Well that didn’t take long… Only just a couple of weeks ago, I told you about the disappearance of Air Food from the space at 109 Broadway in Downtown Santa Monica. Wasting no time whatsoever, a newcomer is moving in. An ABC application pasted to the front door lets us know that something called Interstellar will soon call this location home. Not much out there on Interstellar, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see what develops.
I’m not sure this qualifies as restaurant news, but… I recently spotted an ABC application affixed to the front of an old vacuum cleaner shop at 2924 Wilshire Blvd. announcing an upcoming branch of national chain Board & Brush Creative Studio. Self-described “DIY wood sign workshop” Board & Brush specializes in drinking, socializing with friends, and creating wooden signs. Hmmm…
Perhaps we’re not done with the pressed juice craze just yet… Back in December of last year I told you about the demise of Basanti Tea Bar at 9465 S. Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills. And now it looks like a new contender is moving in. Window signage indicates that Organica Juice Bar will soon be the new occupant. According to the window, you can expect a menu of cold-pressed juices, superfoods, smoothies, bowls, and, well… you get the picture.
Remember back in 2014 when I first noticed that Caffe Primo was intending on moving into the corner space at Arizona and 7th? This sleepy section of Downtown Santa Monica had been revitalized by the arrival of popular Cassia and Esters across the street. But something went wrong, and not only did Caffe Primo pull out of the space at 702 Arizona, but they closed everywhere. Since then the space has sat vacant… until now. A new ABC application announces that Izakaya Osen is moving in. At the time of this writing, I’m unclear if this is the same eatery as Silverlake’s Osen Izakaya. More to come…
Update: It will be the second branch for Osen Izakaya. Eater has the details here.
A big available sign in the window of 9667 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills lets us know that after a valiant effort, Little Highness Bao is done dishing dumplings. Sadly, this stretch of The Golden Triangle is a historically challenging one for restaurants. I’ll keep watching to see what develops…
Signs are up on the space at 2206 Sawtelle Blvd. (corner of Olympic) informing us that America’s first branch of Singapore-based 4Fingers Crispy Chicken is moving in. 4Fingers has been expanding in Southeast Asia and Australia since its launch in 2009, and is looking to make inroads into the USA and Europe. Look for a menu of Korean-style fried chicken that is free range and antibiotic/hormone-free, brushed with their naturally fermented soy garlic or hot and spicy proprietary sauces.
Ever since we learned that longstanding healthy Mexican purveyor Kayndaves had abandoned their location at 262 26th St., across from the increasingly tony Brentwood Country Mart, I’ve been wondering who would even undertake such an upscale market. The corner of San Vicente and 26th has proven itself a challenging location as evidenced by the revolving door of restaurants that has attempted the space that most recently held L’Ami. (The latest gasp of hope, the ABC app that I reported on back in January has since been taken down and I think we’re back to square one.) But now, one brave contender is giving the Kayndaves space a go… A banner is up informing us that it will soon be the home of Tara’s Himalayan Cuisine. With three other locations scattered across the Southland offering Nepali, Tibetan, and Indian food, we wish them the best of luck.
I’d like to take this moment to thank all my dedicated readers and everyone who visits this site and wish all a very Happy Thanksgiving. I’m very grateful to you for giving me the inspiration and support to keep exploring the excitement of the LA food scene. May your Holiday be filled with great food, family and friends, fun, and all manner of deliciousness!
Happ
When a promising and plucky new French restaurant burst onto the scene early last year, I was hopeful that Air Food would be a new neighborhood favorite. But Downtown Santa Monica can be a tricky neighborhood. By all appearances, it looks like they have abandoned their location at 109 Broadway. Yelp is reporting them as temporarily closed, but the place is nearly gutted and… we’ve seen this before.
It looks like a small vegan café with a previous footprint in the neighborhood is moving into the diminutive space at 306 Pico Blvd. in Santa Monica that once housed Lifefood Organic. A reader pointed out a note taped to the front door indicates this will be the future home of vegan eatery Avo Café. It looks like they’re not too far from opening, but in the mean time check out their menu of breakfasts, bowls, Panini, and pizza here.
Remember back in May when a reader sent me to the empty space at 2212 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica to check out an recently posted ABC application? At the time, I couldn’t find out much information on the business listed as “Miracle Scoops”. But a small now hiring notice taped to the front door spills the beans. It appears that this location will be a branch of expanding minichain Kanpai Japanese Sushi Bar and Grill.
Please remember our neighbors who have been affected by the Woolsey fire, and throughout California, by supporting the important work of the American Red Cross. Consider making a donation to help those who are struggling in the wake of fire’s devastation. Click here to help, or call 1-800-RED-CROSS, or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make an automatic $10 donation.
One of the last remaining spaces in the food court of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center is getting a new resident. Plywood covering the space lets us know that Sunset Blvd. burger joint Rock House Sliders will soon be landing in the tony mall. Not sure when they will be opening, but you can look for a straight forward menu of diminutive burgers, fries, and shakes.
Back in May, I told you about the demise of Rawkin Juice from the location at 705 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. And now it looks like there’s a new tenant moving in. Window signage is up informing us that this will be a branch of meal delivery service Fresh n’ Lean. Promising healthy food that is “Fresh as F*#!” (their slogan painted on the wall inside), Fresh n’ Lean has locations throughout the U.S.
A mysterious ABC application has appeared on the front of a former hair salon at 345 N. Canon Dr. in Beverly Hills. The application lists the applicant and the business name as a rather inscrutable and unlikely “Le Wall Paint Parlor“. While these names are often prototypes and eventually discarded, it’s hard to ignore this one. The application also promises a “beer and wine eating place” and construction is underway. As I can’t find much information (or any), I guess we’ll have to keep watching…
I’ve been watching the space at 252 N Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills for a while now. It used to be the home of Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar until March of 2017, when Fleming’s quit the location. It has sat empty ever since, but that’s about to end. On a tip from a reader (Thanks Mike!), I went to check out the recently posted ABC application declaring that ever-popular Frida Mexican Cuisine is moving in.
This is a bit mysterious… What was formerly a short-lived Bobarrito at 1321 Third St. Promenade in Santa Monica has morphed into something called Pink Sushi. I’m not sure what’s going on here, but I’ll keep watching to see what develops.
It seems like you can’t swing a dead cat in Santa Monica without hitting a branch of ubiquitous sandwich chain Subway. That’s why it’s surprising the one located at 3023 Wilshire Blvd. closed down. And the replacement? Competitor Jimmy John’s is about to give Santa Monica its first branch.
I’ve been carefully watching the space at 9527 S Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills that used to house ill-fated B H Poke. I knew something was moving in, but I couldn’t confirm what. The new tenants left cryptic messages here and there, and had a daisy painted on the front at one point. But a note taped to the window finally lets the cat out of the bag. It appears that this location will be the future home of The Kind Ones. While there’s not a ton of information out there, this article in Fitt LA explains that The Kind Ones has its roots in Kuwait, and specializes in breakfast sandwiches and bowls, the former being served in open-top boxes on proprietary brioche buns that purportedly require the baker to sign a “non-disclosure agreement “. Their Yelp page lists the opening as November 2nd.
And while we’re on the subject of closures… I’m not sure when this happened, but I only recently noticed that Santa Monica’s popular sushi restaurant and after work bar scene Wokcano has quietly disappeared from its location at 1413 5th St. in Downtown Santa Monica. I’ll keep watching to see what hopeful contender may vie for the cavernous space.
Toddrickallen 