Long-standing purveyors of Middle Eastern food, Falafel King has closed its doors in the tired and dated food court in the Third Street Promenade between Arizona and Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica (1315 3rd St. Promenade). In other news, the food court may not be so tired and dated for long… A new sign has gone up promising a much-needed redo to the space.
Construction is underway and an ABC application is posted on what will become a new restaurant, The Detour at 12473 Washington Blvd. in Culver City, right next to The Corner Door. While there isn’t a lot of information out there yet and no word on an opening date, you can read more about the parent company, Great Dane Catering and Events here.
Paper has covered the windows and an ABC application is posted in the window of what will soon be a brand new “eating place”, Hunt + Gather going into the revamped but long-vacant space at 507 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 102 in Downtown Santa Monica. There’s not much that I can seem to track down on this place yet but I’ll keep watching…
Back in January, I told you about the notices in the window announcing the development of the vacant star-crossed Fraiche space at 312 Wilshire Blvd. into an outpost of iPad-friendly, customizable restaurant chain Stacked: Food Well Built. Well, it appears that things may have changed… The Stacked announcements and permits have all been taken down and the “For Lease” signs are once again prominent. This isn’t the first time this has happened. Last year, the space became available after plans for a mysterious Chinese restaurant fell through. Could it be bad feng shui?
Back in December, signs went up on the space at 2161B El Segundo Blvd. next to Farmer Boys in the old fire station announcing an outpost of Long Beach’s Toppings Custom Fired Pizza. Looks like things have changed. Instead, a brand new venture The Ugly Pie Company is taking over the space. This will be their first restaurant with their eyes on eventual expansion. Look for a menu of custom pizza ready in 90 seconds, salads, Lavazza Coffee, and eventually beer and wine. They are shooting for an April 1st opening and you can check out a YouTube video explaining the company here.
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Signs recently went up in the papered-over window of the space that used to house Jewels by Kurt at 408 Wilshire Blvd. announcing a brand-new venture is taking over, Goji Juice + Vitamins. Can’t seem to find much out there yet on this place, but the window announcement promises a menu of “organic, fresh squeezed juices and smoothies, healthy food, supplements, and more.” As always, I’ll keep watching…
Added bonus for dedicated readers: Normally I take great pains to make sure there are no traces of me in my photos, but by carefully studying the admittedly grainy photo taken late last night, you can tell that apparently I raise my left little finger while photographing…
Long-standing Indian restaurant Gate of India at 115 Santa Monica Blvd. has closed down and appears to be a total mess inside due to a recent February fire, according to the Santa Monica Mirror. In a further stroke of bad luck, the City of Santa Monica has closed the building due to structural damage and has posted on the door a “limited entry” notice making it a misdemeanor to occupy the building. Next-door neighbors Stout and Bar Pintxo remain open. No word on if they plan on re-opening but I’ll keep my eye on it…
It was only about two years ago that 360 Café opened next to the Jose Eber Salon at 360 N. Camden in Beverly Hills. The diminutive coffee shop recently closed down and is getting a redo as well as a new name: Nespa Cafe. Look for an opening in “about 10 days”, according to staff.
Back in November of last year, I told you about the legal problems going on at the space that used to house defunct sports bar South at 3001 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica. Earlier in 2013, it was reported that the space was to give way to a new restaurant, The Huntley Kitchen & Bar. Well, apparently plans have fallen through. Signs went up last week announcing that the space is once again back up for lease. As always, I’ll keep my eye on it…
Construction is underway and an ABC application recently went up on the corner space at 2827 Pico Blvd. (corner of Yorkshire) in Santa Monica that used to house ill-fated The Joker dive bar announcing an upcoming new venture, Brixton Restaurant. Not much information out there yet and no known opening date, but I’ll keep my eye on it…
There has been a lot of confusion over much-beloved neighborhood haunt Babalu on the corner of 10th and Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. Indeed, Carmen Miranda’s smiling face has been gazing down on traffic from their sign for 27 years. Locals have been wildly speculating about recent odd hours and closures, but now it’s final: Babalu is officially closed. After a quick redo to replace tropical kitch with a cool industrial vibe, a new venture, Art’s Table has moved in and is now open. Brought to you by businessman, restaurateur, and owner of Westside Rentals Mark Verge, his latest offers a menu of burgers, salads, and sandwiches in a cozy neutral setting. Read Babalu’s parting message here.
The 35th anniversary of Food Fare takes place this Thursday, March 6th at Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport. Benefitting Planned Parenthood, the event began in 1979 with a cooking demo from Julia Child. This year’s Food Fare honors Celestino Drago as Chef of the Year and includes an auction and offerings from over 100 participants such as Chi Spacca, Craft, Border Grill, Salt’s Cure, Lucques, and Kreation. Read more and purchase tickets here.
Way back in August 2012, I first noticed that signs had gone up announcing a new frozen yogurt shop going into the building on the corner of Centinela and Washington Place. Since then, locals have waited, and waited, and waited… Well, the wait is over. After a mysteriously long time, the Culver City location of self-serve frozen yogurt chain Cherry On Top is finally open. Read more here.
Here’s welcome news if you’ve been tortured by the thought of having to walk more than a block for fresh juice anywhere on the Westside: The new Groundwork on the corner of 16th and Montana Ave. in Santa Monica now carries a range of cold-pressed juices from rapidly expanding Pressed Juicery.
Back in October, I told you about a sign that went up on a storefront in a strip mall at 12201 Santa Monica Blvd. in West LA announcing Another Burger Joint: Carnivores and Vegetarians Welcome. Well, as you can see from the photo, it looks like they’ve settled on a name: Quicksand and they’re shooting for a March 4th opening. Until then, read more about them and check out their menu here.
It took a bit longer than the December projected opening, but diminutive coffee shop Comoncy recently opened in the old Boule space at 413 N. Bedford in Beverly Hills. Brought to you by the people at Coral Tree Cafe, Comoncy (which according to the website mean “coming together and sharing” in case you’re wondering) offers a menu of coffee, pastries, salads, and sandwiches that you can read more about here.
The controversial Starbucks on the corner of 11th and Wilshire in Santa Monica opened for business today. And while the opening of a new Starbucks isn’t exactly headline-making news, this particular one is notable because it became a poster child for Santa Monica’s inexorable drive toward over-development and loss of local character, even garnering a petition drive to retain the previous tenant, Farrah’s Florist. But the coffee giant has prevailed, and now sits firmly in command of the prominent corner across from Melisse.
The next time you’re in Santa Monica and craving a cup of great coffee, but don’t feel secure enough to venture south of Colorado to ultra-hip Urth Caffé on Main, head over to the corner of Lincoln and California, above Wilshire. Nestled quietly in the residential neighborhood is a coffee-house newly opened in the recent development complex of St. Monica’s Church. Holy Grounds at Saint Monica offers a menu of Urth coffee, teas, and selected bakery items and is open from 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday, and Sunday noon to 7pm. Confessions optional…
Self-described trendy sweet shop It’sugar is coming soon to the space at 1427 Third St. Promenade in Downtown Santa Monica. The giant candy, novelty item, and “candy-inspired” apparel retailer already boasts over 70 locations worldwide. Look for a Spring 2014 opening.
With two restaurants in Downtown LA, Simply Salad is going into the space to the left of Taberna Arros y Vi at 1401 2nd St. in Downtown Santa Monica. Offering a menu that focuses on fresh and healthy custom-built salads and wraps, Simply Salad gives you over 65 toppings and over 25 dressings to choose from. Read more here.
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