This is a public service announcement: The brand-new and much-needed Vons, that is in the new luxury development on the corner of Broadway and Lincoln in Santa Monica, will officially open on October 17th. Ribbon cutting is at 7:15am and doors will open at 8am. We’re promised “Giveaways + Fun activities”, and the first 250 people will receive a “Game Card for a chance to win“. You’re welcome.
Local “Texas Kitchen” chain HomeState is expanding to Santa Monica. There’s a banner up on the old Fresh Corn Grill space at 720 Wilshire Blvd. #101 announcing the news. HomeState has eight other locations around SoCal and is known for tacos, migas, queso, Frito pie, house-made flour tortillas, and margaritas.
Update: A recent sign is announcing that Home State will open on November 25.
There’s new window paper up on the space that used to house erstwhile Louisiana chicken phenom Willie Mae’s. Currently operating from The Colony across the street, New York Chicken & Gyro is setting up housekeeping at 324 Lincoln Blvd. in Venice. Besides the Venice location, New York Chicken & Gyros has three other locations around LA and offers a menu featuring “NY-style Middle Eastern halal food”.
As signs recently went up at Venice’s new “smart kitchen” The Colony at 401 Lincoln Blvd (previously home to a large encampment) readers have been excitedly asking me what would be on offer. Here’s a partial list of what I know so far: Crumbl, Kakkoi, Main Chick, Goop Kitchen, Muy Thai, Good Steak, Behold Burger, Sweet Rose, Culture Crush, Xenia, and Jennie’s House. You’ll notice that this list is very similar to The Colony on Santa Monica Blvd. You’re welcome.
A mysterious ABC application recently appeared on the front of the space at 828 Pico Blvd, Ste 5. The business name on the application is Pacific Golf Corp. A cursory search of the name and the names associated with this business produce no obvious results. All we know is that this will be an “on-sale beer & wine eating place”. If you have more information, let me know…
On a tip from a reader (Thanks Jeff!) I went by the former location of Matthew Kenney’s ill-fated pizza restaurant Double Zero at 1700 Lincoln Blvd. in Venice to see what was going on. You may recall that an ABC application went up earlier this year announcing the new business as Gnarwal Coffee Co., the socially conscious organic coffee purveyor with a location on Main Street in Santa Monica. It appears the concept has pivoted slightly, and they have since opened under the name Companion. The new self-described neighborhood cafe and restaurant is currently open from 7am to 3pm for coffee, pastry, and sandwiches with the promise of dinner and wine soon. Until then, read more about their vision and food here.
It appears a “high-quality meat and seafood” purveyor is moving a location into the cavernous space that previously was a hot yoga studio at 2570 Lincoln Blvd. (corner of Washington) in Venice. Wild Fork has locations across the US and offers a wide selection of products for pick up or delivery. It looks like they’re planning on an August 28 Grand Opening.
(Thanks Jeff!)
Cozy local java joint Gnarwhal Coffee Co. is apparently branching out from its buzzy Main Street location to an even buzzier neighborhood. There’s an ABC application up at 1700 Lincoln Blvd. in Venice, previously home to the troubled Double Zero, letting us know that Gnarwhal is moving in. I’m sure that organic, socially responsible coffee will be on the menu, but so will beer and wine according to the ABC app, so this may be a slightly different concept that their Main St. branch.
A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Dean!) let me know that a new restaurant is taking over the old space that used to house Humble Potato at 8321 Lincoln Blvd. in Westchester. The new signs are already up announcing a branch of HiroNori Craft Ramen. HiroNori has locations throughout California and features proprietary “authentic ramen noodles, stock, and sauce“.
Ever since dusty British-themed watering hole Cock N’ Bull closed at 2947 Lincoln Blvd., I’ve been peppered with questions about what would take over the address located in the quickly gentrifying section of Santa Monica. Recently construction has been fast and furious at the site, which stands only a block away from a much-anticipated branch of Tartine. One of my readers, (Thanks Jeff!) employed some excellent sleuthing skills to uncover the new tenant. Apparently, Tacos Por Favor will be soon fill the space. While I don’t have confirmation, there is a “surrendered” ABC application listing the Tacos Por Favor at this address. Tacos Por Favor currently operates three locations on The Westside and offers a menu of tacos, burritos, tortas, tostadas, and combos.
