Innovative coffee purveyor Go Get Em Tiger has abruptly closed its location at 930 Montana Ave in Santa Monica on Tuesday. Santa Monica’s other location on Main St. closed a while ago. GGET opened this location in 2022 with much excitement and an extended menu. I’m not sure what is happening with the chain, but their Culver City location, as well as other locations east of here are still open.
(Thanks Steve!)
In a town packed with powerhouse restaurants, quiet little Sushi Kiyono has been happily serving devoted locals for 27 years at 255 S Beverly Blvd. Sadly, that is about to come to an end. A gracious note on the front door cites retirement and says that the final day of service will be this Saturday November 22. The note also welcomes their replacement: The Brothers Sushi. An ABC application on the front confirms it. With locations in Woodland Hills, Santa Monica, and Culver City, The Brothers Sushi is the much lauded and wildly popular “high-end” sushi spot that offers seasonal “Omakase Chefs courses or Ala Carte options”.
There’s window paper up on the space at 10601 Washington Blvd #103 (corner of Overland) announcing the impending arrival of Wildbird. Wildbird specializes in locally sourced free-range chicken that has been “raised right“. They then marinate it for 24 hours, slow cook it, and carve it to order. They have five other locations around LA.
A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Charles!) spotted a notice on the door of the tiny former Antequera Bakery space at 1704 Ocean Park Blvd. in Santa Monica. French Boulangerie Patisserie Des Croissants Paris appears to be taking up housekeeping at the address. Des Croissants Paris has a presence at a number of local farmers markets, and a brick-and-mortar in Culver City. Proclaiming themselves as “proudly French”, they offer freshly baked artisanal croissants, pastries and sandwiches made with quality French ingredients.
With its much-lauded tonkotsu ramen that once caused a sensation in New York, award-winning Ippudo has been slowly making inroads into the West Coast. A sharp-eyed reader noticed that they are moving into the space at 3847 Main St. in Downtown Culver City. Founded in 1985 in Fukuoka City, Japan, they opened their first US location in 2008 in New York and have since spread to locations in Bay Area and West Hollywood. This will be the second LA location for the exacting noodle chain (although there was briefly a Santa Monica outpost).
(Thanks Mitch!)
A concerned reader messaged me about some prominent closures along Culver Blvd. in Downtown Culver City. Chipotle, Sweet Lily, Shake Shack have vacated their respective locations. Janga by Derrick’s is also gone. Not sure what happened (except for Shake Shack, which you can read about here), but their disappearance leaves some gaping holes in a normally busy dining scene.
(Thaks Mitch!)
On a tip from a reader (Thanks Melissa!) I went by the former location of Harujuku Taproom, at 4410 Sepulveda in Culver City, to see what was going on. There’s a lot of construction and a banner on the front announcing the arrival of Gokigen Tori. Gokigen Tori bills itself as “The Yakitori House” and promises an “authentic Japanese grill experience”. You can get an idea of what it will look like when finished on their FB page.
I’m hearing from shocked readers that popular local party spot BJ”s Restaurant & Brewhouse has served their last pizza after a 28-year run at 938 Broxton Ave. in Westwood Village. A gracious notice in the window announces the sad news and directs fans to their other locations in Culver City, Glendale, and Burbank. BJ’s closure leaves one sole business left on the west side of this once busy block, Falafel, Inc.
There’s window paper up on the space at 9725 Culver Blvd. (previously home to the doomed Sestina) announcing the impending arrival of Nardò. With two other locations in West Hollywood and Huntington Beach, Nardò promises an authentic Southern Italian menu with such things as woodfired Neapolitan pizza and homemade pastas. Looks like they’re aiming for a late May opening. Until then, check out their West Hollywood location’s menu for an idea of what may be coming.
