When you consider how much energy, expense, and talent goes into the opening of a restaurant, any closure is a sad event, but this is truly sad… Retro-themed ice cream shop Beach City Creamery (formerly Beachy Cream) has finally closed its doors at 1209 Wilshire in Santa Monica. They had made a valiant effort at keeping the doors open in the cozy Santa Monica neighborhood, but they have delivered their last artisan ice cream sandwich. We wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.
A banner is up on the old Monsieur Marcel space at 1260 3rd St. Promenade announcing a branch of Taiwanese shaved snow dessert people iSno Café. For those who are unclear, Taiwanese shaved snow is a milk-based “snow” topped with various toppings. What makes iSno different is that, according to their website, instead of copious quantities of condensed milk and canned fruit, theirs is made from “organic lactose-free, low-fat milk infused with organic honey and sugarcane” and using “real fruit with puree and superfood with no condensed milk”. ISno currently has one other location in Irvine.
Update: I heard from a company spokesperson who clarified: ISno is NOT a Taiwanese dessert shop, but rather their own brand with a uniquely “shaved snow creation”, as well as organic teas and coffees, and made-to-order croissant pastries. We wish them the best of luck.
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…
The corner space at 20th and Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica, in what is currently the Gateway Hotel, has had a rocky past. First it was an IHOP. Then, for a minute, it was Rudy & Hudson California Diner. Now something exciting is on the way. An ABC application informs us that a new eatery is intent on moving in, but there’s no business name listed. There is however a design review notice that shows an artist’s rendering of the new place, and gives it a name: Socalo. And according to this article in the Santa Monica Daily Press, Socalo will be none other than Mary Sue Milliken’s and Susan Feniger’s triumphant return to Santa Monica, after the demise of the iconic Border Grill. I can’t wait.
Well that didn’t take long… Only just a couple of weeks ago, I told you about the disappearance of Air Food from the space at 109 Broadway in Downtown Santa Monica. Wasting no time whatsoever, a newcomer is moving in. An ABC application pasted to the front door lets us know that something called Interstellar will soon call this location home. Not much out there on Interstellar, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see what develops.
I’m not sure this qualifies as restaurant news, but… I recently spotted an ABC application affixed to the front of an old vacuum cleaner shop at 2924 Wilshire Blvd. announcing an upcoming branch of national chain Board & Brush Creative Studio. Self-described “DIY wood sign workshop” Board & Brush specializes in drinking, socializing with friends, and creating wooden signs. Hmmm…
Remember back in 2014 when I first noticed that Caffe Primo was intending on moving into the corner space at Arizona and 7th? This sleepy section of Downtown Santa Monica had been revitalized by the arrival of popular Cassia and Esters across the street. But something went wrong, and not only did Caffe Primo pull out of the space at 702 Arizona, but they closed everywhere. Since then the space has sat vacant… until now. A new ABC application announces that Izakaya Osen is moving in. At the time of this writing, I’m unclear if this is the same eatery as Silverlake’s Osen Izakaya. More to come…
Update: It will be the second branch for Osen Izakaya. Eater has the details here.
Ever since we learned that longstanding healthy Mexican purveyor Kayndaves had abandoned their location at 262 26th St., across from the increasingly tony Brentwood Country Mart, I’ve been wondering who would even undertake such an upscale market. The corner of San Vicente and 26th has proven itself a challenging location as evidenced by the revolving door of restaurants that has attempted the space that most recently held L’Ami. (The latest gasp of hope, the ABC app that I reported on back in January has since been taken down and I think we’re back to square one.) But now, one brave contender is giving the Kayndaves space a go… A banner is up informing us that it will soon be the home of Tara’s Himalayan Cuisine. With three other locations scattered across the Southland offering Nepali, Tibetan, and Indian food, we wish them the best of luck.
When a promising and plucky new French restaurant burst onto the scene early last year, I was hopeful that Air Food would be a new neighborhood favorite. But Downtown Santa Monica can be a tricky neighborhood. By all appearances, it looks like they have abandoned their location at 109 Broadway. Yelp is reporting them as temporarily closed, but the place is nearly gutted and… we’ve seen this before.
