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…
Ever since the tragic demise of Santa Monica’s beloved branch of Border Grill, I’ve kept a careful watch on the space at 1445 4th St. I’ve been hearing whispers, and a design review mentioned something called Publique, but I couldn’t get confirmation. But then late last week the for lease signs came down, and an ABC application was posted on the front informing us the Le Zinc Bar (Zinqué) will be opening a restaurant called Publique. You can check out the design review, including plans for an open air patio, and an artist’s rendering here.
Back in February, I told you about the closure of Romano’s Macaroni Grill at 2321 Rosecrans Ave. in El Segundo. Since then, construction has been fast and furious on a brand new restaurant. According to the ABC license posted out front, something called Kona Sushi will soon inhabit the cavernous space.
It takes a brave eatery to give it a go in the sputtering food scene that is Santa Monica Place. Apparently Westside Pavilion’s Z Pastabar believes it has what it takes. They are moving into the last open space in the food court. But that’s not all: The courageous carb purveyor is moving into the new Westfield Century City Shopping Center, and is opening locations across LA according to their website. As a grand opening promotion, the upcoming Santa Monica location is giving away free food if you download their app.
Sadly, “contemporary macrobiotic” food source The Market at M Café has quietly closed down its location at 11678 San Vicente Blvd. in competitive Brentwood. But all is not lost: The notice on the door lets us know that they have a new location at 1800 Highland in addition to their other two locations and are looking to expand further. I’ll keep my eye on the space to see what develops…
Edouardo Baldi, Chef/owner of popular Industry power spot e. baldi in Beverly Hills has quietly launched a new take away joint directly behind his eponymous restaurant on Canon Dr. Simply titled Edo, the coffee bar recently slipped into the unassuming space at 9406 Brighton Way. On offer are an array of pizzette, focaccine, crostine, desserts, and other Italian faves.
I’ve been watching the space that used to house Orchard Flats Juicery at 705 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica to see what would move in. Signs are now up confirming that branch of Burbank’s Rawkin Juice will be moving in. Rawkin Juice was recently purchased by Miami’s Hip Cuisine, which intends on expanding the mini chain. If you check out their Facebook page, you can see they’ve had designs on the Santa Monica location for a while. Popular with the studio/star set, look for a menu of raw/vegan/cold-pressed/organic/you get the picture…
A great many of you have been carefully checking for information ever since I first told you about Santa Monica’s upcoming branch of North Italia, taking over the erstwhile Buca Di Beppo space at 1442 2nd St. in Downtown Santa Monica. You’ll be pleased to know that according to the notice on the door, North Italia will officially throw open its doors on May 30th. We wish them the best of luck.
It appears that popular expanding fish bowl chain Mainland Poke has secured their location in Beverly Hills. Paper covering the windows at 130 S. Beverly Dr., right next to Blue Bottle Coffee, is announcing their impending arrival. And according to Eater, this branch will be serving beer and wine.
It was back in February that I first noticed the plywood covering the old Seaside Grill space at 109 Broadway in Downtown Santa Monica. I was lucky enough to run into the owner, Marc Moubarak, who informed me that the name of the new restaurant was going to be Air Food, and the menu would be French. Air Food will officially open its doors on Wednesday, May 24th. Last Saturday night, I had an opportunity to have a look around during Air Food’s “VIP soft opening celebration”. The menu, designed by Chef Thierry, was still being finalized, but what was on offer on Saturday was decidedly French with some Asian influences. Scroll down on their Yelp page to read more information about the promising new restaurant. We wish them the best of luck.
It wasn’t that long ago that I told you about a branch of the rapidly expanding build-your-own Mediterranean restaurant Cava Grill was going to land in Downtown Santa Monica. Now they’re ready to open. And to celebrate, they’re giving away free lunches this Tuesday (5/23) from 12pm to 2pm at their new 1318 2nd Street location. Thank you Cava Grill!
Back in 2010, I first noticed that a new eatery was landing in the space at 11906 W. Wilshire Blvd in LA. Sadly, after an almost 7 year run, Layla Café has pulled up stakes. And what’s on the horizon? A sign in the window informs us that something called Marsa will soon be making itself at home. Not much information out there yet on Marsa, but the notice in the window promises us “Mediterranean cuisine”.
Santa Monica’s popular purveyor of all things salad appears to be moving to a bigger location. There’s a sign up on the empty space at 912 Montana indicating that Greens Up! is vacating their old diminutive space near the corner of 7th and Montana and taking over the larger locale. And while the sign says “coming soon”, don’t expect the change to be overnight: I was told the move could take up to a year…
Thanks to a tip from a reader, I went to check out what’s happening on the corner of Pico and Lincoln in Santa Monica. A banner is up announcing that something called Nico’s Tacos is moving into the space at 801 Pico #5 that used to be home to a branch of Domino’s Pizza. There’s not much out there yet on Nico’s Tacos, but as always, I’ll keep watching…
Following up on a tip from a reader (Thanks Jeremy!), I went to check out what was going on in the old Open Oven Pizza location at 1131 Westwood Blvd. in Westwood. I declared Open Oven closed last year, but was later told that the owners were working on a new concept. That appears to have changed, as ‘now hiring’ signs are up on the front declaring that the sunny purveyors of milk tea/boba/juice/snacks Lollicup Fresh are intending on making themselves right at home in the space.
A bit ago, I told you about the for lease sign pasted on the front of A Real Treat Candy Boutique at 2724 Main in Santa Monica portending doom for the natural confectionary. Wasting no time, it appears that Simples has moved in. And what precisely is Simples? “A line of hand prepared, plant based tonics” that you can read more about here.
I recently came across ‘now hiring’ notices posted on the papered-over windows of the erstwhile ShopHouse locations at 1401 3rd St. Promenade in Santa Monica and at 1059 Broxton Ave. in Westwood. The notices announce that both locations will be brand spanking new branches of Korean food chain Bibibop Asian Grill, headquartered in Columbus Ohio. According to LABJ, they intend on taking over all the old ShopHouse locations, including The Point in El Segundo, and West Hollywood’s branch as well.
I recently noticed the papered-over windows on the space at 9632 S. Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills, just to the right of Le Pain Quotidien, announcing yet another juice store arriving soon… Except, it isn’t just another juice store. It’s an outpost of übercool international lifestyle/juice brand Joe & The Juice. Hailing from Denmark, the brand is apparently known for hiring hunky guys and promoting “bro culture” (at least according to Business Insider, and trust me, you’re gonna want to read this article).
Neighborhood hangout spot N.Y.&C. Pizzeria & Bar appears to have closed at 1120 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica. Paper covers the windows and the signs are coming down, though here does seem to be a lot of activity behind the paper. I’ll keep watching to see what develops…
Toddrickallen 