Flower Child Set To Open June 14th

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It was back in December when I first noticed that Flower Child, one of Fox Restaurant Concepts brands (True Food Kitchen, North Italia), was going to be sharing the renovated Laemmle Theater space at 1332 Second Street in Downtown Santa Monica.  Eater told us that June was the projected opening.  Now we have a date:  According to a spokesperson, Flower Child will begin dispensing good vibes on June 14th.  Look for a menu of organic, locally sourced, and additive free, “healthy food for a happy world”.

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The Commons Ale House Bids A Colorful Goodbye To Santa Monica

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The Commons Ale House has had its share of troubles in the past, but all that is behind them now.  A letter, hand-penned in marker and affixed to the front door at 129 Broadway, bids a colorful goodbye to Downtown Santa Monica and a thank you to its erstwhile customers.  It appears that they closed down after last weekend, and no reason for the abrupt closure is given.  I’ll keep my eye on the space to see what develops.

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The Gallery Slowly Coming Back To Life In Santa Monica

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Back in March, I told you about the opening of the food hall The Gallery at 1315 Third Street Promenade after a two-year renovation.  While there appears to be a great deal of activity, almost all the stalls are still without tenants.  However, joining McDonald’s, Subway has returned to the The Gallery and is now open.  I’ll keep watching the other spaces…

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Ono Poke Coming To El Segundo

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As poke hysteria grips the Westside, we learn of yet another raw fish establishment vying for a place at the table.  Back in December I told you about the demise of El Segundo’s Salad Creations at 2259 E Maple Ave. in The Edge at Campus El Segundo, next to the giant Elevon complex currently under construction.  Signs have recently gone up on the space indicating that the new tenant will be Ono Poke Hawaiian Poke Bowl.  No word on an opening date, but I’ll keep watching.

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All About The Bread Closes In Century City

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They’re dropping like flies in Century City…  It was only back in December of last year that I noticed that Melrose’s specialty sandwich shop All About The Bread had quietly slipped into the turbulent waters of the food court of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center.  Sadly, they have abandoned their space in the rapidly changing mall.  That brings the total number of vacancies to three…

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Pizzana Is The Name Of The New Daniele Pizza Concept In Brentwood

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I’ve been watching the space at 11712 San Vicente Blvd. that once housed Adoteca and Osteria Latini before that.  The last news was the ABC license application posted on the front that indicated that something called Daniele Pizza was moving in.  Eater did a little digging and discovered that the people behind Daniele were none other than the founders of the cupcake empire Sprinkles, Candace and Charles Nelson.  Well, plywood recently went up on the space informing us that the real name of the new restaurant will be… Pizzana.  The ABC license still lists the business as Daniele, however the owner is now listed as Pizzana LLC instead of Daniele LLC.  But it’s still the Nelsons who are behind the venture.  Their website hasn’t been developed yet, so I can only speculate about what they have in mind.  But I will definitely keep an anticipatory eye on this development…

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Spinfish Poke House Dropping Anchor In Santa Monica Soon

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It’s poke mania on the Westside!  It wasn’t that long ago that I told you about the demise of Santa Monica’s short-lived branch of pie shop Simplethings, at  808 Wilshire Blvd. (corner of Lincoln).  Wasting no time whatsoever, signs have gone up on the space indicating that a branch of Pasadena’s Spinfish Poke House will be rapidly moving in.  Their website alludes to a new location (“We are dropping our anchor on another port!”) and encourages us to follow clues, but I think we’ve solved the mystery.  The windows are papered over so I can’t assess the progress, but I’ll keep watching…

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New Openings In Westwood Village…

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Not long ago, I told you about some upcoming new restaurants hitting the Westwood Village food scene.  Since then, both establishments have opened.  Asian dumpling experts Northern Café has thrown open its doors at 1064 Gayley Ave.  Additionally, icy treat purveyors Frostalicious is now providing the good people of Westwood with Taiwanese shaved ice at 10967 Weyburn Ave.

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Juicy Ladies Bringing “Healthy Lifestyle” To The Beach Soon

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With one location in Woodland Hills, “healthy lifestyle” experts Juicy Ladies are expanding to a free-standing building at 17361 Sunset Blvd. in Pacific Palisades, just one block from PCH.  Besides juices and smoothies, look for a menu of eggs, sandwiches and wraps, bowls, and vegan desserts.  No word on an opening date, but until then, check out their menu and read more here.

