CrepeMaker Done, The Market Converts Into A Museum In Santa Monica Place

Posted on June 8, 2018 by toddrickallen

Still more signs of trouble for the consistently sputtering food scene in Santa Monica Place. It appears that another of the concessions on the third floor has disappeared. CrepeMaker has unceremoniously vacated its food court location. In other news… If you were hopeful that the failed The Market space might return with the promise of a new food venture, I’m afraid your hopes are about to be dashed on the rocks. In case you haven’t heard, the space is being converted into the Zimmer Children’s Museum, at least according to the new window displays. Perhaps the Dudes’ Brewing Company, currently under construction, will breathe new life into the third floor.

The Refinery Ceases Production In Downtown Santa Monica

Posted on June 7, 2018 by toddrickallen

Bursting on the scene back in 2012, The Refinery specialized in brew-to-order drip coffee. Sadly, it appears that they have disappeared from their space at 413 Santa Monica Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica. An impressive note on the door graciously says goodbye to many of their loyal customers, each listed by name.

Greens Up! Moves Locations In Santa Monica

Posted on June 4, 2018 by toddrickallen

Montana Avenue’s branch of salad specialist Greens Up! burst onto the scene back in 2010. After an 8 year run in their diminutive space at 703 Montana Ave, they have decided to move to bigger digs. Greens Up! opens in their shiny new location at 912 Montana Ave. today, June 4th.

Gramercy Takes Over Tacoteca In Santa Monica

Posted on June 1, 2018 by toddrickallen

Popular chill Mexican joint Tacoteca unceremoniously closed a bit ago at 2460 Wilshire Blvd. Recently a window sign went up on the space informing us that a new bar called Gramercy is moving in. I can’t find much information on Gramercy. The Yelp page for Tacoteca lists it as “temporarily closed” with a scheduled opening date of June 9th, so I don’t know if this is owned by the same people or not. Let me know if you have any more information…

“Miracle Scoops” Coming To Santa Monica?

Posted on May 31, 2018 by toddrickallen

On a tip from a reader (Thanks Lola!), I went by 2210 Wilshire Blvd. to check out what was going on in the space that used to house children’s boutique Giggle. The location is completely gutted, but there’s an ABC application pasted to the front. The application lists the applicant as Miracle Scoops Corporation. I’ve searched the internet but there’s little information out there on Miracle Scoops, or the names listed on the application. The business name line on the application is left blank, so I can assume the name of the new eatery will be something other than Miracle Scoops, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see…

Greek Cuisine Stop’n Café Closes In Santa Monica To Make Way For…

Posted on May 25, 2018 by toddrickallen

A sad day for old school Santa Monica aficionados… Recently, after 30 years, Downtown Santa Monica staple Greek Cuisine Stop’n Café closed its iconic location at 1237 3rd Street Promenade. A gracious note posted on the front door offers gratitude to the community and explains that they have, “decided to pass on this beautiful location to the next generation of entrepreneurs.” And who might that entrepreneur be? An ABC application on the front of the space reveals that it is none other than a familiar purveyor of diminutive burgers that is bent on world domination… Burgerim.

Chick-fil-A Now Open In Santa Monica… You’re Welcome

Posted on May 17, 2018 by toddrickallen

I first noticed that poultry purveyor Chick-fil-A was remodeling the old Taco Bell at 2207 Lincoln Blvd. back in December of last year. Ever since then, I have been astonished at the great number of you who are constantly checking for updates. So, to you dedicated fans of their signature chicken sandwich I deliver this happy news: Chick-fil-A officially threw open their doors at 6:30am this morning.

Dragon Palace Disappears From Santa Monica

Posted on May 15, 2018 by toddrickallen

This shouldn’t come as a terrible shock to too many people… Nestled among other neighborhood eateries in the quiet Yale Center strip mall, it appears that Chinese restaurant Dragon Palace has quietly disappeared from its space at 2832 Santa Monica Blvd. Their reviews were generally on the good side, so I’m not really sure what happened. I’ll keep watching to see what, if anything, decides to move into the unassuming location.

Update: According to readers Annie & Daisy (thanks!), this strip mall will soon be converted into a mixed use space. All the other restaurants will also be gone shortly…

Rawkin Juice Squeezed Out Of Santa Monica

Posted on May 10, 2018 by toddrickallen

The humble space at 705 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica has sure seen its share of trouble. It was only back in June of last year that I told you about the arrival of celeb fave Rawkin Juice to the spot that previously had been occupied by short-lived Orchard Flats Juicery. Last week, a note was taped to the front door saying that they had closed for “renovation” (frequently restaurant code for ” permanently closed”). This week the for lease sign went up on the space confirming the sad news that they have indeed closed. Is the honeymoon over for the pressed juice craze?

