If you’re travelling South on Lincoln through Westchester, you might have noticed a large banner hanging on the wall of the former location of Chicago For Ribs at 8311 Lincoln Blvd. The banner lets us know that The Nook Breakfast Spot is taking over the space. The Nook Breakfast Spot has one location in Lomita and promises “homemade meals from scratch”. Check out their Lomita location’s menu here.
I’ve been hearing from startled readers who have noticed that one of the last local branches of former pizza darling 800° Woodfired Kitchen has been taken off life support at 120 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica. Signs have been pulled down and the cavernous space has been gutted. 800° burst onto the scene a few years back wowing people with their innovative design-your-own assembly line approach using quality ingredients that produced a charred-crust pie that seemed like a revelation at the time. I’ll keep my eye on the tricky address to see what may move in.
While no one was looking, a new Japanese restaurant quietly slipped into the space most recently occupied by innovative noodle shop Rakkan Ramen. Sushi Gozen is now open at the hidden location at 1705 Ocean Ave. #111. Sushi Gozen is the sister restaurant to West Hollywood’s Gozen Japanese Sake Bistro and promises a “laid-back seaside vibe” with fresh seafood, sushi pizza, chicken, and other offerings.
The hard-working folks in the aerospace industry in Hawthorne will soon have another choice for lunch. Signs are already up announcing that a branch of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is close to opening (if not already open by the time you read this) in the strip mall location at 12730E Hawthorne Blvd. Dickey’s is the Dallas-based chain that since its founding in 1941, has gone on to become the “largest barbecue franchise in the US“. They offer a solid menu of ribs, brisket, wings, pulled pork, chicken, kielbasa, and many other meaty bits that you can check out here.
I must confess, I never entirely understood the concept of Pudu Pudu, the pudding specialists brought to you by German megabrand Dr. Oetker. Apparently, I wasn’t alone. After opening only in February of this year, they have thrown in the towel at their second-floor location inside the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. And that’s not all. They have closed all of their LA locations, as indicated by this sad good-bye notice on their website.
Everytable is continuing its second-wave expansion… Everytable is the nobly inspired concept chain aiming to bring fresh, nutritious, made-from-scratch meals to a fast-food world at price points based on what a community could afford. There’s now a banner up on the space at 10912 Lindbrook, formerly home to a juice bar, announcing its impending arrival.
Back in February I reported that something called Alligot Sandwich was taking over the old Kaido space at 1049 Gayley in Westwood. That sign is still in the window, but a new banner now hangs over the storefront letting us all know that self-described “Egg Sandwich & Coffee Concept” Egg Tuck is moving in. Egg Tuck has two other LA locations and specializes in Korean “tucked in” style breakfast sandwiches served on brioche that look nothing short of amazing. Check them out for yourself here.
A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks again Andrew!) noticed some window paper up on one of the spaces on the studio side of The Culver Steps. The paper promises this to be the future home of Yunomi Handroll. Yunomi has a location in The Arts District and is known for traditional and innovative handrolls and sashimi.
Ever since Pizzicotto and Kreation moved out of their respective spaces at 11758 and 11754 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood, people have been contacting me demanding answers. Thanks to the clever investigative work of a reader (Thanks Eric!), I may have an answer. Eric discovered that the two spaces will be joined and become the home to Planta. (Their website does confirm a Brentwood location, but doesn’t give an address, so I don’t have confirmation on this.) Planta restaurant group has locations across America and Canada and promotes a celebration of ‘the power of plants” with a 100% plant-based dining concept. It looks like another location is coming to Marina del Rey as well.
The cupcake sensation is not over… The originator of the cult-cake that still inspires fans to wait in line in Beverly Hills is sharing their signature brand of sugary goodness with Manhattan Beach. There’s plywood up in one of the outdoor shops of the newly gussied-up Manhattan Village mall announcing a new branch of Sprinkles. Looks like they’re aiming for a Fall opening.
