Sugarfina To Bring Confectionary Glam To The Point In El Segundo

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There has been a lot of news generated by the upscale The Point development that recently opened in rapidly developing El Segundo.  Most of the restaurant and food announcements arrived late last year.  But it looks like one addition to the food scene has only recently come about.  Confectionary magic makers Sugarfina is expanding its mini candy empire with a new boutique in The Point.  It looks like they’re aiming for an October opening date so South Bay sweet tooths will simply have to wait until then.

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Trouble At Santa Barbara Public Market?

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And while we’re on the subject of Santa Barbara…  One of the locations of Rori’s Artisanal Creamery is in the Santa Barbara Public Market.  You may remember that the anticipatory buzz was very high when SBPM first opened only last year.  Well, recently I had a chance to check out its progress.  Sadly, it appears that the market, often compared to San Francisco’s Ferry Building, may be having some of the difficulties that have plagued its predecessor The Market at Santa Monica Place, which is currently under redevelopment.  Three of the original stores have now closed; Belcampo Meat Co., The Pasta Shoppe, and Crazy Good Bread.  We’ll just have to wait and see how it all plays out.

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Rori’s Artisanal Creamery Coming Soon To Montana Ave.

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With locations in Santa Barbara, it appears that popular ice cream shop Rori’s Artisanal Creamery is expanding south.  Signs recently went up in the windows indicating that the LA area’s first Rori’s will be located at 910 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica.  No word on when the organic icy treats will be first available, and it looks like they’ve still got a way to go, but I’ll keep watching…

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Hooters Falls Flat In Santa Monica; Dragon Herbs To Take Over

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Normally, that den of skimpily-clad servers Hooters is off my radar.  So while I can’t exactly say when it happened, I only recently noticed that the Hooters that used to inhabit the space at 321 Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica had closed down.  However, their Yelp page promises that they are temporarily closed until November 1st.  But judging by the notices posted in the windows, it looks like that won’t be the case. Health emporium Dragon Herbs will be moving from their current location on Wilshire Blvd and taking over the space in a “few months” according to a spokesperson.

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Century City Shopping Center Torn Apart; See’s Moves Locations

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In what must be the final push before the new section is added, almost half of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center has now closed.  The new $800 million dollar facelift will include the addition of the upcoming Eataly that many of us have been patiently waiting for, with its “rooftop birreria bar and 360◦ panoramic city views”, according to the Westfield website.  One of the casualties of the closures was the quiet corner location of See’s Candies.  But fear not, chocoholics.  See’s is getting a brand new, more conspicuous location near Breadbar, giving Godiva, only a few feet away, a bit of competition.  Check out the vision of the sparkling new mall here.  

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H.O.M.E. Encounters A Spot Of Trouble In BH

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Looks like Beverly Hills’ ambitious jazz club H.O.M.E. (House of Music & Entertainment) has just hit a sour note.  According to this subtle poster affixed to a front window, their liquor license has been suspended until, well… “indefinite”.  I can’t find any indication that they have actually closed, but sadly, I’m afraid you won’t be having any martinis to accompany your blues any time soon.

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The Elevon Development Gets Its First Restaurant…

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While all eyes have been on the glitzy The Point development in El Segundo with its hipster dining and retail stores that opened last week, I’ve been keeping watch on another massive, yet less glam and more work horse development also coming to El Segundo.  Back in February of this year, I told you about the giant multi-use complex Elevon that was in development near the corner of Imperial and Douglas that promised office, retail, and dining space.  Still mostly under construction, I’ve been awaiting restaurant announcements.  Well ladies and gentlemen we have our first restaurant.  Signs have gone up announcing that Bowl of Heaven will soon inhabit one of the spaces.  With locations throughout California, BoH offers a menu of acai bowls, smoothies, and juices that you can read more about here.  Incidentally, according to the website, looks like Santa Monica can expect a branch soon as well…

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Doma Kitchen Now Open In New Digs In Manhattan Beach

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Originally located in Redondo Beach, little charmer Doma Kitchen is now up and running in their new location at 3562 N. Sepulveda Blvd. in a spot that has sat vacant for a while after the former tenant Baja Fresh moved out.  Doma (the name means “home” in Slavic) offers a warm and welcoming environment with communal tables and an open kitchen.  The menu of salads, sandwiches, small plates, and entrees is globally inspired and market driven with an emphasis on European and Central Asian techniques.  Check out their menu and read more here.

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Koala Tapioca Closes For An Upgrade In Westwood

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After beginning life in a truck, I noticed back in November that popular boba purveyors Koala Tapioca was moving into a brick and mortar at 10965 Weyburn Ave. in Westwood.  Well they long since have opened but according to a notice posted on their papered-over window, their popularity is requiring them to close so they can upgrade with a new menu and “enhanced services”.  Whatever those enhanced services are, we’ll just have to wait and see but in the meantime, check out more here.

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The Point Officially Opens This Week With A Free Breakfast; True Food Kitchen Now Open In El Segundo…

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There are a great many of you who read this blog that appear to be very excited about the arrival of the big shopping/dining development The Point, situated on the corner of Rosecrans and Sepulveda in El Segundo (Manhattan Beach adjacent).  Much of your attention is focused on the True Food Kitchen (that according to their website is now open), but as I’ve told you before, there are many other eateries on the way as well.  I can’t exactly say when all of those restaurants will open (although it looks like most will be open very soon), I can tell you that The Point officially opens this Thursday with a 9:30am complimentary continental breakfast followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony and other activities over the weekend that you can read more about here.