I know this is being widely reported in other places, but I’m still receiving messages from shocked readers so I’m passing this on as well. West LA’s fave nostalgic poultry purveyor Dinah’s Family Restaurant is closing at their longtime location of 6521 S Sepulveda Blvd. Open since 1959, Dinah’s drips with childhood memories for many locals, and I personally know people who make a pilgrimage to Dinah’s on their birthdays. All is not lost though, a large banner on the front informs us that they are moving to a new location at 4130 Sepulveda Suite G, with an opening date of May 6th. Thanks to all who wrote to let me know…
This was certainly a surprise… I’m hearing from shocked readers that Culver City’s branch of classic health food store Co-opportunity Market has disappeared from their location at 8770 Washington Blvd. The Co-op began life in 1974 in Santa Monica, where it continues to exist. This location opened in 2017 and appeared to be tracking a more Erewhon vibe than its old school hippie predecessor. I’m not sure what happened, but I’ll keep watching the space to see what may develop.
(Thanks again, Andrew!)
On a tip from a reader, I went by the tricky space that has hosted many restaurants, most recently Wise Sons, at 9552 Washington Blvd. There’s a banner on the front informing us that Vietnamese cafe Nong Lá is setting up housekeeping. Well known for their “Phở, Bún, and Bánh Mì“, Nong Lá has two other locations in LA and is planning on a Winter 2024 opening at this location.
(Thanks Andrew!)
A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Sam!) wrote to tell me about the recent disappearance of Iron Teapot Dim Sum & Bar from its location at 10306 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles (Palms). Wasting no time whatsoever, a new eatery is settling into the address. Fire My Pasta will bring “Italian Inspired Cuisine & Bar”, with pasta and pizza on the menu.
Culver City is getting a whole lot sweeter, with the arrival of Handel’s Ice Cream and now this…. There’s a banner up on the space at 3865 Overland announcing a branch of Nothing Bundt Cakes is setting up housekeeping. Nothing Bundt Cakes’ handcrafted ultra moist confections inspire legions of fans. They began in 1997 in Las Vegas and have since expanded to 500 locations.
(Thanks Andrew!)
It was only a little over a month ago when I told you about the arrival of popular cookie purveyor Lei’d Cookies to 8588 Washington Blvd. in Culver City. Wasting no time whatsoever, they are opening this Saturday, Oct.7th. Doors open at 3pm and there will be gifts for the first 50 people. We wish them the best of luck…
Culver City is about to get Lei’d… And while I can’t take credit for that line (Thanks as always Andrew!), I can tell you that there’s a sign in the window of the former Coolhaus at 8588 Washington Blvd. announcing that Lei’d Cookies is moving in. It looks like this will be the first brick-and-mortar for the Smorgasburg LA food market fixture that has gained quite a popular following for their sweet treats with flavors such as mango sticky rice cookies and guava and goat cheese sugar cookies.
The window paper at 1447 Lincoln Blvd. (corner of Broadway) in Santa Monica is announcing that a branch of Health Nut is taking over the space. Not sure what that is? Check with your friends who live in The Valley or The Southbay. Odds are, they’re huge fans of the celebrity fave that began as a vitamin store in 1988. They are known for their fresh, healthy sandwiches and salads with proprietary dressings that people go gaga for. Apparently, Culver City will soon be getting a branch as well at 8900 Venice Blvd #108.
A very sharp-eyed reader spotted a banner hanging over the former Make Out spot at 9426 Washington Blvd, behind The Culver Hotel. The banner lets us know that Wrapstar is setting up housekeeping at this address. Wrapstar has a location in Beverly Hills and offers a menu of fast/casual “signature and build-your-own wraps” and salads. They are also opening another location at 8593 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood.
(Thanks Andrew!)
I’ve been hearing from excited readers who have noticed new window signage on the former home of Quicksand at 10868 Washington Blvd. While I don’t have confirmation, It appears that Cofax is settling into the location. Cofax has a location at 440 N Fairfax in LA, and is known for excellent coffee and popular breakfast burritos.
A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks again Andrew!) noticed some window paper up on one of the spaces on the studio side of The Culver Steps. The paper promises this to be the future home of Yunomi Handroll. Yunomi has a location in The Arts District and is known for traditional and innovative handrolls and sashimi.
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