LDH Kitchen The Robata Closed In Santa Monica?

Posted on April 27, 2019 by toddrickallen

I first noticed that a new restaurant was coming to the erstwhile Cadet space at 2518 Wilshire Blvd. back in April of 2016. It took a while, but LDH Kitchen The Robata opened in the Summer of 2018. Known for their wild light displays, LDH Kitchen was a branch of massive Japanese lifestyle brand LDH (Love+Dream+Happiness). Sadly, in less than a year, it appears that the love may be gone. While I don’t have any confirmation that they’ve quit the location, I’ve noticed that the restaurant is dark in the evenings, and Yelp is listing as it as closed, so I think its safe to say that they have. I’ll keep watching to see what develops…

Azucanela Churreria Coming Soon To Hawthorne Soon

Posted on April 25, 2019 by toddrickallen

The local aerospace industries are having quite an effect on even the sleepiest parts of the South Bay. Case in point? Inglewood Ave. in Hawthorne already boasts an excellent French bakery (Le Pain du Jour), and excellent Chinese food (Chubby Rice), and now they’re about to add an upscale churro/coffee spot to the mix. A banner us up on a formerly abandoned building at 13307 Inglewood Ave. announcing the impending arrival of Azucanela Churreria. Read about their progress on their website here.

Menotti’s Coffee Stop Landing On Washington In LA

Posted on April 23, 2019 by toddrickallen

Poplar hip Venice caffeine joint Menotti’s Coffee Stop is continuing to expand. Recently they appeared on Sunset in Hollywood. Now, according to the new signs, it looks like that they are opening another location in an old hardware store at 12450 W Washington Blvd. in Los Angeles (Or is it Culver City? It’s confusingly written both ways on-line.) I’m not sure when the flat whites and cortados will start pouring, but it looks like they’re not too far off…

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Erewhon Landing In Palisades Village

Posted on April 19, 2019 by toddrickallen

When the upscale Vintage Market recently vacated its space in the sparkling new Palisades Village in Pacific Palisades, it left a considerable hole at the front of the complex. But that’s about to change. According to window notices and the Palisades Village website, the space will soon be the home of posh natural foods grocer Erewhon.

Alessi Coffee Lab Coming To Malibu

Posted on April 18, 2019 by toddrickallen

It looks like Malibu is about to get another coffee option. Window paper is up on an erstwhile real estate agency space in the shopping center at 29575 Pacific Coast Hwy. announcing that something called Alessi Coffee Lab is intent on moving in. I don’t have much information about Alessi, nor do I have any knowledge if they are related to the famous Italian brand. But the window paper promises us all-natural, mineral-rich organic drinks.

Norms Coming To Inglewood

Posted on April 16, 2019 by toddrickallen

The iconic sign that inspired Ed Ruscha is about to soar over Crenshaw Imperial Plaza. Bulldozers are clearing the way on the corner of Imperial and Crenshaw in Inglewood for what will be a branch of the ever-popular quintessential SoCal diner Norms Restaurant. According to the website, they’re planning on opening sometime this year.

Update: Norms opened on November 21st, 2019.

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Honeymee Heads To Sherman Oaks

Posted on April 12, 2019 by toddrickallen

Honeycomb experts Honeymee are heading for Sherman Oaks. Signs are up on a freestanding kiosk on the second floor of the Westfield Fashion Square announcing the impending arrival. Look for a menu of milkshakes, waffles, coffee and tea, and ice cream.

Brewin’ Coffee Coming Soon To Westwood

Posted on April 11, 2019 by toddrickallen

On a tip from a reader, I went to check out what was going on at 1145 Westwood Blvd. in Westwood Village, site of the erstwhile Panera Bread. Window decals and a large banner let us know that something called Brewin’ Coffee is on the way. (Brewin’/Bruin, get it?) I can’t seem to locate too much on Brewin’, so if you have more information, let me know…

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Shake Shack Coming To Santa Monica

Posted on April 9, 2019 by toddrickallen

I LOVE a good tip… Ever since Panera disappeared from its space in the iconic building at 501 Wilshire Blvd., I’ve been hearing from mourning carb fans who are wondering what will take its place. A reader passed on the skinny: @retailroundrobin sent me a link to a real estate company Instagram post clearly showing that the space will soon be a branch of ever-poplar Shake Shack. See for yourself here.

P.F. Chang’s Finished In Santa Monica?

Posted on April 5, 2019 by toddrickallen

And while we’re on the subject of P.F. Chang’s, here’s more bad news… A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks E.R.!) noticed that P.F. Chang’s building at 326 Wilshire Blvd. was listed as up for lease last week. There aren’t any obvious signs that it will be closing, and they certainly still seem busy, but if the if the LoopNet ad is to be believed, they’ll be out before July 1. I don’t know what’s going on at P.F. Chang’s, but this certainly doesn’t look good following the recent closure of their El Segundo location as well.

