Epic breakfast burritos are heading to Marina del Rey… There’s window paper up on one of the spaces in the Waterside Marina del Rey Shopping Center announcing the arrival of Wake and Late. Wake and Late has four other locations across LA (with another in the works for Santa Monica) and is known for their breakfast burritos, “rip & dip bagels”, and coffee. The promised Santa Monica branch of Wake and Late has languished for nearly three years. I hope they have better luck with this location.
This from my inbox:
“OFF THE HOOK Santa Monica Seafood Festival returns to the iconic Santa Monica Pier on Sun. Oct. 13 to celebrate the sea and raise awareness for Heal the Bay to help keep our local ocean and beaches clean! This beloved ocean-inspired tasting event features the city’s top chefs and restaurants and their favorite underwater ingredients! Attendees will enjoy seafood tastings, beer gardens, wine tastings, live music, oyster-shucking competitions, and more fun in the sun!”
General admission (Little Fish) is $85 and gets you access to seafood and drinks tastings. VIP admission (Big Fish) is $165 and gets the tastings as well as early entry, access to a lounge, and exclusive tastings and cocktails. I’m told tickets are selling out so you might want to move quickly. Oh, and “yacht rock attire” is encouraged.
Read more and get your tickets here.
Paper has gone up on the space at 1541 Ocean Ave ste 105 in Santa Monica proclaiming that famous San Francisco chocolatier Ghirardelli is moving in. Obviously, the shop is super close to The Pier and will cater to tourists, as it does in San Francisco, New York, and Hollywood. According to their website, Ghirardelli has been making quality chocolate for nearly two hundred years, thereby making it the “longest continually operating chocolatier in America”. They’re aiming for a Winter 2024 opening.
(Thanks Frank!)
Congratulations Good People of Malibu, healthy juices are heading your way! There’s a banner on the front of the Montana Ave branch of cleanse experts Kreation announcing an upcoming branch in Malibu Village, at 3836 Cross Creek Rd. According to the banner, this will be their 24th branch.
A mysterious ABC application recently appeared on the front of the space at 828 Pico Blvd, Ste 5. The business name on the application is Pacific Golf Corp. A cursory search of the name and the names associated with this business produce no obvious results. All we know is that this will be an “on-sale beer & wine eating place”. If you have more information, let me know…
On a tip from a reader (Thanks Jeff!) I went by the former location of Matthew Kenney’s ill-fated pizza restaurant Double Zero at 1700 Lincoln Blvd. in Venice to see what was going on. You may recall that an ABC application went up earlier this year announcing the new business as Gnarwal Coffee Co., the socially conscious organic coffee purveyor with a location on Main Street in Santa Monica. It appears the concept has pivoted slightly, and they have since opened under the name Companion. The new self-described neighborhood cafe and restaurant is currently open from 7am to 3pm for coffee, pastry, and sandwiches with the promise of dinner and wine soon. Until then, read more about their vision and food here.
This caught me by surprise, but I’ve been hearing rumors portending this for quite a while. Sadly, after an extensive build-out that culminated in a triumphant return to Santa Monica, Osteria Del Fornaio has closed its doors at 401 Wilshire Blvd. Ste 140. People were genuinely excited when they opened only back in April of 2022, with a bright fresh look and a popular happy hour. I’m not sure what happened, but the space is currently being gutted. I’m told this location is not destined to be empty for long. More rumors are circulating about the new tenant, which I can’t confirm at this time. Watch this space…
The corner space at 200 Santa Monica Blvd has gone through a number of changes in recent history. It had been a Coffee Bean, then it was Jinky’s Coffee, and now it will be LA’s first branch of Luke’s Lobster. Luke’s Lobster‘s founder, third-generation lobsterman Luke Holden, opened his first shack in New York in 2009, and has since spread to locations across nine states and Japan. They are on a mission to provide the highest quality sustainable seafood from Maine and Canada and are devoted to coastal communities. Look for a menu of lobster, shrimp, and crab rolls served in “Maine-style shacks”. Definitely exciting news for Downtown Santa Monica.
Peripatetic East Coast-themed sandwich shop Jersey Mike’s Subs continues its march across SoCal with a new outpost near the beach. There’s a banner up at 245 S Main St. in Venice announcing the news. Read more at jerseymikes.com.
Ever since Marmalade Cafe closed up shop at its longtime location of 710 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica, readers have been demanding answers as to what would take over the space. Construction began quickly and the speculation was wild. I’d been hearing whispers of the incoming tenant, but now we have proof. New York’s celebrated H&H Bagels is taking up residence at this location, as confirmed by their website. H&H began in New York in 1972 and uses the “artisanal water bagel method” that produces results for which fans go crazy and many consider to be the quintessential bagel. They are in the midst of a national expansion, and this will be their first West Coast store.
Imagine my surprise when I looked at an official City website listing changes to Downtown Santa Monica and noticed two names on the list of which I was unaware. The first of these was popular Brazilian carnivore paradise Fogo De Chão. A little more digging revealed a trade website that appears to confirm that the churrasco steakhouse is moving into the old Del Frisco’s Grille location at 1551 Ocean Ave, a prime address facing the iconic Santa Monica Pier. The second surprise on the list is Napa Valley institution Gott’s Roadside. While I have a few suspicions, I am unable to confirm the address for Gott’s. If you have answers, let me know.
