Burgerim continues its march to world domination… Signs are up on the space at 831 N. Douglas in El Segundo announcing an impending branch of Israeli chain Burgerim. I don’t know exactly when the Lilliputian burgers will start flowing, but they look like they’re close.
Ace of Cakes star Duff Goldman is spreading his signature brand of confectionary good news to El Segundo. Window paper is up on a space in the back development of Plaza El Segundo (730F S. Allied Way) announcing that a branch of Duff’s Cake Mix is on the way. And what is Duff’s Cake Mix? According to their website, they are a “do-it-yourself cake and cupcake decorating studio” for parties of one to twelve, as well as for classes, hosting corporate events, and other special occasions.
The El Segundo restaurant scene continues its volatile ride… It appears that OG Plaza El Segundo eatery Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza & Grill has quit its space at 780 S Sepulveda Blvd. I had thought maybe they were remodeling, but the place is gutted and the signs have come down. It looks like something new is coming because the construction is fast and furious. I’ll keep watching to see what develops.
Back in October of 2017, Jerry’s Deli closed down their massive operation in Marina Del Rey for an overhaul. At the time, Eater reported that they would not open under the same name. Well, after an extensive redo of the commodious space and grounds, a new name has appeared on the corner sign of Mindanao and Marina Expressway. Probably derived from the company CEO’s family name of Starkman, it appears the new name will be Stark’s. We wish them the best of luck.
Update: Stark’s will open on May 21.
It was a sad day when, after a brave effort, the people behind Chou Chou French Patisserie decided to pull the plug at 313 Wilshire Blvd. Now a new tenant is poised to move in. With one location on Hollywood Blvd., it appears that Hollywood Burger will soon be delivering “gourmet-style burgers” to the good people of Santa Monica. 
About a year ago, I told you about OC’s fave natural/organic grocer and eatery Mother’s Market & Kitchen taking over the old Fresh & Easy location at 1700 Rosecrans Ave. in Manhattan Beach as part of a greater push into LA County. After an extensive remodel of the space, it appears they are poised to open. As per the banner hanging on the side of the building, Mother’s Market & Kitchen will officially throw open their doors on March 16th.
Dumpling expert Northern Café is expanding its brand in Westwood. With the original restaurant just around the corner, they are opening a new Northern Café at 10965 Weyburn Ave., a space previously occupied by Koala T Café. There will be a difference: I’m told the new restaurant will have a different menu of “authentic Chinese”.
And while we’re on the subject of openings… Ever since I first told you about popular salad chain Sweetgreen‘s expansion to Montana Ave. in Santa Monica back in July, a great many of you have been checking for updates. So here ya go: Sweetgreen officially throws open its doors today (Friday Feb. 22) at 1517 Montana Ave. You’re welcome.
I first reported on the new Tocaya Organica moving into the space at 1140 Gayley Ave. back in June of 2017. I’m not sure what happened, but it’s taken a long time to open. Tocaya will begin dishing healthy Mexican to the good people of Westwood this Friday, February 22nd.
Pizza competition is stiff in student overrun Westwood. It’s the ideal grab-and-go for the academic set and bolthole pizza restaurants abound. A large for lease sign on the front lets us know that one casualty is Extreme Pizza at 1067 Glendon Ave. Not sure what happened, but I’ll keep watching to see what may move in.
I love good detective work… A reader (Thanks SK!) sent me a pdf of a recent Downtown Santa Monica Market Report, which, on face value isn’t that riveting. But if you scroll down to page 11, the document lists upcoming restaurants slated to open in Downtown. Many I’ve already reported, but here are the ones I didn’t know about: Halo Top Scoop Shop (304 Santa Monica Blvd.), La Colombe (604 Santa Monica Blvd.), Fresh Corn Grill (720 Wilshire), and Gyu-Kaku (231 Arizona Ave).
Well that didn’t take long… It was only back in January when I told you about short-lived Samosa House’s disappearance from the back development of Plaza El Segundo, on the corner of Rosecrans and Sepulveda in El Segundo. Now another courageous restaurant is giving the tricky location a go. It looks like rapidly expanding healthy Mediterranean eatery Soom Soom Fresh Mediterranean is moving in. They appear to be living up to their mission to bring falafel, shawarma, and hummus “across Los Angeles and beyond”.
Update: I heard from a company rep who told me they’re shooting for an April opening.
It looks like the poke craze isn’t over yet… I’ve been watching the ground floor of the new development on the corner of Overland and Washington in Culver City. Starbucks and Jimmy John’s have already moved in, but here are still many vacant storefronts. There’s soon to be one less. A banner is up on the space just to the left of Jimmy John’s announcing an upcoming branch of LemonShark Poké. With a smattering of locations across the US, expect build-your-own and signature bowls, Hawaiian katsu grill bowls, and various sides and salads.
I recently noticed papered over windows at 733 Douglas, at the front of the still-developing Elevon complex in El Segundo, announcing that a new restaurant, Fantastic, will soon be joining the other eateries. I was curious if it’s the same Fantastic as the Fantastic Café on Main St., so I called the café. According to a spokesperson, Fantastic is a franchise, and the two are (confusingly) not related, except for the shared name. According to the paper on the window, expect a menu of “breakfast, burgers, tenders, salads, shakes”. If you have any more information on this, let me know…
The diminutive space at 725 Broadway is hard pressed to keep a tenant. In the distant past it was Bowl of Heaven, followed by Enso Tea/Acai. But the acai craze is beginning to look a little tired lately, and Enso has vacated the location. I’ll keep watching the troubled spot to see what may develop.
I had assumed that everyone knew about Trader Joe’s impending arrival to the new development on the corner of Wilshire and 23rd in Santa Monica, so I didn’t bother to write about it. But a surprising number of you continue to ask me, so here you go… A recently posted ABC application confirms that Santa Monica’s second Trader Joe’s will soon set up shop at 2300 Wilshire Blvd., unit 101.
It looks like Santa Monica kale and kabob expert Crimson Mediterranean Cookhouse is expanding westward. An ABC application pasted on the front of the erstwhile Inotheke space, at 606 Broadway suite 101, spills the beans. The name on the application, well-known restaurateur Eiman Shekarchi, confirms that this is an offshoot of the Crimson on Ocean Park. As for Inotheke, a gracious note on the door says that they plan on relocating.
I wouldn’t necessarily expect this type of response… My inbox has been flooded recently with people who are losing their sh*t over the sudden and mysterious disappearance of Santa Monica’s branch of burger chain Fuddruckers on the corner of Wilshire and 20th. Popular with the weekday professional lunch crowd and families on weekends, the closure caught many by surprise. I don’t have any information on what happened, but I’ll monitor the situation to see what develops.
With the surprising closure of their flagship Westwood outpost in mind, this doesn’t portend well… A sign on the front of the recently darkened 800 Degrees on the corner of Wilshire and 2nd announces that they have closed due to a ventilation issue. They appear to have closed on Thursday of last week, and since then, the place looks lifeless. Let’s hope that the sign is correct and that they fix their problem soon… I’ll keep watching.
Update 03/15/19: 800 Degrees appears to have reopened after all.
With competition in El Segundo/Manhattan Beach stiff, the restaurant scene in the back development of Plaza El Segundo is fighting for life. In 2017, an outpost of Samosa House took over The Counter space at the front of the mall. But now, it appears, they have given up the ghost as evidenced by the papered-over windows. That leaves only three eateries left, including an increasingly isolated Veggie Grill.
Toddrickallen 