Chin Chin, BBCM Coming To El Segundo

Posted on April 4, 2019 by toddrickallen

It looks like P.F. Chang’s is out from its longtime location at 2041 Rosecrans Suite 120 in El Segundo. And replacing it? Banners are up letting us know that a brand new branch of dim sum and Chinese chicken salad experts Chin Chin will soon be moving in. But that’s not all… There’s also a banner trumpeting the arrival of BBCM to the same location. In case you’re unfamiliar with the mini chain, BBCM stands for “The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker” and offers a menu of “modern California cuisine with European influences” and baked goods in a bright and cheerful setting.

Café Crepe Caput In Downtown Santa Monica

Posted on April 2, 2019 by toddrickallen

Café Crepe has long anchored the corner of Broadway and The Third St. Promenade, and was perpetually crowded with tourists. So it comes as a surprise that they have abruptly and unceremoniously closed up shop. A brief note on the door bids a quick Au Revoir, and mentions the Canadian company’s other LA location, at Union Station.

Mogu Mogu Taking Over The Dosanko Space On Olympic

Posted on March 29, 2019 by toddrickallen

The address at 11555 Olympic Blvd. in LA is proving itself to be a tricky one. It used to be popular Ramenya, then Dosanko Ramen tried its luck, which sadly ran out. Now a plucky new ramen and mazemen (no-broth ramen) joint named Mogu Mogu is poised to move in, at least according to a rather small announcement taped to the front door. We wish them the best of luck.

Panera Bread Decamps From Downtown Santa Monica

Posted on March 28, 2019 by toddrickallen

I’ve been receiving loads of messages from panicked Santa Monicans lamenting the demise of their beloved Panera Bread, in the landmark building at 501 Wilshire Blvd. that used to house Polly’s Pies. What’s more, a demolition notice now hangs in the window. Panera appears to be losing its presence on the Westside, with now-vacated locations in Westwood and Beverly Hills as well. I’m keeping an eye on all three to see what may develop…

Shake Shack Shimmies Into MDR

Posted on March 26, 2019 by toddrickallen

As longtime resident The Counter pulled up stakes in the Waterside at Marina del Rey shopping complex, they made room for another expanding burger chain. I’ve been hearing from excited readers who have seen the sign board heralding the news. The Waterside website confirms that, yes indeed, Shake Shack will soon be delivering their signature “modern day roadside burger” to the good people of the Marina.

Office Luck Taking Over Musha In Santa Monica: The Name Of The New Restaurant Is Shirubē

Posted on March 22, 2019 by toddrickallen

Many of you were in shock when I first told you about the disappearance of beloved Japanese restaurant Musha at 424 Wilshire Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica. Now it looks like a new tenant is going to give the diminutive space a go. A new ABC application is posted on the front. It doesn’t give much information, just an applicant name of Office Luck USA. There is no business name listed. I can’t locate anything on Office Luck, likewise the officer named on the application doesn’t reveal any insight. If you have any more information, let me know…

Update: Indeed a reader did know more (Thanks Ryan!): The restaurant’s name will be Shirubē. It will be an izakaya style restaurant that appears to be past their projected opening date. Check out their Instagram page here.

Update: Eater has the full skinny here.

Reds Ceases Serving Swedish Pizza In Santa Monica.

Posted on March 21, 2019 by toddrickallen

It was back in 2015 when I first told you about the buzzy arrival of Swedish pizza to the Santa Monica food scene. Reds Pizza has made a valiant four-year run of it at 707 Pico Blvd., but sadly it appears that they have thrown in the towel. I’m not quite sure when it happened, but the storefront is boarded over. There’s no clear indication of what may take over the space, but I’ll keep watching.

Broadway Baker Bringing Brownies Beloved By Oprah To Santa Monica

Posted on March 19, 2019 by toddrickallen

Santa Monica is about to get a whole lot sweeter… It wasn’t that long ago that I told you about the disappearance of Beach City Creamery (formerly Beachy Cream) from its address at 1209 Wilshire. Paper is now up on the windows telling us about another treat shop moving in. With one location in the Arts District Downtown, it looks like Broadway Baker is taking over the space. And what’s on offer? Known for their gift boxes, Broadway Baker prides itself on hand crafted, all natural premium baked good from three generations of family recipes, including their salted caramel brownies, once prominently featured in O, The Oprah Magazine.

Trader Joe’s Lands In MDR

Posted on March 16, 2019 by toddrickallen

Everyone’s fave grocery store Trader Joe’s is expanding its footprint on the Westside. I’ve been watching all the new construction along Admiralty in Marina del Rey to see what may develop. A large notice attached to the fence around the new building on the corner of Admiralty and Mindanao Way lets us know that this will soon be a branch of TJ’s. Don’t forget that there’s a brand new one going up on Wilshire and 23rd in Santa Monica as well. The Beach Communities will be spoiled for choice…

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Bull & Butterfly Bringing A Reimagined Steakhouse To Playa Vista

Posted on March 14, 2019 by toddrickallen

I looks like the people behind Lemonade have a new project in mind for the troubled Runway Apartments Play Vista complex. According to the signs, one cavernous space is being kitted out to accommodate something called Bull & Butterfly. They are billing this as a reimagined wood-fired steakhouse. The signs say they are shooting for a Fall opening.

Toddrickallen

The Westside at Its Finest