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Farm Stand Closes In El Segundo: El Gringo Kanteen Moving In…

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After 10 years of delivering “urban country” food to the good people of El Segundo, local fave Farm Stand closed its doors recently at their 422 Main St. location.  Wasting no time whatsoever, an ABC license transfer application posted in the window informs us that a new restaurant, El Gringo Kanteen will be taking over the space.  EGK appears to be related to the South Bay chain El Gringo Mexican Restaurant, because the name on the ABC app., William Phillip Graw, makes a showing on their licenses as well.  No word on an opening, but I’ll keep watching…

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The Juicy Bird Flies The Coop In Century City

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With all of the upcoming changes to the notoriously capricious food scene of the new Westfield Century Shopping Center currently under construction, I’ve been watching the extant restaurants very closely.  Even with the promise of the new and glam 2.0 version of the popular shopping and dining destination, expected some time next year, the mall is still bleeding eateries.  Recently, Seiki-Shi Sushi bit the dust.  And now it looks like longtime food court poultry purveyor The Juicy Bird has vacated their space.  I’ll continue to keep watching the changes…

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Bobaritto Gets A Brick And Mortar In The Third Street Promenade

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With food trucks in LA, OC, and NY, it appears that sushi burrito, poke, and boba tea specialists Bobaritto is getting a brick and mortar.  Paper has gone up on the space that used to house longtime Santa Monica fixture George’s Bistro at 1321 Third Street Promenade announcing the impending arrival.  No word on an opening date, but until then, check out their menu (and secret menu) and learn more about what exactly a sushi burrito is here.

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Gelson’s Santa Monica Raises The Bar…

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The sparkling brand new Gelson’s that took over the old Haggen (Albertson’s) space on the corner of Ocean Park and Lincoln in Santa Monica is just about to make grocery shopping a whole lot more interesting.  According to signs posted in the store, they will soon be adding a wine and craft beer bar, thereby considerably increasing their chances of higher revenue due to impulse spending.  No word on when the drunk shopping will commence, but believe me, I’m watching this one closely…

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Moo Greek Yogurt Takes Over Sweet Crush In Brentwood

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The Greek yogurt craze seems to be building momentum…  After a nearly four-year run at 11753 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood, Asian shaved ice shop Sweet Crush abruptly closed its doors back in March.  Wasting no time whatsoever, it appears a new treat shop is taking over.  Signs are up announcing that the space will soon be inhabited by Moo Greek Yogurt.  Not a lot of information out there, just a job listing describing Moo as an “upscale yogurt shop” and “ice cream café”.

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Chez Tex Brings Coffee, Food, And Wine Soon To Main St. In Venice

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So, I’ve been watching the tiny space at 218 Main St. in Venice (Santa Monica adjacent) ever since I noticed a small notice pasted on the front that indicated the storefront was being outfitted as a restaurant.  But I couldn’t get any info until this week…  Paper covering the side of the plywood tells us that the new eatery will be something called Chez Tex.  A quick search directed me to the still-developing website, informing us that Chez Tex will be an “all-day eatery” serving coffee, food, and wine.  I’ll keep my eye out for more information.

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Teavana Bites The Dust In BH

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It was about two years ago that I noticed that the corner space at Santa Monica Blvd. and Wilshire in Beverly Hills was about to get a branch of tea purveyor Teavana.  Sadly, it appears that they have closed and vacated the space, as evidenced by the large for lease sign affixed to the front.  I’ll keep my eye on it and see what will move in…

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LDH Kitchen Takes Over The Cadet Space In SM

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Ambitious wood-fired restaurant Cadet closed earlier this year after a short run at 2518 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica.  And now we have a  clue as to what may be replacing it.  An ABC license application went up on the space on Friday informing us that something called LDH Kitchen will be taking over.  Hard to find much information about what kind of establishment this will be.  The man behind LDH is someone named Eugene Nomura according to the ABC app.  I’ll keep watching for further developments…

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Da Kikokiko Bringing Poke To Playa Vista

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I recently noticed that the windows are papered over on the small space just to the left of Hopdoddy in the fast-developing The Runway Playa Vista announcing the impending arrival of something called Da Kikokiko.  After digging around a bit, I discovered on What’s Up Playa Vista that Da Kikokiko is a brand new poke spot brought to you by restaurant team Brooke Williamson and Nick Roberts (Playa Provisions).  No word on an opening date and they appear to have a way to go, but until then, you can follow their progress on Instagram here.

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