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Another In-N-Out Set To Grace The Southbay Soon…

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Fanaticism-inspiring CA chain In-N-Out Burger continues its slow and steady expansion.  The old derelict Sizzler that used to inhabit the corner of Sepulveda and E. Mariposa in El Segundo has been torn down and construction is underway on the building that will house the new restaurant.  No word on an opening date, but I’m sure the hungry aerospace crowds are chomping at the bit…

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Caffe 8 1/2 Taking Over Caffe Bello In SM?

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I’m not entirely sure what’s going on here, but I’ve noticed a lot of recent activity at the site that used to house Caffe Bello at 1912 Broadway Suite 100 in a quiet residential neighborhood of Santa Monica.  Caffe Bello apparently closed earlier in the year.  But signs have recently gone up (as well as a giant wall photo of Marcello Mastroianni in an homage to Federico Fellini’s famous film) announcing that the new lunch spot will be called Caffe 8 1/2.  The door promises a menu of classic Italian faves including panini, focacce, tiramisu, and espresso.  Let me know if you have more info, but in the mean time, I’ll keep my eye on it…

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Another Wetzel’s Down For The Count…

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Is popular doughy treat shop Wetzel’s Pretzels pulling out of the Westside?  Back in December of last year, I noticed that the branch at Santa Monica Place had disappeared.  And now, the Wetzel’s in the Century City Shopping Center has quietly slipped out of its first floor location.  Not sure what’s going on, but I’ll keep watching.  If you find that life holds no meaning without their signature salty Bavarian-inspired snacks, locate another branch here.

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Café Rockenwagner Now Closed In Brentwood

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I had high hopes for Café Rockenwagner when I first noticed back in 2013 that it was coming to a new development in Brentwood: It had a bright, mod interior; a fantastic location on the corner of Barrington and Wilshire; and the pleasing Germanic/Californian comfort food of longtime LA chef Hans Röckenwagner.  But slowly over the subsequent months, you could see fewer and fewer people sitting at its tables.  Sadly, the Café has served its last pretzel burger.  The signs are covered over and the place is deserted.  No word on what may be replacing it, but until then, Rockenwagner still maintains a few other places around town that you can locate here.

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Papa Jake’s Sub Shop Closes In Beverly Hills

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While we’re on the subject of closures…  I recently noticed that longtime neighborhood sandwich shop Papa Jake’s Sub Shop at 9527 Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills has closed its doors.  And it looks like they haven’t lined up a new tenant yet as evidenced by the “for rent” signs posted in the window.  I’ll keep my eye on it.

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Pulse Cafe Bids Bye-Bye To Santa Monica

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Back in December of 2012, I told you about a new healthy café that had just arrived at 1426 Montana Ave. #5 in Santa Monica.  Since then, Pulse Café had made quite a sensation among the yoga crowd with its signature hot smoothies and organic boba.  Sadly however, it appears that Pulse Café has given up the ghost, possibly due to stiff competition from nearby Beaming, Kye’s, and any number of other juice joints that crowd the street.  The space has  been cleared out and there are prominent “for lease” signs in the window.  I’ll keep my eye out for replacements…
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Gray Dog Tavern Coming Soon To The Corner of SMB And Bundy

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Looks like the Westside is getting a new restaurant of some sort.  Not much to go on here except an ABC license and a smattering of city applications, but it appears that the derelict Blockbuster Video store at 12112 Santa Monica Blvd. (corner of Bundy) will soon be home to Gray Dog Tavern (…or Grey Dog Tavern, or simply Gray Dog: it’s spelled various ways on different applications).  And of course, this could just be a working name and not the actual name.  As always, I’ll keep watching…

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Nobu Malibu Opens For Breakfast…

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Malibu’s ne plus ultra stylish charmer Nobu will begin serving breakfast today (Friday July 10th) according to their website and confirmed by a company spokesperson.  One can only imagine what culinary magic the perpetually popular restaurant intends on bestowing on the good people of Malibu, but the brekkie blessings will be flowing only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 9am to 12pm.  Does this mean we’re getting closer to the highly anticipated opening of the nearby Nobu Ryokan?

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Nancy’s Raw Juices Now Open In MDR

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I recently noticed that yet another juice joint has popped up in Marina del Rey.  Nancy’s Raw Juices & Milk Tea has moved into the space that used to house an old convenience market at 105 W. Washington Blvd.  Nancy’s offers a menu of cold-pressed juices, smoothies, soups, and milk teas and doesn’t yet have a big online presence, just a Facebook page that you can check out here.

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Simplethings Now Open In Santa Monica…

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Back in December of last year, we learned from Eater that simplethings, the cozy sandwich shop well-known for their amazing pies, was intending to open a branch in Santa Monica.  Simplethings has quietly slipped into the space at 800 Wilshire Blvd., right smack dab on the corner of Lincoln and is now up and running.  With three other locations across LA, they offer  a menu of sandwiches, breakfasts, salads, and of course pie that you can read more about here.

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