Tag Archives: Downtown Santa Monica

Burgers N Brews Throws Open Its Doors

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A great many of you have been carefully tracking the progress of an eatery taking shape at 3021 Lincoln Blvd. in Santa Monica (formerly Santino’s) that I first told you about back in April.  Burgers N Brews recently opened, and is brought to you by the people behind its sister restaurant, The Britannia Pub in Downtown Santa Monica.  It’s all about the burgers here, with choices ranging from veggie, chicken, cod, pork, lamb, angus, and grass-fed, all to be washed down with a selection of, you guessed it, craft beers served in frosty glasses.  It seems to be off to a good start, and Yelpers are raving about it.  We wish them the best of luck.

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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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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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Santa Monica Farmhouse Coming Soon To Downtown Santa Monica

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Recently I noticed a small pending development permit taped to the front of the building that used to house eclectic design bookshop Hennessey + Ingalls at 214 Wilshire Blvd in Downtown Santa Monica.  If you look carefully at the notice, you can see that the space is being redesigned to change use from a retail space into a full service restaurant.  And what will be the name of the new eatery, that will be sandwiched between Hillstone and California Pizza Kitchen?  The permit lists the applicant as Santa Monica Farmhouse.  There doesn’t seem to be a great deal of information out there yet, just some details of the trademark, but I’ll keep watching.

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The Gallery Reopens In Santa Monica

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Almost two years ago, I told you about the proposed renovation of the dusty old food court at 1315 Third Street Promenade.  Well, it has taken them long enough, but the flashy new Gallery food hall is now open.  But don’t get yours hope up yet.  Only McDonald’s has reopened and Subway is expected to soon as well, but other than that, nothing else has moved in yet.

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George’s Bistro Closes In The Promenade

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2016 is turning out to be a rough year for restaurant closures.  The latest?  While there’s no hard evidence except a disconnected phone line, it appears obvious that one of Santa Monica’s long-standing fixtures, George’s Bistro has unceremoniously closed its doors at 1321 Third Street Promenade.  The windows are papered over and the furniture has been removed.  There’s no word on a replacement, but I’ll keep watch.

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Go Greek Yogurteria Expands To Santa Monica

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Back in 2013, I noticed a new yogurt shop had opened on Bedford Dr. in Beverly Hills.  Since then, Go Greek Yogurteria has opened two more locations and has two more on the way.  One is coming to Corona Del Mar, and the other is set to land in Santa Monica.  Signs are up in the window of what must be a very choice location at 1431 Ocean Ave. (in the Pacific Plaza building) indicating that creamy treat shop is on the way.  Go Greek offers a menu of frozen and fresh Greek yogurt with toppings or in combination bowls that you can read more about here.

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Bravo Cucina Bites The Dust In Santa Monica

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While there’s no notice announcing it and their website is still up and running, it appears that longtime Santa Monica resident Bravo Cucina has abruptly closed down at 1319 Third Street Promenade.  A peek inside reveals that the Italian restaurant long known for its hard-working hostesses who stood outside enticing tourists to eat there, has already essentially been gutted and Yelp users confirm the sad closure.  There’s no indication of what may take its place, but I’ll keep my eye on it.

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KC Chocolatier Coming Soon To Santa Monica

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Located just to the left of upcoming Espresso Cielo at 1431 B 2nd St., signs are up in the window indicating that the new tenant will be an outpost of Belgian chocolate purveyor KC Chocolatier.  With a flagship in Chicago, KC is an offshoot of Kim’s Chocolates from Tienen, Belgium.  No word on an opening date, and it looks like they’ve a way to go, but I’ll keep my eye on it…

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Flower Child Set To Deliver Good Vibes Soon To Santa Monica

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We’ve long known that the renovation of the erstwhile dusty old Laemmle Theater at 1332 Second Street in Santa Monica was going to bring us (possibly) two new restaurants.  And now we know for sure what one of them will be.  A recently posted ABC license application informs us, and the company website confirms that a branch of Arizona’s earthy eatery Flower Child is on the way to the sparkling new movie palace.  Offering a menu that is organic, locally sourced, and additive free, Flower Child promises “healthy food for a happy world”.  No word on an opening date, and construction is fast and furious, but I’ll keep watching…

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Lemonade (Finally) Opens In Santa Monica: Moving Into The Bay Area

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Did that take a long time or what?  Last Winter, I told you about the signs in the window announcing that a branch of Lemonade was taking over the old Rockenwagner space at 311 Arizona Ave. in Santa Monica.  Originally, the optimistic purveyor of “seasonal California comfort food”, innocent to the workings of the City of Santa Monica, had planned for a Spring opening.  That obviously didn’t happen.  But all that’s behind us now.  Lemonade threw open its doors yesterday, November 17.  Incidentally, the bright and cheery expanding brand appears poised to move into the Bay Area, according to their website.

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Bowl Of Heaven Coming Soon To Santa Monica

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Back in early August, I noticed that the new Elevon complex in El Segundo was getting a branch of superfood chain Bowl of Heaven.  At the time, I also pointed out that their website indicated that Santa Monica was to land a branch as well.  And now we know where… Papers are up in the window of the space at 725 Broadway announcing the upcoming arrival. They’re still in the construction phase so I don’t know when they intend on opening, but until then, you can check out Bowl of Heaven’s menu of acai bowls, smoothies, and juices  here.

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Creams & Dreams Now Churning Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream In Santa Monica

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Back in December of last year, I told you about the impending arrival of a new ice cream shop to the space at 219 Arizona (Third St. Promenade) in Santa Monica that used to house Frey Wille.  Well, it took about a year, but Creams & Dreams is now open.  Using liquid nitrogen in the churning, they offer a wide selection of all-natural ice cream in clever flavors such as maiz con queso, fresh avocado, and orange honey.  Check out their entire menu of ice cream as well as pastries, coffee, and tea here.

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Infuzion Cafe Gives Up The Ghost In SM

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Well it can’t be said it was for lack of trying…  Having previously occupied a space on 3rd Street, it was a new and hopeful day when coffee and sandwich shop Infuzion Café opened in their bright and shiny buildout at 1241 5th St. in Santa Monica almost exactly two years ago.  Sadly, it appears that they weren’t able to make a go of it.  A somber note pasted to the front window informs us that they have permanently closed as of last week.

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Trimana Expands Into Santa Monica

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With locations peppered across Southern California, popular office lunch spot Trimana is expanding into Santa Monica.  You may recall that earlier this month I told you about the departure of Japanese convenience store Famima!! from the space at 1348 3rd St Promenade.  Wasting no time whatsoever, Trimana Fresh Food Market has posted notices in the window announcing their impending arrival.  No word on when they’ll open, but until they do, check out their menu and read more here.

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Starbucks Coming Soon To SMP

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You could be forgiven for not noticing that The Beach’s preeminent shopping complex, Santa Monica Place did not have a branch of a large chain coffee shop.  There has always been an outpost of the Italianesque mini-chain Ugo Café, and a now departed Groundwork made a valiant effort, but the big name ubiquitous coffee joints have been kept out… until now.  Construction is underway on a free-standing brand spanking new Starbucks on the ground floor, near CB2, directly beneath the upcoming Arclight Cinemas.

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Espresso Cielo Expanding In Santa Monica

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With one location already in Santa Monica on Main Street and another location in Palm Springs, little charmer Espresso Cielo is expanding into Downtown Santa Monica.  Notices recently went up on the new space at 1431 C on 2nd Street announcing the imminent arrival.  According to the window display, the coffee, tea, and patisserie shop will throw open its doors sometime this Fall.

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