It appears that something new is taking over the Rick’s Tavern on Main space at 2907 Main St. in Santa Monica. An ABC application posted on the front lists the business name as Station 26. Station 26 just happens to be the closest lifeguard station on the beach. I couldn’t find much information on this new eatery, so if you have any details let me know.
The Park at Cross Creek development, at 23401 Civic Center Dr., is poised to really perk up the Malibu dining scene. Another new restaurant landing in the shopping center is Real Coconut. Real Coconut hails from Tulum, Mexico and offers a “plant focused” menu that is “free of gluten, grain, dairy, and refined sugar”, and is cooked only with avocado oil. Read more about this fascinating new restaurant here.
Earlier this week, I told you about the permanent closure of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on S Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills. I reader was quick to point out that the CBTL that anchors the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. and S Beverly Glen Blvd. was also closing as of Sunday, May 17th. I went by the coffee shop and checked it out: A notice in the window confirms that this branch is now permanently closed. What’s going on with CBTL?
Beloved local institution Howdy’s Taqueria used to reside in the Country Mart. Apparently the owner, Howdy Kabrins, shuttered the eatery due to some personal reasons that you can read about in this article. But Howdy’s is coming back to Malibu. The new location is in the new The Park at Cross Creek development at 23401 Civic Center Dr. We wish them the best of luck.
I’m not sure what the circumstances were, but it appears that the normally crowded Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at 233 S Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills has permanently closed. There’s a notice in the window thanking customers for their support. I’ll keep my eye on the space.
So, I’m not sure if coffee giant Nespresso is opening a second location or moving from their location in the next block. What I am sure of is that the plywood is covering the space at 408 N Beverly Drive, formerly home of Theory, has a notice on the front saying that Nespresso is coming soon. I guess we’ll have to wait and see…
A victim of the challenging times? It was only back in October of 2018 that I noticed that sandwich chain Jimmy John’s was replacing the Subway at 3023 Wilshire Blvd. Sadly, Santa Monica’s only branch has closed up shop as evidenced by the large for lease sign on the front.
I’ve been hearing whispers that the construction on the corner of Montana Ave. and 10th St. in Santa Monica would eventually be the home of an “Australian” coffee shop. But I was unable to get concrete information until recently, when an ABC application was posted on the front. As you can see, no business name is listed. However, the ABC application online clearly spells out that this will be a branch of coffee experts Bluestone Lane. And this one will apparently have beer and wine on offer as well.
I’ve been watching the space that was the home of erstwhile Baja Fresh at 720 Wilshire Blvd. (corner of Lincoln). The space has been undergoing a remodel for a while now. An ABC application recently went up on the front confirming that Westwood’s Fresh Corn Grill is on the way. Expect a menu of healthy pizza, pasta, salad, tacos, and enchiladas. We wish them the best of luck.
I’ve been hearing from readers that Osteria Bigoli has permanently pulled the plug, so I went by their location at 714 Montana Ave. to have a look. Like many businesses right now, there’s a scrawled note on the front door saying that they’re closed until further notice. But as you can see, their sign above the front door has been removed and one reader (Thanks Kurt!) let me know that the interior decorations are gone, so it looks like they probably don’t have plans on reopening. Let me know if you hear anything different.
Window banners are up on part of the old Jerry’s Deli space at 10923 Weyburn Ave. in Westwood Village announcing a future home for Taiwanese treat chain Meet Fresh. The numbers are impressive: With locations around the world, they currently have 800+ stores, there are more than 100 cold and hot desserts on offer, and they claim more than 100 million bowls of their icy grass jelly signature are sold globally every year. The dizzying array of choices will also include such things as tofu pudding, milk tea, egg waffles, and taro balls, all made with traditional Taiwanese methods and the finest ingredients. Interesting…
Looks like there’s a new bubble tea spot in Westwood. In the location that used to house Coco Fresh at 10912 Le Conte Ave., a banner over the front door announces the grand opening of Ichi Tea & Sushi. We wish them the best of luck.
I’ve been hearing from horrified fans that, after 55 years, beloved pastry purveyor Stan’s Donuts has permanently closed in Westwood. A gracious note from Stan Berman on the front thanks patrons for their “support and friendship”. It appears the decision to close was in the works anyway, but COVID-19 sped things up.
Back in early February, I mentioned to you that I had heard a rumor that Starbucks was closing its location at 15th St. and Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. At the time, I had no proof. This week, a note went up on the door that they have permanently closed. Expensive rents on Montana Ave. are to blame, or so I’m told.
Back in January, I told you about the disappearance of Plan Check from its space at 1401 Ocean Ave suite 104. Now a new restaurant is intending to make the space their home. Posters are up in the windows announcing the impending arrival of King & Queen Cantina. Originally hailing from San Diego, the chain has a smattering of locations and sister restaurants. Expect “Latin flavors” with Dia de los Muertos decor that is meant to feel like a “party, out of the box, but more casual”. Of course everything us up in the air right now, but we wish them the best of luck.
Sushi experts Wabi-Sabi have certainly survived their fair share of challenges. And now there’s a prominent “available” space hanging over the front. Does this mean the end?
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Three years ago, I first told you about a Josiah Citrin (Melisse, Charcoal) project moving into the old Santa Monica Electric Co. at 2428 Main St. Since then, furtive signs of work have continued on and off for Dave’s Doghouse, which led me to believe that the restaurant was still in progress. I know that many of you have been checking for updates on this project, but it appears it may have been abandonned. The review signs and ABC application have been taken down, and the space was being inhabited by a pop-up shop selling goods for an elephant charity prior to the shutdown. If you have any information, let me know…
The diminutive space at 725 Broadway in Santa Monica has seen its share of tenants, the most recent being an açaí bowl spot that closed over a year ago. Window covering is informing us that a new venture called Los Tarascos is moving in. The windows promise taco tuesdays and daily hand made tortillas.
With all the self-isolation lately, I’m simply not out in the community as much as I normally would be, and I really appreciate when readers send me stories. Recently, one reader (Thanks Keith!) sent me this photo of an ABC application on the front of what was formerly Shalimar of India at 10708 Jefferson Blvd. in Culver City. As you can see, this will be the future home of Don Chuy’s Restaurant. There currently is a Don Chuy’s at 11800 Jefferson, but I’m unclear if they’re moving locations or if this will be a second branch for the Mexican restaurant.
A new ABC application has popped up on the front of the old Tinga/Renee‘s space at 522 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica. No business name is listed, but there is an applicant name: Ploenpidh Pola Houston. While this name is associated with a Koreatown bar, the Monte Carlo, after a bit of digging, I found that Ms. Pola is the mother of entrepreneurial brothers Jonnie and Mark Houston, who preside over an empire of themed nightclubs in Hollywood. I don’t have confirmation that this will be their newest project, so if you have any information please let me know. You can read more about the brothers in this LA Weekly story.
Toddrickallen 