If you follow this blog, you know that I watch the food scene in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center very carefully. So you can imagine my surprise that without warning, a new eatery popped up overnight in the Food Court. Ardi’sOrganics is now open and is self-described as, “environmentally conscious, organic fast food made to order”. They offer a focused menu of burgers and “frys” (veg and nonveg), bowls, breakfast, and a rather tempting-looking “turkey nugg”.
With one location in Beverly Hills, it appears that the “no regretti spaghetti” folks at Impasta are expanding their operation westward. There’s window paper up at 413 Santa Monica Blvd. announcing the impending arrival. You may recall that this particular block was nearly destroyed in May of 2020, but has been slowly reviving with the arrival of Blue Bottle, MIXT, and now Impasta. Impasta offers a menu designed for low-carb and gluten-free diets with items such as “classic pasta and pizza recipes made with zero to low carb noodle options, cauliflower crusts”, and no red meat.
A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Robert!) spotted widow paper up on the space at 1614 Ocean Park Blvd. announcing the impending arrival of Layla Bagels & Coffee. Bagels are a bold move considering they can also be procured two doors down at crazy popular Jayan Isaac Bread. I can’t seem to find out much more information on this business so if you have any details, pass them along…
On a tip from a reader, I went by to check out what was going on at Santa Monica’s branch of healthy California-cuisine minichain Fresh Corn Grill. It was over two years ago when I first told you about their arrival to the space at 720 Wilshire, formerly home to a branch of Baja Fresh. Sadly, this location is ceasing operations after today (Friday 09//23). It was explained to me that the company is being restructured by the owners. The other two locations (Westwood, West Hollywood) are to remain open.
(Thanks Jonny!)
A new java joint is landing on a neglected stretch of Centinela Ave. Santa Monica’s dog-friendly neighborhood coffee spot Love Coffee Bar is expanding to Mar Vista. There’s window paper up on the space at 3519 S Centinela (crossroad Palms Blvd.) announcing that they will be opening at this location as soon as they can.
Long Beach’s Saint & Second is expanding North. A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Sher!) noticed the plywood on the front of one of the cavernous interior spaces in the new addition of the zhuzhed-up Manhattan Village on the corner of Sepulveda and Rosecrans. For those who don’t know, Saint & Second is run by the Hofman family, who has been operating a restaurant at their Belmont Shore location for over 70 years. Expect a “a chef-inspired, come-as-you-are destination with creative, locally-sourced seasonal cuisine, organic cocktails, hundreds of curated whiskies, works by California artists and a spirit of community and hospitality“.
Readers have been writing to tell me that Venice’s popular Southern grilled meat spot Baby Baby Blues BBQ has been closed due to a fire. As you can see, operations have ceased and the front is boarded up at 444 Lincoln Blvd. Their website promises a rebuild and says they are looking for another location while that happens. We wish them the best of luck.
I’ve been hearing from startled readers that Truxton’s American Bistro has unceremoniously disappeared from the corner spot at 14th and Santa Monica Blvd in Santa Monica. Truxton’s opened this location in 2013, and was a solid neighborhood lifeline on an otherwise desolate stretch of Santa Monica Blvd. It was able to survive The Pandemic with take-away and outdoor seating, so it’s a bit shocking that it pulled up stakes so abruptly. It appears that the Westchester and Torrance locations remain open.
Everytable has had a spotty history. After appearing on the scene a while ago with grand ambitions, they were forced to close a number of locations, including Downtown Santa Monica’s branch. Everytable is the nobly-inspired concept chain aiming to bring fresh, nutritious, made-from-scratch meals to a fast food world at price points based on what a community could afford. New signage has popped up almost overnight at 1005A Wilshire announcing a brand new outpost of of the socially-conscious brand. They appear to have shifted their focus to subscription and home delivery, but hopefully retail will be available at this location.
Originally I reported that the small space at 3008 Santa Monica Blvd. was going to be something called Kohi Cafe. That never happened. Then it was going to be a Japanese-themed lounge/cafe named Kissaten Coffee/Wine Cafe. That never developed either. Now a new sign is promising us Please Enjoy Coffee Bar. Construction is well underway so it shouldn’t be long now to find out exactly what is going on…
Update: Eater has more on this story here.
Toddrickallen 