Mall food courts are being hit hard this year. More evidence? Pinches Tacos has vacated its prominent spot in Santa Monica Place. That leaves three empty eateries in the sputtering court.
Pinches Tacos Closed In Santa Monica Place
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La Créme Café Coming To Century City
With all the bad news about restaurant closures in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center, it’s refreshing to see that a new venture is taking a chance. Plywood is up on the food court spot that used to house Everytable declaring that West Hollywood’s “simple European-style nook” La Créme Café is planning on a Spring opening. Look for a menu of organic coffee & smoothies, waffles, crêpes, and panini.
Le Petit Chez Mimi Bringing French Charm Back To Santa Monica
After being peppered with questions from curious readers who noticed activity at the erstwhile location of local bolthole Le Petit Café at 2842 Colorado Ave., I went by to have a look. Sure enough, a brand new awning declares the new restaurant to be Le Petit Chez Mimi. Fortunately, I was able to have a chat with the delightful proprietor, Micheline Hébert (nicknamed Mimi), the beloved and irrepressible force behind the Chez Mimi empire. (Chez Mimi closed at 26th and San Vicente almost 10 years ago.) She explained that she is excited by this new project: They have retained the chef from Le Petit Café and the menu will be similar as well… as in, thoroughly French. Think sole meunière, truite amandine, and boeuf bourguignon. They are planning on a March opening. In the mean time, check out the photo Ms. Hébert provided to get a glimpse inside this new French charmer.
Update: Le Petit Chez Mimi is now open. Read more here.
More Sad News In Century City…
Yikes! Still more closures… Westfield Century City Shopping Center food court is starting to look like a ghost town. Spice Affair is now boarded up. And longtime resident Ajisen Ramen has closed its doors as well.
The End Of Williams Sonoma On Montana Ave?
And while we’re on the subject of sad closings… I have it on a solid inside tip that Santa Monica’s chic palace of all things kitchen-related, Williams Sonoma is set to close its doors. It is currently still open, and I do not have a time line, but I believe the intel is trustworthy. Williams Sonoma has been a sparkling anchor on the east end of Montana, and its demise will leave a cavernous hole in the upscale shopping district. By the way, I’m also hearing that the Starbucks on the corner of 15th and Montana is set to close as well due to high rents.
Update: I strive for accuracy because I know many of you trust me for food news. At the time that I wrote this post in February, I had it from a good source that they were planning on closing. However, this appears to have changed. Unlike their Beverly Hills branch, this one appears to be remaining open, for now. This pandemic has been rough on local business. If you wish to keep Williams-Sonoma open, I encourage everyone to shop here as often as possible, and support other local businesses as well. (written 12/30/2020)
Coral Tree Cafe Uprooted In Beverly Hills
So far, as you can see from reading this blog, 2020 has seen a shocking number of restaurant closings. And we’re not done yet… Coral Tree Cafe is now closed at 225 S Beverly Blvd. in Beverly Hills. A gracious note on the front door blames rising costs of labor and rent. That leaves just two locations left (Encino and Brentwood) for the coffee and sandwich chain founded by Brentwood residents in 2002.
(Thanks Mike!)
Flour Shop Bringing Celebrated Explosion Cakes To Beverly Hills
Amirah Kassem is a superstar of confectionary creations, most notably, her legendary explosion cake. And now it looks like LA will get a chance to sample the legendary baked treat. Window paper is up on the spot that used to be the home of Sugarfina, at 9495 S Santa Monica Blvd, announcing that Ms. Kassem is planning on bringing a branch of her famed New York bakery Flour Shop to the good people of Beverly Hills.
Unknown Kitchen Coming To Brentwood
It appears that something mysterious is landing in the space that was once occupied by Wahoo’s Fish Taco, at 11911 Wilshire Blvd. in Brentwood. An ABC application posted on the front informs us that an “eating place” called Unknown Kitchen is moving in. There is not much information out there yet, except a nonfunctioning website and a mention on a window job notice of Puzzushi, so if you have any more information, let me know…
(Thanks Steve!)
Sip Rebrands As Junbi In Westwood Village
About two years ago, Sip Matcha, Boba & Tea opened at 10967 Weyburn Ave. in Westwood. Recently, they closed for renovations. They have reopened as Junbi Matcha & Tea. The management, ownership, and menu haven’t changed, so why the new name? Apparently, because of Sip‘s popularity, they have been receiving “expansion requests” from international and domestic cities. They were unable to trademark Sip, and were therefore forced to rebrand as Junbi, which means “preparation” in Japanese.
