In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a brief and cheery pop up that has landed in the Third Street Promenade. Celebrating 70 years of flavored milk, Nesquik Milk Stop is up and running at 1228 3rd Street. In a bright and playful space described as an “immersive, multisensory pop-up event”, expect multiple counters of treats, Instagram worthy photo ops, interactive activities, and giveaways. But you’d better hurry, the event ends on July 27th.
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.
Loteria Grill abruptly vacated its prime Downtown Santa Monica location at 1251 3rd St Promenade back in late 2016. Since then, the space has sat vacant. But that’s about to change. Ocean Avenue’s humble tourist crowd pleaser Casa Martin is opening a branch at the location, at least according to a recently posted ABC application. No business name is listed, so I’ll keep watching for more details…
If you follow this blog regularly, then you know how much I love to uncover stories from scraps of evidence. But I have to give credit where credit is due… I’ve been watching the new construction on the north side of Montana Ave. in Santa Monica, between 15th and 16th streets where an old parking lot used to sit, but I couldn’t uncover any concrete proposals for the site. Then I heard from reader Patricia, who had caught wind of a rumor that the space was being converted into a branch of the popular purveyor of salads and bowls, Sweetgreen, which I couldn’t verify. So Patricia went to work. On an easily overlooked document for another Montana rental, she spotted Sweetgreen listed at that location, appearing to confirm the rumor. (Don’t ask me how she found it, but it’s definitely there on page 6). So while I still can’t prove it, Sweetgreen looks likely headed for Montana Ave. The real story here is that detective work. Brava Patricia!
I recently noticed that long-standing local fave Japanese bolthole Musha Tokyo Cuisine has quit its Downtown Santa Monica location at 424 Wilshire Blvd. The windows are covered over and the restaurant appears to be undergoing renovation. I originally wondered if they were remodeling since there is no for lease sign on the front. But Yelp is reporting them closed and their website isn’t functioning, so I’m assuming the worst. Let me know if you have any information, but I’ll keep watching…
The little strip mall that housed Pot & Pan Thai restaurant is undergoing a major renovation. Pot & Pan itself has since closed. But a new Thai restaurant is destined to move into the space at 2315 Santa Monica Blvd. A banner in the window promises us “Thai vegan coming soon”.
It was back in 2012 when I first noticed that a branch of Italian coffee specialists Spazio Caffe was on its way to 1511A Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. Having built a loyal local following, it’s a bit surprising to discover that they have abandoned the location. The space is completely gutted. I’m not sure what happened but I’ll keep watching to see what develops. 
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…
Back in August of last year, I told you about a sign of hope in the risky restaurant scene on the third floor of Santa Monica Place. An ABC application let us know that Torrance’s The Dudes’ Brewing Company was taking over the commodious space once occupied by Pizza Antica. So, for all you who have been patiently waiting and checking for updates, I deliver this happy news: The Dudes’ officially opened its doors last week and is now supplying craft-brewed suds and pizza to the good people of Santa Monica.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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…
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.
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.
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…
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?
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…
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.
Toddrickallen 