With the new stadiums in Inglewood, the dining scene there is exploding. A reader (Thanks LL!) asked me to pass this along to you: Everyone’s favorite greens purveyor Simply Salad is opening a new location a former Flame Broiler location at 3384 W Century Blvd, in the Century Village Shopping Center in Inglewood. Simply Salad began in 2010 as a customizable and affordable salad concept. They have since spread to nine locations, all in the LA area, making this their tenth.
The corner space at 200 Santa Monica Blvd has gone through a number of changes in recent history. It had been a Coffee Bean, then it was Jinky’s Coffee, and now it will be LA’s first branch of Luke’s Lobster. Luke’s Lobster‘s founder, third-generation lobsterman Luke Holden, opened his first shack in New York in 2009, and has since spread to locations across nine states and Japan. They are on a mission to provide the highest quality sustainable seafood from Maine and Canada and are devoted to coastal communities. Look for a menu of lobster, shrimp, and crab rolls served in “Maine-style shacks”. Definitely exciting news for Downtown Santa Monica.
It appears there’s a new sweet treat shop landing at 11918 Wilshire Blvd in LA. A banner us up announcing the arrival of Black Sugar Boba. It looks like they were aiming for an earlier opening, but their website still promises this location. Look for a menu of high-quality milk tea, matcha, cereal milks, smoothies, slushes, and fruit tea.
It appears that Brentwood is getting a new icy treat shop. The Now (formerly Granville Plaza) development, at 11819 Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles, has been undergoing a remodel for a quite a while now. In space #102, the new tenant will be the first US location of Mimi Ice Cream. According to the website, Mimi Ice Cream was created in Armenia, where they operate 20 locations. They describe themselves as “leaders in the soft-serve ice cream market”. This location will carry 20 flavors, 12 of which will be permanent with 8 rotating flavors. And yes, I’m not kidding, there will be a curious emphasis on pickled vegetables and fruit. Interesting….
After 24 years of dishing one of Westwood’s best NY-style pies from their humble location at 10940 Weyburn Ave, Enzo’s Pizzeria is about to get an expansive new home. There are notices up on the commodious space at 1145 Westwood Blvd, previously home to mysterious java joint Brewin’ Coffee, announcing the news. A spokesperson says there’s no official timeline for the move, but until they’re settled into the new digs, you can still pop by their old location and grab a slice of a Westwood Village classic.
Ever since I first told you about Total Wine & More taking over the old CVS space at 12015 Wilshire Blvd over a year ago, I’ve been peppered with questions about an opening date. It took long enough, but to all those people who asked, I have this happy news. Total Wine & More is now open. You’re welcome.
There’s plywood over one of the spaces in the Food Court of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center announcing the arrival of Gone Bananas Bread. GBB currently has a location in The Original Farmers Market. Read about their story here and check out their menu of proprietary quick bread loaves such as the Big Banana here.
Peripatetic East Coast-themed sandwich shop Jersey Mike’s Subs continues its march across SoCal with a new outpost near the beach. There’s a banner up at 245 S Main St. in Venice announcing the news. Read more at jerseymikes.com.
On a tip from a reader (Thanks Melissa!) I went by the former location of Harujuku Taproom, at 4410 Sepulveda in Culver City, to see what was going on. There’s a lot of construction and a banner on the front announcing the arrival of Gokigen Tori. Gokigen Tori bills itself as “The Yakitori House” and promises an “authentic Japanese grill experience”. You can get an idea of what it will look like when finished on their FB page.
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.
Ever since Marmalade Cafe closed up shop at its longtime location of 710 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica, readers have been demanding answers as to what would take over the space. Construction began quickly and the speculation was wild. I’d been hearing whispers of the incoming tenant, but now we have proof. New York’s celebrated H&H Bagels is taking up residence at this location, as confirmed by their website. H&H began in New York in 1972 and uses the “artisanal water bagel method” that produces results for which fans go crazy and many consider to be the quintessential bagel. They are in the midst of a national expansion, and this will be their first West Coast store.
