It looks like Beverly Hills’ branch of international chain ‘Lette Macarons has permanently shuttered its location at 9466 Charleville Blvd. Not sure what happened. I’ll keep my eyes on the space to see what may develop.
Times have most certainly not been good for coffee joints. If you’ve been reading this site, you know that The Coffee Bean has been hit particularly hard. But just recently, I noticed that Peet’s Coffee has quit its location at 258 S Beverly Dr. in Bevery Hills. I don’t think we’re done with this trend yet…
Earlier this week, I told you about the permanent closure of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on S Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills. I reader was quick to point out that the CBTL that anchors the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. and S Beverly Glen Blvd. was also closing as of Sunday, May 17th. I went by the coffee shop and checked it out: A notice in the window confirms that this branch is now permanently closed. What’s going on with CBTL?
I’m not sure what the circumstances were, but it appears that the normally crowded Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at 233 S Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills has permanently closed. There’s a notice in the window thanking customers for their support. I’ll keep my eye on the space.
Readers have been letting me know that Bedford & Burns has disappeared from Beverly Hills. The American bistro and bar has had a long history in Beverly Hills, but had been in its current incarnation at 369 N Bedford Dr. since 2013. Apparently something new has quickly and quietly slipped in to take its place. An ABC application in the window lists the business as The Beverly Hills Tea Room. But a notice in the window explaining the current closure due to floor repair lists the name as The Bar & Tea Room. Let me know if you have more information…
Competition for diners’ attentions can be stiff in Beverly Hills. A recent casualty appears to be The Golden Triangle’s branch of plant-based powerhouse Gratitude Kitchen & Bar, which has closed its location at 419 N Canon. I’m not sure what happened, but I’ll keep my eye on the space to see what may develop.
So far, as you can see from reading this blog, 2020 has seen a shocking number of restaurant closings. And we’re not done yet… Coral Tree Cafe is now closed at 225 S Beverly Blvd. in Beverly Hills. A gracious note on the front door blames rising costs of labor and rent. That leaves just two locations left (Encino and Brentwood) for the coffee and sandwich chain founded by Brentwood residents in 2002.
(Thanks Mike!)
Amirah Kassem is a superstar of confectionary creations, most notably, her legendary explosion cake. And now it looks like LA will get a chance to sample the legendary baked treat. Window paper is up on the spot that used to be the home of Sugarfina, at 9495 S Santa Monica Blvd, announcing that Ms. Kassem is planning on bringing a branch of her famed New York bakery Flour Shop to the good people of Beverly Hills.
It looks like Beverly Hills wasn’t so kind to them… Back in October of last year, I finally figured out from the teaser campaign that The Kind Ones was moving into the notoriously tricky space at 9527 S Santa Monica Blvd. If you recall, The Kind Ones had roots in Kuwait and was focused on specialty breakfast sandwiches with top-secret brioche buns. But apparently that wasn’t enough to pull people in: The Kind Ones is now closed.
(Thanks Anthony!)
You know I’ve been tracking the massive expansion of the Israeli chain obsessed with lilliputian burgers, Burgerim. But could there be a bump in the road to SoCal domination? As a reader pointed out (Thanks Tony!) the new-ish Burgerim at 250 S Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills has already called it quits after about a year. Not sure what happened, but the reader suspects competition from Burger Lounge, which is directly across the street, could have had something to do with it.
Here’s some eyebrow-raising news… Beverly Hills’ branch of chic Parisian patisserie Ladurée, in an astonishing feat of vegan ingenuity, has recently gone 100% plant based! The collaboration with plant-based superstar Matthew Kenney has produced Ladurée X Matthew Kenney, the first of its kind in the world. On the menu? Standards such as Ladurée benedict, French onion soup, croque monsieur, and salade niçoise. And in case you’re wondering, the pastries, viennoiseries, cakes, and macarons (now including hemp flavor) are all there in full glory. According to the website, the collab is being extended to other locations throughout the world as well.
The space at 9465 S Santa Monica Blvd., set squarely in a notoriously tricky stretch of The Golden Triangle for restaurants, has seen its share of eateries come and go. The latest to go? It was back December of last year that I told you about the new pressed juice joint, Organica, that had recently opened. Unfortunately, they didn’t make it a year. A reader was quick to point out that they have now vacated the address. I’ll keep watching to see what other brave contenders may attempt the space…
Beverly Hills can be a tricky location for casual lunch spots. Sadly, one that has survived the sturm und drang for 10 years recently closed shop. A gracious note on the front door lets us know that Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop has quit its location at 9671 Wilshire Blvd. Greenleaf has six other locations across the LA/OC area.
It looks like a new chocolate shop is landing in Beverly Hills soon. Window paper is heralding the arrival of Chokolatta to the diminutive space at 255 1/2 S Beverly Dr. Apparently the focus here is small batch, handmade chocolates, desserts, and drinks with an emphasis on “Pre-Hispanic recipes and the ancient Mayan culture” that you can read more about here.
Back in December of last year, I told you about the demise of sandwich shop Cabbage Patch at 214 S Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills. And now it looks like a new tenant is moving in. Window displays announce the arrival of Cinderella Cakes. Cinderella Cakes has been an Orange County staple for over 65 years, and are famous for producing decorated cakes that are “edible works of art”, but they also produce an array of other sweet treats and host cake decorating parties as well. It looks like they’re shooting for a Fall opening.
The increasing number of authentic Japanese restaurants or impending projects, as in straight out of Japan, is impressive right now. Add one more to the list: Window notices are up on the space next to Yazawa, at 9966A S. Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills, announcing a new restaurant, Ima. The window promises shabu-shabu and sukiyaki, but their website lets us know that Tokyo-based Imafuku makes highest-grade Japanese Wagyu the star of the show. And they’ll even let you know from what part of Japan the beef is coming, just in case you’re concerned about Fukushima.
Thanks to a sharp-eyed reader (Thanks ML!), I went to check out what was going on at 120 S. Linden Dr., a small freestanding hut in a parking lot behind a building on Wilshire. A while ago, it used to house a hidden locals-only restaurant, Cool Basil Thai Bistro, that folded in 2016. The space has sat empty since then. But there are indications of activity, and a large sign on Linden announces that this will soon be the home of Guisados. Originally from Boyle Heights, and with locations dotting the Southland, Guisados offers a menu of traditional Mexican homestyle braises served with handmade tortillas, beans, and rice.
If you follow this blog, then you know what a tricky market S. Santa Monica Blvd. is in the Golden Triangle of Beverly Hills. Courageous contenders routinely come and go. The latest to go? It appears that high-end candy shop Sugarfina has pulled up stakes at their 9495 S. Santa Monica Blvd. location leaving a gaping cavity on the glittery street.
The City of Beverly Hills should consider rebranding their glamorous downtown as the Golden Devil’s Triangle for its ability to make restaurants disappear. The latest? Japanese batter specialist Harajuku Crepe has vacated its space at 9405 S. Santa Monica Blvd. Not sure what happened, but I’ll keep watching to see what develops…
South Santa Monica Blvd. in The Golden Triangle can be a tricky location. Eateries come and go along the notoriously capricious strip. But that doesn’t seem to deter plucky newcomers. Recently I told you about The Kind Ones, and right next door, in what used to be Bo Nuage at 9523 S. Santa Monica, signs have recently gone up announcing a branch of expanding Australian coffee chain Bluestone Lane.