Congratulations Good People of Marina del Rey, mall-quality Asian food is heading your way! There’s a banner hanging on the commodious space on the corner of Lincoln and Washington announcing the arrival of food court fixture Panda Express. Right now the space is gutted so you may have to wait a bit for your orange chicken…
Congratulations Lucky People of Santa Monica, you’re getting a new branch of cult fave San Francisco bakery Tartine. If you’re craving an impossibly flaky croissant and the lines are too long at their ridiculously popular spot at 1925 Arizona Ave., you can soon head over to their new location at 2903 Suite 110 Lincoln Blvd, in the new The Wilson development. There are bright orange banners in the windows announcing the happy news. This is a developing story…
I first noticed that plant-based pioneer Matthew Kenney was bringing his New York pizzeria concept Double Zero to 1700 Lincoln Blvd. in Venice back in 2019. Recently however, the space has gone dark. There’s no notice up and the tables inside are still set, but there hasn’t been any activity for a few weeks. A reader (Thanks Sasha!) managed to snap a picture of an eviction notice on the front that has since disappeared. Does this mean the end of Double Zero at this location?
A sign above the space at 4254 Lincoln Blvd. in Marina del Rey is announcing that a branch of rapidly expanding Greek chain Nick The Greek is settling in. Nick The Greek operates a number of locations, mostly north of here. Look for a menu of, you guessed it, souvlaki and gyro, as well as falafel, burgers, salads, and soup. New locations in Huntington Beach and Long Beach are also in the works.
Good news Marina del Rey! All you can eat sushi has arrived! There is now a branch of Santa Monica’s Non Stop Sushi & Sake Bar up and running at 4025 Del Rey Ave., in the shopping center on the corner of Washington and Lincoln. (Incidentally, part of the roof awning caved in during one of the storms earlier in the week at their popular Santa Monica location at 2645 Lincoln Blvd.)
At the beginning of the year, I told you about New York pie joint Prince St. Pizza moving into the old Honeybee Burger space at 326 Lincoln Blvd. in Venice. Wasting no time whatsoever, they are currently in a soft opening with evening hours only. But tomorrow, March 9th, they throw open their doors with a Grand Opening that they’re describing as a “Lincoln Blvd Block Party“. They will be handing out free pizza, with vendors and “festivities” in the back parking lot. Grab your free slice and check out the fun from 6pm to 10pm.
(Thanks Jeff!)
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.
The shopping center on the Southwest corner of Lincoln and Pico is a very busy place. It caters to a steady stream of students pouring out of nearby SaMo High. Already stacked with fast food options, a new contender appears to be moving in soon. A banner over the space at 1902 Lincoln Suite B is announcing a branch of “American Chinese” restaurant chain Panda Express.
A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Jeff!) noticed a change in residency at 326 Lincoln Blvd. in Venice. Vegan eatery Honeybee Burger has cleared out of the space, and new signs are up announcing a new branch of Prince Street Pizza. Prince Street Pizza hails from New York (of course), and has a location in Miami and three other locations already in LA. They pride themselves on their “Neapolitan Rounds and Sicilian Square pizzas”.
Kye’s opened at 1518 Montana Ave. in November of 2014 and has maintained a solid fanbase ever since. Their signature “KyeRito” (essentially a wrap that they describe as a “handheld bowl or salad”) was popular among the carb-conscious crowds of NoMa. So I was quite surprised when readers began messaging me to let me know that Kye’s has closed at this location. But don’t panic, they are moving the operation to West LA’s “smart kitchen” Colony at 11419 Santa Monica Blvd. Their website also says that they will be opening in a new Colony at 411 Lincoln in Venice as well.
(Thanks Casey!)
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