Blue Bottle Brewing In Santa Monica Soon

Posted on May 4, 2018 by toddrickallen

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…

Sensible Seasonal Healthy Food Takes Over Fresh Healthy Café In Santa Monica Place

Posted on April 19, 2018 by toddrickallen

The food scene in Santa Monica Place is as mercurial as ever… A banner affixed over the top of the old sign informs us that Fresh Healthy Café has transformed into Sensible Seasonal Healthy Food. Expect a similar menu of smoothies, bowls, salads, panini, and wraps at the free-standing food court lunch counter.

Carvery Kitchen Quits Santa Monica, Lands In LA

Posted on April 18, 2018 by toddrickallen

Recently, I discovered that popular sandwich spot Carvery Kitchen had vacated its space at 3101 Ocean Park Blvd. in Santa Monica. The space is completely gutted and all signs have been removed. But all is not lost… According to their website, Carvery Kitchen is moving to 8832 Pico Blvd. in LA, previously the home of Mexikosher. I went by to check out their progress. The plucky “Ultimate Deli” had planned on a soft opening April 16th, but they appear to be behind schedule and have a way to go.

The old and the new location…

Erewhon Opens April 11 In Santa Monica

Posted on April 10, 2018 by toddrickallen

I first noticed that natural foods grocer Erewhon was coming to Santa Monica late last year. After extensive construction, it appears they are about to open. According to the notices pasted on the front, the bright shiny new Erewhon officially opens at 9am on April 11th at 2800 Wilshire Blvd., and features a “beautiful patio, terraced courtyard, and a street-level view of Erewhon’s open kitchen”.

Bluestone Lane Coffee Shop Bringing Flat Whites To Santa Monica

Posted on April 6, 2018 by toddrickallen

Apparently almost over night, a new coffee shop has landed in the old space of the disappeared chain Juice Served Here. With locations on both coasts, and 2 other locations in the LA area, Bluestone Lane is now up and running at 631 Wilshire Blvd. Besides coffee and tea, the Australian coffee shop offers a menu of cold-pressed juices, “grab and go items”, oatmeal, and open-faced toasts including, you guessed it, avocado toast.

Del Taco Opens In Santa Monica… You’re Welcome

Posted on April 3, 2018 by toddrickallen

Every once in a while, I’m caught off guard by the amount of attention that a post gets. Perhaps its due to the relative lack of fast food options on Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica, but ever since I first wrote to tell you about the construction of a Del Taco in an old Jack In The Box location, a great many of you have been checking for updates. So you’ll be pleased to know that Del Taco has opened in its shiny new space at 2423 Wilshire.

Mason Taking Over Sam’s By The Beach In Santa Monica

Posted on March 21, 2018 by toddrickallen

It wasn’t that long ago that Santa Monica Canyon staple, Sam’s by the Beach went belly up in its location at 108 W Channel Rd. Since then, I’ve been watching to see what would take over the location. An ABC application posted on the front lists the new business as Mason. According to the application, the people behind Mason are Change the Channel LLC. I’ve tried to dig up more information on the mysterious enterprise, but there’s not much out there yet, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see…

Update: Check out a reader’s reply below for more info… Thanks R.W.

Three Twins Ice Cream Vanishes From Santa Monica

Posted on March 6, 2018 by toddrickallen

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?

Candytopia Bringing “Confectionary Bliss” To Santa Monica For A Limited Time

Posted on March 1, 2018 by toddrickallen

Self-described “outrageously sweet interactive pop-up” Candytopia opens tomorrow (Friday March 2nd) in Santa Monica Place. The exhibit, brought to you by Hollywood “Candy Queen” Jackie Sorkin and described to me by an employee as “an immersive art [experience] made out of candy”, will run for four months. And yes, you will be eating candy. Read more about this spectacularly creative pop-up and get tickets here.

Rita’s Gate Of India Relocates In Santa Monica

Posted on February 8, 2018 by toddrickallen

Perhaps you’ve been missing the old Gate of India restaurant that disappeared from its location at 115 Santa Monica Blvd. That space has been (slowly) transforming into something called Tumbi Bar. However, GOI has resurfaced as Rita’s Gate of India in its new location at 1450 5th Street in Downtown Santa Monica.

Big Dean’s Expands, Starbucks Lands Under The Pier In SM

Posted on January 31, 2018 by toddrickallen

Tucked underneath the Santa Monica Pier, Big Dean’s Ocean Front Cafe has long been a favorite watering hole with locals and the beach crowd, and has remained largely untouched since the 1970s. But that’s all about to change… According to a spokesperson, they are expanding into the space just to the north, adding more patio, bar, and kitchen space. And at the other end of the building, a brand new Starbucks is moving in, bringing a much different vibe to this little hidden corner of Santa Monica. Check out the artist’s rendering below to get a taste of how things will look.

Toddrickallen

The Westside at Its Finest

Tag Archives: Santa Monica