Many of you have been excitedly writing to let me know of a new pizza option in Westwood Village so I’m sharing the news. Danny Boy’s Famous Original Pizza has recently thrown open their doors at 10889 Lindbrook Dr. Danny Boy’s has another location in DTLA and in addition to NYC-style pies, offers a menu of sandwiches, salads, and (eventually at this location), “grab ‘n’ go cold sandwiches and spaghetti & meatballs”.
The shopping center on the corner of Olympic and Sawtelle has been undergoing renovations for a while now. This opened up the opportunity for new businesses to move in. One of these, Ramen Chikumo, is building out the space at 11301 W Olympic #118. According to the website, Ramen Chikumo was founded in Tokyo a little over a year ago and has two locations in Taipei. Their mission is to “bring happiness and excitement to our customers” with the “best ramen there is”.
It appears the people behind Beverly Hills’ popular sophisticated steakhouse Matū are bringing their passion for exceptional beef to Brentwood. A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Jack!) noticed an ABC application on the front of a former men’s clothing store at 11777 San Vicente Blvd. Ste 134, just to the right of Katsuya. While the application doesn’t give away the business name, the applicant is Grass Fed Wagyu LLC, the parent company behind the stylish steakhouse. The online application does appear to confirm that this will be the location of a new Matū. Construction is underway, so an opening may be a way off, but until then, read about restauranteur Jerry Greenberg‘s (UOVO, SUGARFISH, HiHo Cheeseburger) pursuit of steak perfection here.
Ice Cream people, you’re in luck. A brand-new branch of old school ice cream brand Baskin-Robbins is opening in the strip mall at 11870 Santa Monica Blvd. (near Bundy). Baskin-Robbins began life in 1945 in Glendale offering 31 flavors. It has since spread to over 2,400 US locations, and according to the website, 1,400 flavors are now on offer.
In yet more Italian news…. Window paper is up on the old Cafe Buna space at 552 Washington Blvd. in Marina del Rey informing us that Fratelli Cafe is taking up housekeeping at this address. The “casual upscale cafe” specializes in breakfast and lunch and has another location on Melrose.
(Thanks Trevor!)
A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Michael!) noticed an ABC application on a not-easy-to-spot build-out in Brentwood. It appears to reveal that breezy coffee and casual dining spot Great White is setting up housekeeping at 11660 Darlington Ave, right behind A.O.C. Great White bills itself as an “all day cafe” at its three other choice locations across LA, and offers a menu of breakfast, sandwiches, bowls, share plates, and pizza that you can check out here.
There’s window paper up on the old Sunmerry Bakery spot at 2129 Sawtelle Blvd. in Sawtelle Japantown. It appears to show that a new Izakaya-style restaurant, Tsukiji Gindaco Sakaba, is taking up residence. Also known simply as Gindaco, they have locations in Japan and Gardena and offer what they describe as “Nippon fast food”, perhaps in the form of takoyaki, or fried balls of dough containing octopus.
Imagine my surprise when I looked at an official City website listing changes to Downtown Santa Monica and noticed two names on the list of which I was unaware. The first of these was popular Brazilian carnivore paradise Fogo De Chão. A little more digging revealed a trade website that appears to confirm that the churrasco steakhouse is moving into the old Del Frisco’s Grille location at 1551 Ocean Ave, a prime address facing the iconic Santa Monica Pier. The second surprise on the list is Napa Valley institution Gott’s Roadside. While I have a few suspicions, I am unable to confirm the address for Gott’s. If you have answers, let me know.
It appears a “high-quality meat and seafood” purveyor is moving a location into the cavernous space that previously was a hot yoga studio at 2570 Lincoln Blvd. (corner of Washington) in Venice. Wild Fork has locations across the US and offers a wide selection of products for pick up or delivery. It looks like they’re planning on an August 28 Grand Opening.
(Thanks Jeff!)
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