Congratulations good people of Malibu! You’re about to get a new java joint. While there is no obvious sign, the windows of space #7 in the Malibu Country Mart at 3835 Cross Creek Road are blackened with the words “But first, coffee”. You might recognize this phrase as the tagline for the sleek third-wave purveyor of caffeinated drinks Alfred Coffee.
S Santa Monica Blvd. is a revolving door for restaurants. The space at 9527 S Santa Monica Blvd., most recently occupied by top-secret brioche breakfast place The Kind Ones, is no exception. But one plucky contender is going to give it a go. There’s paper in the windows announcing an upcoming branch of New York’s own Joe’s Pizza. We wish them the best of luck.
You know I’ve been reporting on the massive redevelopment of Manhattan Village, ostensibly transforming it into a major shopping and dining powerhouse. There has been an explosion of new eateries landing in the shopping center. You can add two more to the list. A banner is informing us that BOA Steakhouse and Sushi Roku are on the way. Both are part of the Innovative Dining Group or IDG.
It looks like El Segundo’s The Point shopping center, on the corner of Rosecrans and Pacific Coast Highway, is about to get a new eatery. I told you about the closure of buzzy Umi by Hamasaku back in October of last year. Window covering is letting us know that this location will be the future home of expanding Greek/Mediterranean restaurant chain CAVA.
Remember that colossal redo at Manhattan Village on the corner of Rosecrans and Sepulveda? It’s about to get a whole lot sweeter. Plywood is up announcing that a branch of Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt is taking one of the spots in the new part. Handel’s Ice Cream had its beginnings in Youngstown, Ohio when a woman named Alice Handel began serving it in 1945. They operate over 60 locations in a number of states and offer over 100 flavors of ice cream and yogurt that are made fresh daily at each location.
A few months ago, I heard from a lot of readers that breezy pizza spot Surfer Rose was washed up. But I never had any confirmation. Now, however, there’s a new ABC ownership change application on the door. No business name is listed on the door, or on the online info but there is an applicant: 2460 Wilshire Restaurant Group LLC (Surfer Rose’s address). Otherwise, the application doesn’t give much information. This link does mention the name of “hospitality traiblazer” Michael Greco of next door’s Fia. Other than that, I guess we’ll have to wait and see…
I’ve been hearing from surprised readers who noticed that Krispy Kreme has vanished from its corner location at Wilshirie and Euclid in Santa Monica. You may recall that KK was a sensation some years back, with people waiting in long lines to secure the pillowy treats. I’m not sure what the cause was, but donut competition in Santa Monica is fierce: Dunkin’ Donuts, Sidecar, and an upcoming Randy’s Donuts are all within blocks.
Good news people of Beverly Hills, high-end goceries are heading your way! Many of you grieved when I told you about the closure of the much-beloved Williams Sonoma at 339 N Beverly Dr. Wasting no time, window coverings are informing us that this location will eventually be an outpost of popular (if pricey) natural foods grocer Erewhon. It appears that they are taking their time: They’re shooting for an opening next year.
It appears a new culinary training program is coming to the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. Plywood is up announcing the arrival of Little Kitchen Academy. LKA uses a Montessori approach to teach “children and teenagers to take a mindful and sustainable approach to food preparation”. This will be the first US location for the Canadian brand.
This post is for all those concerned readers who wrote me inquiring about their beloved Margo’s restaurant at 1534 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. In the last wave of COVID shutdowns, Margo’s closed like every other restaurant… but it never reopened. For all intents and purposes it appeared that the popular eatery was throwing in the towel. Well… you can all breathe a collective sigh of relief: A banner hanging over the door is announcing to all that Margo’s is back.
