Having opened in 2013, Kippy’s! Non-Dairy Ice Cream Shop had high hopes when they moved their location from Lincoln Blvd. to 245 Main St. in Venice. Last week, however, a sad note was taped to the front door pronouncing Kippy’s! as closed. A more detailed notice on their website graciously thanks their customers and promises a comeback. We wish them the best of luck.
I’d been hearing whispers (Thanks T!) that Montana Avenue’s perennially-busy fave Italian joint Forma was expanding into the cavernous hole left by the abrupt closure of Chaya Venice at the corner of Navy and Main St, but I had no evidence. Now there’s proof. An ABC application recently went up in the window confirming that the good people of Venice will soon be getting a Forma of their very own.
Back in October of 2017 I first noticed that a bowl joint was taking over the erstwhile Knuckle & Claw space at 2715 Main St. in Santa Monica. But there hasn’t been any definitive proof about the impending eatery until now. A sign recently went up in the window letting us know that this will be a branch of PokeCeviche. PokeCeviche has four other locations (Santa Barbara, Oxnard, and Pomona), but this will be their first foray into The Westside. Look for a menu of signature and custom bowls, nachos, poke tacos, ceviche tostadas, and Japanese soups.
Bareburger quietly slipped out of its space at 2732 Main St. in Santa Monica last month. Wasting no time, it looks like a new contender is ready to give the capricious Main St. food scene a try. A new ABC application has already gone up in the window. The applicant is listed as Jolie LLC and the business name is oddly marked “_._._._ Jolie“. No idea what this means, and there’s no information out there that I can find, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see…
Comfort food expert Fork-In Aussie Pie Kitchen is closing its beach adjacent location at 2510 Main St. Suite B in Santa Monica. But no need to feel sorry for them. They are actually closing this location so they can focus on expanding the brand, including into retail according to a spokesperson. And what’s next for the prime space? I was informed by the Aussie Pie folks that a new French restaurant is moving in. An ABC application is posted, but no business name is listed. The applicant, Maison Thouvard LLC, has ties to Santa Barbara.
Earlier this month, I told you about the teaser banner on the front of the space that used to house Pot & Pan Thai restaurant at 2315 Santa Monica Blvd. Thai Vegan II recently opened as is now dishing all manner of veganized Thai specialties. This is the sister restaurant of Main Street’s popular Thai Vegan, although my understanding is that the menus aren’t exactly the same.
It appears that something new is coming the space that used to house the second incarnation of Books and Cookies at 2309 Main St. in Santa Monica, at least according to a recently posted ABC application. The application lists the applicant as 4 Jems Restaurants LLC, but omits an actual business name. An online search yields links to buzzy Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken in LA. So, I guess we’ll have to wait and see what develops. Let me know if you have any information…
Bay Area cult coffee third wave fave Blue Bottle continues to make inroads into SoCal. I’m sure they’ll feel right at home in their new digs at 2439 Main St. in Santa Monica, formerly the home of troubled Peet’s Coffee. Not sure when they’re opening, but I’ll keep watching…
I recently noticed that Three Twins Ice Cream has vacated its space at 2726 Main St. in Santa Monica. The windows are papered over and the website is reporting it closed as of March 4th. It looks like they recently closed their San Francisco branch as well. Could this indicate trouble for the brand?
The windows on the space at 2715 Main St. in Santa Monica, formerly the home of the erstwhile lobster specialists Knuckle & Claw, is preparing to have a new tenant. A small notice taped to the front door references something called Fresh Bowls. An online search reveals that there are a number of unrelated restaurants across the US and a small chain in Canada utilizing that name, so I don’t have any conclusive evidence as to what exactly will be moving in, or even if that will be the name of the new restaurant. As always, I’ll keep watching…
I’d thought we’d seen a slow down in the poke phenomena that has descended upon us in recent years, but apparently not. Another contender is vying for our attention in Santa Monica. Signs are up on the space that once was occupied by Rita’s Frozen Custard, at 2307 Main St., announcing that self-described “King of Poke” PoKing will soon be moving in.
A bit ago, I told you about the for lease sign pasted on the front of A Real Treat Candy Boutique at 2724 Main in Santa Monica portending doom for the natural confectionary. Wasting no time, it appears that Simples has moved in. And what precisely is Simples? “A line of hand prepared, plant based tonics” that you can read more about here.
Recently, I saw that there was a notice of pending design review taped to the inside of the window of the erstwhile Santa Monica Electric Co. at 2428 Main St. in Santa Monica. Immediately, long-time LA restaurateur Josiah Citrin’s (Melisse, Charcoal) name stood out. Upon closer inspection, the notice’s artist’s rendering lets us know that this humble building will soon be the home of a branch of hotdog specialists Dave’s Doghouse. The ABC application confirms it.
A Real Treat Candy Boutique caused a sensation when it first opened as a pop-up in 2013, and later landed in Santa Monica. Offering “better” candy options that were free from artificial junk, they were lauded by LA Weekly in 2016. Sadly, it appears that things have gone sour, as a large for lease sign is now tacked to the front of their brick and mortar at 2724 Main St. I’ll keep my eye on the space to see what moves in…
So, I’ve been watching the tiny space at 218 Main St. in Venice (Santa Monica adjacent) ever since I noticed a small notice pasted on the front that indicated the storefront was being outfitted as a restaurant. But I couldn’t get any info until this week… Paper covering the side of the plywood tells us that the new eatery will be something called Chez Tex. A quick search directed me to the still-developing website, informing us that Chez Tex will be an “all-day eatery” serving coffee, food, and wine. I’ll keep my eye out for more information.
Champions of uncooked cuisine Rawvolution, at 2301 Main St. in Santa Monica was closed yesterday due to a violation of the Health and Safety Code, or at least that’s what the official notice, dated 3/31 and posted on the front door says. A much less formal, handwritten note accompanying the notice attempts to explain that the issue appears to be a plumbing problem. As of Friday, they were very busy remedying the situation and the sign suggests that they may possibly reopen by Saturday, but as you can see, an official health officer must reopen it. We wish them the best of luck.
I recently noticed a lot of activity in the space that used to house Italian coffee shop Spazio Caffe at 245 S. Main St. in Venice. As it turns out, the store is being readied for its new inhabitant, none other than Kippy’s! ice cream shop. They’ll be closing their current location at 326 Lincoln Blvd. by Friday January 22nd. And it looks like they’re hoping to start peddling their organic, non-dairy “scoops of happiness” by the end of January or early February in their new location.
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.
Toddrickallen 