It looks like a small vegan café with a previous footprint in the neighborhood is moving into the diminutive space at 306 Pico Blvd. in Santa Monica that once housed Lifefood Organic. A reader pointed out a note taped to the front door indicates this will be the future home of vegan eatery Avo Café. It looks like they’re not too far from opening, but in the mean time check out their menu of breakfasts, bowls, Panini, and pizza here.
Remember back in May when a reader sent me to the empty space at 2212 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica to check out an recently posted ABC application? At the time, I couldn’t find out much information on the business listed as “Miracle Scoops”. But a small now hiring notice taped to the front door spills the beans. It appears that this location will be a branch of expanding minichain Kanpai Japanese Sushi Bar and Grill.
Back in May, I told you about the demise of Rawkin Juice from the location at 705 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. And now it looks like there’s a new tenant moving in. Window signage is up informing us that this will be a branch of meal delivery service Fresh n’ Lean. Promising healthy food that is “Fresh as F*#!” (their slogan painted on the wall inside), Fresh n’ Lean has locations throughout the U.S.
This is a bit mysterious… What was formerly a short-lived Bobarrito at 1321 Third St. Promenade in Santa Monica has morphed into something called Pink Sushi. I’m not sure what’s going on here, but I’ll keep watching to see what develops.
It seems like you can’t swing a dead cat in Santa Monica without hitting a branch of ubiquitous sandwich chain Subway. That’s why it’s surprising the one located at 3023 Wilshire Blvd. closed down. And the replacement? Competitor Jimmy John’s is about to give Santa Monica its first branch.
And while we’re on the subject of closures… I’m not sure when this happened, but I only recently noticed that Santa Monica’s popular sushi restaurant and after work bar scene Wokcano has quietly disappeared from its location at 1413 5th St. in Downtown Santa Monica. I’ll keep watching to see what hopeful contender may vie for the cavernous space.
Thanks to a tip from eagle-eyed reader Frank, who’s been keeping watch on the erstwhile home of O + O Sicilian Kitchen in Santa Monica, I went by to check things out. Easy to miss, a new ABC Application has gone up on the front door. It appears that a branch of Rakkan Ramen will soon be moving into the space 1705 Ocean Ave. Suite 111 (Behind the former Joan’s on Third). The Japanese chain has two other locations around LA, and is known for its plant-based dashi that is easily customized to accommodate vegans.
For all you who lament RFD’s club sandwich’s disappearance from Santa Monica, have hope! I have it on good authority that Real Food Daily will be triumphantly returning to Santa Monica sometime next year. Although I don’t have an actual address yet, look for a location somewhere along Ocean Ave. I’ll keep my eyes open…
Remember back in July, when I told you about some incredible detective work sent to me by a reader, Patricia? Practically out of thin air, she had deduced that the new building that was under construction at Montana Ave. between 15th and 16th streets was soon to be home to Santa Monica’s second branch of popular salad slingers, Sweetgreen. I couldn’t get confirmation, but I passed this info along based on her confidence and the evidence she provided. Turns out, she was right. Paper is now up on the window for all to see that Sweetgreen will soon have a new location on Montana Ave.
Well that didn’t take long… It was only back in August when I told you about the abrupt closure of local fave Pradeep’s at 1405 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. Then, days later, window paper informed us that something called Prima Baja Cocina was swiftly moving in. With so many of you following this story, I’m amazed to tell you that Prima Baja Cocina officially opened last night (Wednesday, Oct. 3rd). If you follow the restaurant scene ’round these parts, then you know that such a fast turnaround in Santa Monica is practically miraculous. Look for a tight and well thought out menu of Baja-style tacos, salads, starters, and larger plates in a bright and airy atmosphere with friendly staff. (Check out the prototype menu below, but I’m told it’s still in development and subject to change.) We wish them the best of luck.
Update: Eater has more of the details here.
Toddrickallen 