A victim of the challenging times? It was only back in October of 2018 that I noticed that sandwich chain Jimmy John’s was replacing the Subway at 3023 Wilshire Blvd. Sadly, Santa Monica’s only branch has closed up shop as evidenced by the large for lease sign on the front.
I’ve been hearing whispers that the construction on the corner of Montana Ave. and 10th St. in Santa Monica would eventually be the home of an “Australian” coffee shop. But I was unable to get concrete information until recently, when an ABC application was posted on the front. As you can see, no business name is listed. However, the ABC application online clearly spells out that this will be a branch of coffee experts Bluestone Lane. And this one will apparently have beer and wine on offer as well.
I’ve been watching the space that was the home of erstwhile Baja Fresh at 720 Wilshire Blvd. (corner of Lincoln). The space has been undergoing a remodel for a while now. An ABC application recently went up on the front confirming that Westwood’s Fresh Corn Grill is on the way. Expect a menu of healthy pizza, pasta, salad, tacos, and enchiladas. We wish them the best of luck.
I’ve been hearing from readers that Osteria Bigoli has permanently pulled the plug, so I went by their location at 714 Montana Ave. to have a look. Like many businesses right now, there’s a scrawled note on the front door saying that they’re closed until further notice. But as you can see, their sign above the front door has been removed and one reader (Thanks Kurt!) let me know that the interior decorations are gone, so it looks like they probably don’t have plans on reopening. Let me know if you hear anything different.
Back in early February, I mentioned to you that I had heard a rumor that Starbucks was closing its location at 15th St. and Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. At the time, I had no proof. This week, a note went up on the door that they have permanently closed. Expensive rents on Montana Ave. are to blame, or so I’m told.
Back in January, I told you about the disappearance of Plan Check from its space at 1401 Ocean Ave suite 104. Now a new restaurant is intending to make the space their home. Posters are up in the windows announcing the impending arrival of King & Queen Cantina. Originally hailing from San Diego, the chain has a smattering of locations and sister restaurants. Expect “Latin flavors” with Dia de los Muertos decor that is meant to feel like a “party, out of the box, but more casual”. Of course everything us up in the air right now, but we wish them the best of luck.
Three years ago, I first told you about a Josiah Citrin (Melisse, Charcoal) project moving into the old Santa Monica Electric Co. at 2428 Main St. Since then, furtive signs of work have continued on and off for Dave’s Doghouse, which led me to believe that the restaurant was still in progress. I know that many of you have been checking for updates on this project, but it appears it may have been abandonned. The review signs and ABC application have been taken down, and the space was being inhabited by a pop-up shop selling goods for an elephant charity prior to the shutdown. If you have any information, let me know…
The diminutive space at 725 Broadway in Santa Monica has seen its share of tenants, the most recent being an açaí bowl spot that closed over a year ago. Window covering is informing us that a new venture called Los Tarascos is moving in. The windows promise taco tuesdays and daily hand made tortillas.
A new ABC application has popped up on the front of the old Tinga/Renee‘s space at 522 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica. No business name is listed, but there is an applicant name: Ploenpidh Pola Houston. While this name is associated with a Koreatown bar, the Monte Carlo, after a bit of digging, I found that Ms. Pola is the mother of entrepreneurial brothers Jonnie and Mark Houston, who preside over an empire of themed nightclubs in Hollywood. I don’t have confirmation that this will be their newest project, so if you have any information please let me know. You can read more about the brothers in this LA Weekly story.
Ever since longtime resident Nawab of India pulled out of its spot at 1621 Wilshire Blvd. back in 2017, I’ve been peppered with questions about what might move in. Dark, mysterious plywood has covered the space for a number of months, but I had no clues… until now. An ABC application went up last week and spilled the beans that something called La Puglia is setting up housekeeping. I don’t have any information on La Puglia, but I think its a safe bet to say Italian will be on offer…
Update: La Puglia is now up and running for take out.