The food court of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center has been hit particularly hard over the past year, and there remain a number of empty spaces. But one plucky contender is giving it a go… Mochinut has moved into the space most recently occupied by Beleaf Cafe. And what is Mochinut? According to their website, they specialize in mochi donuts, which are combination of American doughnuts and Japanese mochi that they describe as having a “unique shape and wonderful texture; light crispy coating with soft chewy inside”. They also offer “Korean Rice Flour hotdogs”. Mochinut currently has 10 US locations with 30 more in the works as well as upcoming locations in South Korea and Thailand.
While no one was looking, a delightful new coffee and pastry spot opened recently in Santa Monica. Readers have been letting me know how excited they are… once they find it. You probably didn’t notice the little charmer Paderia Bakehouse because it faces the parking lot behind the newly refurbished former bank building at 3032 Wilshire Blvd. (corner of Berkeley). It took me a while to find it as well, but once discovered, you’ll be rewarded with menu of coffees, teas, horchata, pudding, pastries, and cultishly popular Portuguese Egg Tarts. Paderia has locations in Irvine and Fountain Valley, but this is the Westside’s first.
The hidden little space at 11740 San Vicente Blvd. Suite 104 has had a bumpy ride since its under-the-radar glam industry spot La Scala quit the location. For a while it was a short-lived French eatery called Meet In Paris, but mostly it has sat empty. That’s about to change. There’s an ABC application posted on the front announcing that this space will soon be a branch of Santa Monica’s perpetually popular Italian powerhouse Rosti Tuscan Kitchen. (They also have a branch in Calabases as well.) Brentwood sure does love its Italian restaurants…
Good people of Brentwood, carbs are heading your way! With one other pop-up store in Culver City, Pop’s Bagels is moving into the space that used to be home to Alfred Tea Room at 11928 San Vicente Blvd. And what makes Pop’s special? Their three flavors of bagels (plain, everything, and cinnamon raisin) are made in small batches throughout the day ensuring crispy, hot perfection. They also make their own cream cheeses and cultured butter from scratch. We wish them the best of luck.
A new Latin American restaurant plans on opening April 23 in the old Estate space at 1519 Wilshire Blvd. La Condesa is the latest project of Misael Guerrero. Guerrero, who originally hails from Sinaloa, is the man behind the rapidly expanding chain Culichitown and Mama Por Dios. He is known for his Mexican sushi and lively atmospheres. We wish him the best of luck.
I heard from many distraught people when The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf closed last year at 829 Wilshire Blvd. (corner of 9th). But the free-standing building isn’t destined to be empty for long. Signs are up indicating that this will be a branch of expanding chain Randy’s Donuts.
Good news, Westsiders! From out of nowhere, a tiny outpost of LA’s iconic Canter’s Deli has appeared in the strip mall on the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. and Bundy in Santa Monica (12109 Santa Monica Blvd. to be exact). This miraculous apparition is now up and running from 10:30AM to 9:00pm and is offering a takeaway menu of Canter’s classics, including their legendary soups, sandwiches, black and white cookies, salads, and breakfasts. You’re welcome.
Erratum: Thanks KJ, this is officially West LA.
I first noticed that Runway Playa Vista was bulding something called Free Market back in 2019. Free Market has two other locations and describes itself an “ever-evolving collective” of “curated products, services, and experiences”. They are close to opening; Their website says May 1, but I was told April 16. In any case, here’s the food lineup: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, something called Joliet Cafe and Bar, and Loqui, which began as a Mexican pop-up at Tartine in San Francisco.
Check out what they built in the middle of The Third Street Promenade, between Broadway and Santa Monica Blvd. There’s a new beer garden operated by popular local watering hole West 4th & Jane. And just to the north of that is a new oyster bar brought to you by nearby restaurant The Independence. What a great idea!
Things just got tastier for the aerospace crowd in El Segundo. There’s now a branch of beloved sandwich chain Ike’s Love & Sandwiches in the little shopping center at 460 N Pacific Coast Highway. Ike’s started in San Francisco in 2007 and now has more that 55 locations. It is known for its unique flavor combinations and “dirty sauce”.
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