Nancy Silverton and Matt Molina’s SUPER-anticipated Roman-style pizza restaurant is set to throw open its doors at their new location in Santa Monica. Excited readers are rushing to tell me that, after a long delay, notices are up on the front of the new Triple Beam Pizza, at 2905 Main St., announcing the opening at 11AM today (June 20). This is their fourth location. Expect such beauties as roasted fennel & sausage with goat cheese, Korean BBQ chicken bulgogi, and roasted spring corn ezquite. You’re welcome.
I’ve been covering the story of Santa Monica’s long-suffering food hall, The Gallery at 1315 3rd Street Promenade, for years. It was a Promenade fast food sanctuary for a while, then and upscale destination including David Beran’s Dialogue, and in its last gasp, a ghost kitchen. Now it is empty. A sharp-eyed reader noticed a new ABC application in the window. Sadly, The Gallery will no longer be exclusively a dining destination. Holey Moley, which is an indoor miniature golf concept with a bar is moving in. This will be LA’s first location. Read more about this mysterious newcomer here.
(Thanks Jordan!)
Pink signs are up on the space at 215 Broadway in Downtown Santa Monica announcing the arrival of Turn Dough. The address was previously the longtime home of hostel favorite breakfast spot Interactive Cafe. Turn Dough has two other LA locations (Venice and Hollywood) and offers a menu where “European traditions merge seamlessly with American creativity”. Look for “18 signature Chimney cakes with Soft Serve Gelato… Milkshakes, refreshing Dole Whip, irresistible Homemade French Crepes, heavenly Belgian Waffles, and a delightful selection of espresso”.
This from my inbox… Just in time for summer. Night Market at the Bungalow began this week and will run every Thursday this summer from 5pm to 11pm until August 29. This event is free and open to the public and is promising “delectable cuisine, expertly crafted cocktails, live music, and vibrant ambiance”. Check out the list of vendors here. The Bungalow is at 101 Wilshire Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica.
Neighborhood fave Jinky’s Cafe has had a presence in Santa Monica for a while. First as a solid breakfast spot and then as a coffeeshop. Both locations have been abandoned, but fans of Jinky’s are in luck. The awnings are already up on the prominent corner spot at 205 Broadway in Downtown Santa Monica, previously home to The Independence, announcing the arrival of Jinky’s to this location. Jinky’s has five other locations across LA, and this one will offer all-day dining with beer, wine, and cocktails.
This from my inbox: On Sunday, May 19th from 1pm-5pm is the 9th annual MAINopoly: A Taste of Main Street. This event is a pet-friendly, boardgame-themed culinary walking tour of Main Street’s fave neighborhood eateries, bars, and treat shops. Attendees will use “MAINopoly dollars” and are encouraged to dress in Monopoly-inspired costumes. There will be a “Go to Jail” beer garden, free pedicab rides, pet adoptions, photo booth, and prizes. Some of the restaurants that will be participating are: Ashland Hill, Holey Grail Donuts, Alfalfa, The Victorian, JuneShine, Jameson’s Pub, Tavern on Main, Papille Gustative, Pasjoli, Jinya Ramen Bar, MUD\WTR, Lula Cocina Mexicana. The event takes place between Strand and Pier Ave. (Check in at The Victorian, 2640 Main St.) and benefits The Main St. Business Improvement Association. Read more and get your tickets here.
People have been wondering what’s going on since Margo’s Pizza Kitchen & Bar, at 1534 Montana, closed its doors. You may recall that last year Margo’s had a break-in that caused significant damage and loss. At that time, in an interview, a rep for Margo’s alluded to that incident being a “tipping point” that could cause the business to shutter. Shortly thereafter, Margo’s did indeed close down, ostensibly for a remodel. Since then, a new banner has been put up announcing a “new launch under new partnership”. It appears the new restaurant will be named Nana Margo’s, and cocktails and “dinning” will be on order. It will be interesting to see if the new eatery will continue with the plant-based concept. I’ll keep my eye on this….
A highly anticipated bakery throws open its doors today at 7:30am. Already garnering much attention in the LA pastry world, Petit Grain Boulangerie takes over the old Broadway Baker space at 1209 Wilshire Blvd. As you can see from the line that formed ahead of their opening this morning, Petit Grain is poised to take the Westside by storm. Read more about the new hotspot here. We wish them the best of luck.
This was certainly a surprise… I’m hearing from shocked readers that Culver City’s branch of classic health food store Co-opportunity Market has disappeared from their location at 8770 Washington Blvd. The Co-op began life in 1974 in Santa Monica, where it continues to exist. This location opened in 2017 and appeared to be tracking a more Erewhon vibe than its old school hippie predecessor. I’m not sure what happened, but I’ll keep watching the space to see what may develop.
(Thanks again, Andrew!)
Toddrickallen 