I’ve known for a while now that something was moving into the old Poquito Mas space at 2025 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica: The for lease sign came down a while ago. But now we know what it is… It looks like the former Mexican restaurant will be taken over by another, Chipotle Mexican Grill.
The dramatic renovation of the Manhattan Village on the corner of Rosecrans and Sepulveda in Manhattan Beach has a new casualty. Self described “true mediterranean” restaurant Sesame Moe’s has pulled up stakes. Not sure what happened, but you can read their goodbye message here.
Manhattan Beach’s popular purveyor of “New Zealand’s coffee culture” is continuing to expand. Signs are up on the space at 321 Main St. in El Segundo that used to be the home of Steve’s Burgers announcing that Two Guns Kitchen will soon be plying the locals and captive industry folks with flat whites. I’m not sure when they will be opening, but it looks like they’re not too far off…
The mystery continues… Back in June of 2015 renovation began on the shabby old food court The Gallery at 1315 Third St. Promenade in Santa Monica. Excitement heightened when it reopened and restaurants started trickling in. And then something went wrong. The restaurants that had opened moved out and The Gallery sat empty. Then, last week, the windows were papered over and a required construction sign has appeared in the window. If anyone has any information, let me know as this story has been keenly followed by a great number of you…
The signs are up on the space at 5263 Rosecrans Blvd. in Hawthorne announcing that soon a new frozen treat shop will be throwing open its doors. According to the window paper, Swirl Soft Serve will be specializing in hand swirled dairy, non-diary, and vegan ice cream and sundaes. It looks like they’re shooting for a mid-April opening.
It looks like artisanal coffee purveyor Caffe Luxxe is expanding. I just noticed their signs are up on an empty space in the freshly remodeled shopping center at 22335 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. Their website also promises a new location in the Montecito Country Mart in Montecito as well.
Sadly, it looks like retail shoe store Lorin is going out of business at 1354 3rd St. Promenade in Downtown Santa Monica. Why am I telling you this? Because if you look at the storefront carefully, you’ll see a notice of pending design review in the lower right corner. The notice informs us that “a new bakery” will be taking over. If we look closely at the artist’s rendering, the name of the new bakery will be Carlo’s Bake Shop. Apparently Carlo’s Bake Shop is another name for none other than New Jersey’s Carlo’s Bakery of TLC’s Cake Boss fame. This would be the chain’s first West Coast location.
Popular local institution Little Asia served the good people of Hawthorne for many years on the corner of El Segundo Blvd. and Hawthorne Blvd. Then, about three years ago, they were tragically forced to close their doors after a fire caused significant damage. For some reason, possibly due to the City’s renovation projects, they have not returned to their old location. And that was the end of that… or so we thought. Here’s good news for all of you fans: Signs are up on a major remodel of the space at 4624 W. Imperial Highway in Hawthorne announcing their triumphant return. It looks like they still have a ways to go, but I’ll keep watching as things develop…
It wasn’t that long ago that I told you that Buca Di Beppo had closed its doors at 1442 2nd St, sparking a conversation about the viability of any restaurant in the pricey and complicated Santa Monica and LA market. Now it looks like another national Italian brand is going to give it a try. A sign is up on the construction plywood at the old Buca space announcing that it will soon be the home of a branch of North Italia. There’s reason to hope that they will have a better run than their predecessor: They know a thing or two about Downtown Santa Monica. Within a block in either direction are two other restaurants from North Italia’s parent company Fox Restaurant Concepts, Flower Child and True Food Kitchen. We wish them the best of luck.
A Real Treat Candy Boutique caused a sensation when it first opened as a pop-up in 2013, and later landed in Santa Monica. Offering “better” candy options that were free from artificial junk, they were lauded by LA Weekly in 2016. Sadly, it appears that things have gone sour, as a large for lease sign is now tacked to the front of their brick and mortar at 2724 Main St. I’ll keep my eye on the space to see what moves in…
The little strip mall on the corner of Montana and San Vicente in Brentwood seems to have run into a spot of trouble… A while ago, diminutive coffee shop Brew-N-Beans gave up the ghost. More recently, one of the Westside’s last few remaining carb palaces, Noah’s Bagels, quit their location there. And now, it appears that smoothie experts Jamba Juice has closed down. That leaves only scrappy Souplantation in the increasingly vacant mall.
As you know, I’ve been watching the food scene materialize at the Elevon development in El Segundo. So far, there’s a Bowlology, and upcoming Petros Kafe, and a Lisa’s Café & Bakery. And now we can add one more to that list. An ABC license application in the window of the space at 735 N. Douglas St. lets us know that a second location of Long Beach’s Ocean Market Grill will soon be moving in. It looks like we can expect a menu of tacos, salads, and… fish.
Cozy little Comfort Café was a fixture for years in the now defunct Fred Segal on the corner of 5th and Broadway in Santa Monica. But just because Fred Segal is gone doesn’t mean that they’ve gone as well. Comfort Café has moved into new digs. They are currently celebrating their grand opening at their new location in the space that used to house Infuzion Café at 1241 5th St, suite 102. Check out their familiar menu here.
I didn’t see this coming… As evidenced by the note attached to the front door and the removal of signs, it appears that Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar has thrown in the towel at its location at 252 N. Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills. No word on a replacement, but I’ll keep watching.
Walking around Downtown Santa Monica recently, I noticed plywood covering the front of the space at 109 Broadway that used to house defunct Middle Eastern restaurant Seaside Grill. I was lucky enough to catch one of the owners of the new establishment who informed me that the upcoming eatery will intriguingly be called Air Food, and the menu will be “French”, otherwise I don’t have any more information than that. They’re shooting for a mid-April opening, and this being Santa Monica I wish them the best of luck with that.
As you probably already know, legendary watering hole Nic’s Beverly Hills closed after a long run on Jan 31st. And what will be taking over its space at 453 N. Canon Dr? An ABC application appeared in the window this week announcing that something called Tatel LA will soon be moving in. Could this be a branch of the highly anticipated Spanish restaurant coming soon to Miami? We’ll have to wait and see…
Sadly, it appears that hopeful start-up Wellfed has disappeared from their space at 13020 W. Pacific Promenade #7. It was only just back in April of last year that I told you about their opening. Not sure what happened or what will become of that monkeypod wood wrap-around countertop, but I’ll keep my eye on it…
I don’t have much information on this… A notice is up on the small neighborhood market that used to be the location of Sal’s Deli at 2524 Pacific Ave. in Venice declaring that the space will soon house an “organic plant based deli” and “organic juice bar”. The telephone number on the banner connects to something called “Gold Coast Properties”. As always, I’ll keep watching.
Paper covering the windows at 9887 S. Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills informs us that we can expect a new French café, Merci Clement to open soon. Not much out there yet, just an undeveloped website and Facebook page. According to the notices on the door, we can look for a menu of specialty coffee, salads, sandwiches, crepes, chocolates, “petit cakes”, and gelato. It looks like they’re planning on opening some time this year…
It looks like red sauce pasta joint Romano’s Macaroni Grill has quit their location at 2321 Rosecrans Ave. in El Segundo. All signs have been taken down and the restaurant looks empty. Not sure what happened or what may be moving into the cavernous space, but I’ll keep watching…
Toddrickallen 