D’amore’s Famous Pizza No Longer Feeling The Love In Westwood
More signs of turbulence in Westwood Village… Longtime Westwood fixture D’amore’s Famous Pizza has quit its prominent location at 1136 Westwood Blvd. Not sure what happened, but I’ll keep my eyes on the space to see what may develop.
(Thanks JSPepper!)
Sidecar, Sweetgreen Confirmed For Manhattan Village
If you follow this blog, then you know that I’ve been carefully watching the massive redo of Manhattan Village in Manhattan Beach. The extensive project will add a whole new open air addition called Village Shops, greatly expanding the retail and restaurant space. The latest restaurant news? I now have confirmation that the wildly beloved bakery Sidecar Doughnuts is opening in the Fall of 2020, and popular purveyor of salads and bowls Sweetgreen is slated for the Winter of 2020.
Big Mango Café Relocating To El Segundo
Big Mango Café has been serving the hungry workers of Silicon Beach for over seven years. Recently, they gave up their popular location at 12035 E Waterfront Dr. in Playa Vista. But if you’re a fan of their signature sandwiches, wraps, and salads, all is not lost. Big Mango Café is relocating to another busy industry hot spot: 777 S Aviation Blvd. #107 in El Segundo. We wish them the best of luck.
What’s Going On At Obica In Santa Monica?
I’ve been carefully watching the branch of international Italian brand Obica at 606 Broadway in Downtown Santa Monica. Recently, the restaurant went silent, and the shades have been pulled down. A sign on the door promises a renovation, new management, and a new concept… all by February 10th. But things look a bit dodgy: While I was checking for progress, a self-identified former employee approached me and told me that the staff were unceremoniously sacked with no promise of rehire. His assumption is that Obica Mozzarella Bar is permanently gone. A cursory glance inside the front door reveals that nothing has been touched and no work has commenced. I’ll keep watching but we’ve seen this kind of thing before…
Plan Check, Le Pain Quotidien Exit Santa Monica, More!
Yikes! It appears that an exodus of eateries has occurred in Downtown Santa Monica after the Holidays. Plan Check has checked out of 1401 Ocean Ave. Le Pain Quotidien has said adieu to 316 Santa Monica Blvd. (A note in the window blames an expiring lease agreement.) And, after a valiant effort, Creams & Dreams has closed their nitrogen ice cream outpost at 219 Arizona after four years. Sad…
(Thanks SG!)
Pickles & Swiss Bringing Premium Sandwiches From Santa Barbara To The Valley
I recently noticed plywood covering the front of one of the spaces in The Village part of Westfield Topanga & The Village in Canoga Park. Large graphics reveal that Pickles & Swiss is moving in. P&S is a premium sandwich shop with two locations in the Santa Barbara area. They feature a menu of hot and cold sandwiches, build-your-own sandwiches, panini, wraps, soup, and intriguingly, something called “pickled popcorn”.
Baja Catch & Grill Replacing Gaby’s In Playa Vista
Not that long ago, Playa Vista’s branch of popular Mediterranean restaurant Gaby’s Express vacated its longtime space at 12219 Jefferson Blvd. Now a new eatery is hoping to lure in the area’s hungry tech crowd. A large banner on the front informs us that Baja Catch & Grill is moving in. I can’t find much information on Baja Catch & Grill, but I’m willing to take a wild guess and say that fish tacos will be on offer.
Beleaf Café Replaces Fala Bar In Century City
Unless you looked very closely, you might not have noticed that Fala Bar quietly transformed into something now called Beleaf Café in the food court of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. While I’m told there is no relationship between the former and the latter, the look of the eatery and the menu are very similar. Beleaf Café has one other location in the Westfield Topanga Mall, and features a 100% plant-based menu of burgers, sandwiches, falafel, and salads.
Gelato-Go Gone From Montana Ave.
Bibigo Bibigone From Sawtelle
Sadly, it appears that Korean bowl specialist Bibigo has disappeared from its location at 2210 Sawtelle Blvd. in LA. The space is completely gutted, ending any hope of a return. I’m not sure what happened, but I’ll keep watching to see what may take a chance in what is one of the Westside’s most competative food scenes, Sawtelle Japantown.
Z Pastabar Now Closed In Santa Monica Place
Back in June of 2017, I applauded Z Pastabar’s courageous decision to brave the sputtering food scene in Santa Monica Place. At the time, Z Pastabar had high hopes of a big expansion across the LA area. Sadly, it appears that things did not go as planned: Following their other SoCal locations, Santa Monica Place‘s branch of Z Pastabar is now closed.
Toddrickallen 