You know the old saying; When the Lord closes an ice cream shop, somewhere he opens another. People were devastated by the recent closure of Santa Monica’s longstanding and beloved branch of popular icy treat brand Ben & Jerry’s. But from out of nowhere, a brand new location has opened at 253 S Beverly Dr. (formerly home to Creamistry). You’re welcome.
I recently noticed paper covering the windows at 9632 S Santa Monica Blvd. You may recall that this space was most recently inhabited by a branch of Danish lifestyle brand Joe & The Juice. It looks like Joe has moved on and something called La Ong is moving in. I don’t have any information on La Ong, except that “Thai cuisine” will be on offer.
There’s a new ABC application recently posted to the front of the space at 9705/9709 S Santa Monica Blvd (formerly Il Forno Caldo). It names the upcoming restaurant as Demonico’s. I don’t have much information on the upcoming eatery. There is already a Domenico’s that offers Italian products at local farmers’ markets, but I don’t have any confirmation that the two are connected. If you know more, let me know…
S Santa Monica Blvd. is a revolving door for restaurants. The space at 9527 S Santa Monica Blvd., most recently occupied by top-secret brioche breakfast place The Kind Ones, is no exception. But one plucky contender is going to give it a go. There’s paper in the windows announcing an upcoming branch of New York’s own Joe’s Pizza. We wish them the best of luck.
Good news people of Beverly Hills, high-end goceries are heading your way! Many of you grieved when I told you about the closure of the much-beloved Williams Sonoma at 339 N Beverly Dr. Wasting no time, window coverings are informing us that this location will eventually be an outpost of popular (if pricey) natural foods grocer Erewhon. It appears that they are taking their time: They’re shooting for an opening next year.
I first learned of Cinderella Cakes arrival to 214 S Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills back in Summer of 2019. Sadly, they have vacated the location, leaving an opportunity for a new star bakery. There’s now a notice on the front that this will be the new home of a branch of ever-popular Sweet Lady Jane. And according to their website, they will soon be bringing their signature Triple Berry Cakes to Manhattan Beach as well.
I recently noticed an ABC application taped to the front of what had been formerly understated sandwich shop Everyday Cafe Seletto in a quieter part of The Golden Triangle at 434 N Camden. The application lists the new business as Beverly Bar. According to this article, the owner Matthew Raanan is working in partnership with Chef Felix Garcia owner of Toca Madera and Tocaya Organica. Otherwise, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of info out there quite yet.
It looks like Beverly Hills is about to get a fresh new noodle shop. A sign is up on the space at 255 S Beverly Dr., formerly home to The Coral Tree Cafe, announcing that Strings Ramen is moving in. While I don’t have confirmation, I believe this is the same Strings Ramen that has been voted Chicago’s best ramen and is famous for their “Monster Hell Ramen Challenge“, or a challenge to empty their level 5 hell ramen bowl in 20 minutes to recieve a $50 gift certificate and a t-shirt. There’s an ABC application on the front as well, so beer and wine will be on offer. Check out this concept video to get a glimpse of what’s coming…
A reader with super human powers (no mere mortal would be able to spot this, Thanks Tony!) let me know about some activity at the former home of fossilized diner, Roxbury Cafe at 459 Roxbury Dr. in Beverly Hills. An open air dining permit request on the boarded-up front door lists the name of the new business as Impasta. I have no confirmation that this is the same restaurant, but there is an Impasta with one other location in LA that offers a menu designed for low-carb and gluten-free diets with items such as “classic pasta and pizza recipes made with zero to low carb noodle options, [and] cauliflower crusts”. Also, there’s no red meat is on the menu. We wish them the best of luck.
Update: Jennifer W was kind enough to let us know that in their Instagram feed, Impasta has said that they are relocating to Beverly Hills. So this will not be a second location.
It appears LA’s premier and exclusive destination for pricey deep-fried nibbles is about to change hands. There’s an ABC application on the front of Tempura Endo, at 9777 S Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills, indicating that the Japanese restaurant that caused quite a stir when it first opened is changing owners. While it remains COVID-closed, at least we can rest assured that a restaurant will be reopening at the location. I guess we’ll have wait and see what it will look like… (The new owner, Peace Dining, appears to be a big player in sushi.)
Well this is sad news indeed. Look at this photo in the window of Beverly Hills’ bright, beautiful Williams-Sonoma. Yes, it’s true: this location at 339 N Beverly Dr., known for having the best selection in the area, will be permanently closing its doors. They will remain open through the end of January. Their locations in Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, and Pasadena will stay open, for now…
It looks like Beverly Hills’ branch of liquid nitrogen ice cream experts Creamistry has vacated their location at 253 S Bevely Dr. The prominent for lease sign lets us know they aren’t coming back. It looks like the space has already been leased, so I’ll keep my eye on it to see who’s moving in.
The Golden Triangle in general, and S. Santa Monica Blvd. in particular, have long been tricky locations for restaurants, but the current COVID crisis appears to be accelerating the departures. Panini Kabob Grill stood like a sentinel on the corner of Camden and S. Santa Monica, and was a popular lunch destination. But sadly, a large for lease sign now indicates that they have indeed permanently thrown in the towel at this location.
Amorino Gelato brought a certain frisson to The Golden Triangle when it opened late in 2014 at 9605 S. Santa Monica Blvd. Sadly, it appears the Parisian superstar of icy treats has vacated the cavernous location. A large for lease sign confirms the news that is sure to be a blow to its devoted fans. I’ll keep my eye on the space to see what develops.
In its previous incarnations, the space at 184 N. Cannon Dr. has been various restaurants, a jazz club, and even a macrame lounge. But they’ve all gone by the wayside, perhaps due to being upstaged by perennially glam next door neighbor Spago. Now it appears a plucky new contender is about to give the tricky location a go. An ABC application on the front is announcing that something called Nusret Beverly Hills is intent on moving in. What should we expect? I’m not certain, but perhaps there’s a clue here. We wish them the best of luck.
We all know The Beverly Hills Hotel. And we all know The Palm. But the Beverly Hills Palm Hotel? Well, that’s the unlikely business name listed on an ABC application pasted to the front of the diminutive former home of the Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop at 9685 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills. Since I can’t find out much information or any links to either of these two storied Beverly Hills institutions, I’m afraid we’ll just have to wait and see what develops…
As you know if you read this blog, coffee shops are getting hammered right now. Peets, The Coffee Bean, and even Starbucks have all been closing locations recently. And now it looks like the newish Bluestone Lane is leaving its location at 9523 S. Santa Monica, in the Golden Triangle. The large for lease sign in the window appears to confirm it.
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?