About a year ago, I told you about mega-popular Shake Shack‘s intention to build an outpost at 501 Wilshire Blvd, formerly the site of Panera and Polly’s Pies before that. Recently, an artist’s rendering of what the new building will look like was pasted on the front. It seems like they’ve a way to go since no construction has begun yet, and these are uncertain times…
We’re living with madness right now, and shops and restaurants are really feeling it. If you haven’t been out much, you may not have seen that stores have begun boarding over their windows. Sur La Table at Wilshire and Third is covered, and Williams Sonoma on Montana Ave. is also boarded. What they’re anticipating is anyone’s guess…
After sitting idle for a while, the restaurant at 331 Wilshire Blvd., that used to be the home of short-lived The Gables, is finding a new tenant. A banner is hanging over the entrance announcing that a branch of the salad, sandwich, and bowl chain Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop is moving in. However, the banner is delcaring that this branch will be called Greenleaf Kitchen & Cocktails. An ABC application in the window confirms the cocktails part. No word on an opening date, and I would expect big delays right now…
It appears that a new tea room is heading for the space that used to house a florist shop at 726 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. Window paper is up announcing that Buena Vida Tea Bar & Garden is moving in. The window paper promises us orgainic fair-trade tea, baked goods, afternoon tea, ceremonial events, and an outdoor patio.
Back in October of last year, I told you about the disappearance of Pinkberry from 1456 Third Street Promenade in Downtown Santa Monica. Wasting no time whatsoever, expanding chain Somi Somi has opened in the space and is now serving their signature brand of “Korean-inspired” soft service ice cream. And, at the time of this writing, while other places have currently closed (or are offering take away), they are still open, giving us all a little needed cheer right now.
As you know, mall food courts have been hit hard with closures. The third floor of Santa Monica Place is no exception. But one plucky contender is going to give it a try. Plywood is up on the space just to the left of the food court announcing that something named 100% Ice Cream & Coffee is moving in. I don’t have much information on this place, but the sign says that organic grass fed ice cream will be on offer.
On a tip from a reader (Thanks Adrian!), I went by to check on the suspect state of affairs at 508 and 510 Santa Monica Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica. The reader had told me that next door neighbors Seasalt Fish Grill and Yogiyo Korean BBQ had closed down. Sure enough, both are locked tight. However, both also have exactly the same sign in the window saying that they will be “re-opening soon”. I don’t want to pronounce them permanently closed, but we’ve seen this before…
It started out as a teaser, with the word breadblok scrawled on the plywood covering the renovation of the old Spazio Caffe at 1511A Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. Eventually, window notices went up, and I reported back in March of last year that local farmer’s market staple Breadblok was indeed moving in. Breadblok opened last week, offering the good people of Santa Monica a menu of Provence-inspired artisan breads, pastries, and tartines that are “organic, gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free, gum-free, [and] refined sugar-free”.
After being peppered with questions from curious readers who noticed activity at the erstwhile location of local bolthole Le Petit Café at 2842 Colorado Ave., I went by to have a look. Sure enough, a brand new awning declares the new restaurant to be Le Petit Chez Mimi. Fortunately, I was able to have a chat with the delightful proprietor, Micheline Hébert (nicknamed Mimi), the beloved and irrepressible force behind the Chez Mimi empire. (Chez Mimi closed at 26th and San Vicente almost 10 years ago.) She explained that she is excited by this new project: They have retained the chef from Le Petit Café and the menu will be similar as well… as in, thoroughly French. Think sole meunière, truite amandine, and boeuf bourguignon. They are planning on a March opening. In the mean time, check out the photo Ms. Hébert provided to get a glimpse inside this new French charmer.
Update: Le Petit Chez Mimi is now open. Read more here.
And while we’re on the subject of sad closings… I have it on a solid inside tip that Santa Monica’s chic palace of all things kitchen-related, Williams Sonoma is set to close its doors. It is currently still open, and I do not have a time line, but I believe the intel is trustworthy. Williams Sonoma has been a sparkling anchor on the east end of Montana, and its demise will leave a cavernous hole in the upscale shopping district. By the way, I’m also hearing that the Starbucks on the corner of 15th and Montana is set to close as well due to high rents.
Update: I strive for accuracy because I know many of you trust me for food news. At the time that I wrote this post in February, I had it from a good source that they were planning on closing. However, this appears to have changed. Unlike their Beverly Hills branch, this one appears to be remaining open, for now. This pandemic has been rough on local business. If you wish to keep Williams-Sonoma open, I encourage everyone to shop here as often as possible, and support other local businesses as well. (written 12/30/2020)
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