 2nd St., Santa Monica’s branch of the kitschy old school Italian chain Buca di Beppo has finally pulled up stakes.  I didn’t see this coming and I’m not sure what happened.  I’ll keep my eye on the space to see what the future holds, and in the mean time, if you find yourself craving ginormous portions of red sauce pasta, you can locate one of their other branches here.

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Still More Changes In Century City…

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As we all wait with bated breath for the new Westfield Century City Shopping Center to emerge from the dust of construction, thereby gracing us with an outpost of mythic Eataly and 15 promised new restaurants, the troubled food court continues to lose inhabitants.  Recently, the short-lived branch of quirky Korean pizza giant Mr. Pizza disappeared, as did Fatburger just to its left.  By my count, that leaves 5 vacancies…

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Osteria Bigoli Taking Over The Vincenzo Space On Montana Ave.

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I’ve long heard whispers that a change was coming to secret celeb hideaway Vincenzo Ristorante Italiano, that has inhabited the small space at 714 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. Apparently, hard-working and gregarious Chef Vincenzo Nicoletta has decided it’s time to move on.  Recently plywood has covered the front, and a change of ownership ABC license application is letting us know that the name of the new restaurant will be Osteria Bigoli.  Tortano LLC and the name on the application indicate that perhaps Osteria Bigoli will have some relationship with a restaurant in Covina called Osteria Pane e Vino.  In the mean time, Vincenzo remains open.  I’ll keep following this for more details.

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Pizza Antica Closes After Labor Day In SMP

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Sadly, the sputtering food scene that is the third floor of Santa Monica Place is about to produce another casualty.  According to a spokesperson, after a 6 year run, Pizza Antica will permanently shut down the ovens the day after Labor Day, September 5th.  (That means your last day for the Tuesday half-priced wine deal will be August 30th.)  No word on what may take its place, and if you’ve grown fond of their seasonal salads and crispy pies, you’ll have to travel a bit as all their other locations are in the Bay Area.

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Barbacoa Mexican Grill Disappears From Westwood

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It takes a great deal of courage to open a restaurant in capricious Westwood Village.  Eateries come and go faster than you can find a parking space.  Sadly, it appears that Barbacoa Mexican Grill has thrown in the towel and vacated its space at 1030 Glendon Ave. No word on a replacement, and if you’ve developed a craving for their healthy brand of Mexican fare, you might have to drive a while as most of their other locations are in Utah.

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Rawberri Not Coming To BH Soon…

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Back in August, I noticed that the windows of an erstwhile hair salon at 412 N. Bedford in Beverly Hills had been papered over with announcements that superfood bowl specialists Rawberri would soon be inhabiting the space.  Well, something must have fallen trough…  Recently, the announcements came down and a for lease sign went up.  Apparently the space is again leased.  I’ve no idea what may be coming, but I’ll keep watching.

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O Tempora O Mores! Pressed Juicery Replaces Pinkberry In Brentwood

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Could this be a sign of the times?  Cast your memory back to a simpler age, when frozen yogurt was king and Pinkberry its crowned prince.  Things seem to have changed somewhat.  I just noticed that the branch of Pinkberry at 11711 Gorham Ave. in Brentwood has closed its doors, only to be replaced by a branch of uberhealthy Pressed Juicery.  Now that’s gotta hurt…

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McDonald’s Disappears From The Third Street Promenade

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After a long and thorough remodel, the food court at 1315 Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica otherwise known as The Gallery, finally reopened earlier this year and began to sputter back to life.  However, there appears to be a challenge to its triumphant return:  After reopening recently, McDonald’s, long the corner-stone of The Gallery, has mysteriously disappeared.  This leaves only Subway currently open, but there does seem to be a great deal of activity in some of the other stalls.  I’ll keep watching.

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Santa Monica Loses A Restaurant Space…

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It was only a month ago that I told you about the closure of miscreant watering hole The Commons Ale House at 129 Broadway in Downtown Santa Monica.  I had been hoping that there would soon be an indication of a new eatery or bar moving into the already kitted out space, joining the mini restaurant row of other establishments that dot Broadway from Ocean to 3rd.  But sadly this is not the case. A lonely paper has replaced the pithy closure notice that previously hung on the front door indicating that what will be replacing the Ale House will be… a shoe store.  [sigh]

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