I’ve been hearing from shocked readers that everyone’s favorite grab-and-go burrito joint has abruptly pulled up stakes at 475 N Beverly Dr. A notice on the front door informs us that Chipotle has unceremoniously quit the space that was previously the longtime home of a Baja Fresh. Wasting no time, something has already leased the location so I’ll keep watch to see what may be taking over.
A while ago, I wondered at the papered-over windows of frozen-in-amber java joint Brighton Coffee Shop, that has stood on the corner of Brighton and Camden for over 90 years. Thankfully, I had a chance to talk with spokesperson who assured me that they will reopen the beloved coffee spot. It’s simply getting a modern upgrade with a fresh new look: Think French woven cafe chairs and bright cheery colors. The menu, I’m told, will stay pretty much the same. It looks like they’re close to reopening…
Beverly Hills lost its branch of international gelato brand Amorino during the Pandemic. Now it looks like another icy treat company is moving to the space at 9605 Santa Monica Blvd. The address was recently rented, but no signs have appeared. There is, however, a small legal notice taped to the front door. It lists the new tenant at Ample Hills Sub LLC, the company behind Ample Hills Creamery. Ample Hills make their ice cream from scratch in their Brooklyn “plant” where they actually pasteurize their own dairy and bake their own mix-ins. They have locations in New York, New Jersey, and in Long Beach CA.
Note: I do not yet have confirmation on this story.
For a while now, I’ve been watching the former home of Panini Kabob Grill at 9601 N Santa Monica Blvd. Construction has been fierce since the Mediterranean eatery closed its doors during the Pandemic, but there was no signage to indicate what was replacing it. Recently a now hiring banner went up on the front that lets us know that this will be a branch of the ever-popular chain Shake Shack, which as you know, began life around 22 years ago as a pet project of legendary New York restaurateur Danny Meyer and has ever since embarked on an inexorable march toward world domination fueled mostly by the cultish devotion of fans.
This is one of those stories that mystifies me. For some reason, a whole lot of you have been tracking this story since I first told you about it back in July of last year. To all those people needing answers, this news is for you: La Ong has opened their doors this week at 9632 S Santa Monica Blvd. Expect a solid Thai menu with such favorites as papaya salad, crab fried rice, and green curry all served in a sleek modern and airy space.
Normally sleepy Camden Dr., in The Golden Triangle, has recently become a hive of restaurant activity. Work is progressing on Beverly Bar. The earstwhile H.O.M.E. space appears to be leased. I’m not entirely sure what’s going on at the fossilized Brighton Coffee Shop (the windows are papered over). And now a new ABC application has appeared on the front of 420 N. Camden naming the business as Gion Beverly Hills. And what is that? I’ll leave the description to them… This from their Yelp page:
“Named after the famous geisha district, Gion in Kyoto, Japan. Gion Beverly Hills is the first and only traditional Japanese tea house that features actual geisha from Japan. We offer the rare opportunity to view a live geisha performance and have interactions with the artists. Along with the geisha show we also serve a delicious tasting menu inspired by Kyoto’s four seasons accompanied by a tea ceremony featuring wagashi (traditional tea ceremony dessert) that will serve as your dessert course.”
There is window paper up on the storefront at 9667 1/2 Wilshire Blvd. announcing a new coffee shop. This location has sat idle ever since a bao shop closed there in 2018. Tryst Caffe promises us a coffee bar, but after that there doesn’t appear to be a lot of information out there yet.
Beverly Hills lost both of their branches of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in the mass extinction event the chain experienced during the Pandemic closures. Their location at 445 N Beverly Dr. has sat empty ever since, but that’s about to change. A notice of intent for an open air dining permit posted on the front door spills the beans that an outpost of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams is on the way. Founded by Jeni Britton Bauer and headquartered in Columbus Ohio, Jeni’s boasts a frozen treat with “a uniquely smooth texture and buttercream body, with bright flavor and clean finish” for which people go crazy, including President Joe Biden.
S. Santa Monica Blvd. is notorious for being a revolving door for restaurants, so it takes a brave contender to give it a go. One courageous eatery is about to try their luck. There’s window paper up on a former jewelry store space at 9529 S Santa Monica Blvd. announcing the arrival of something called Lorenzo California. According to the announcement, Lorenzo will be introducing a “Florence style schiacciata sandwhich” to The Golden Triangle. As near as I can tell, a schiacciata sandwich is a Tuscan sandwich composed of a specialty regional bread with various cuts of meats and cheeses. I don’t have much information on Lorenzo other that this, so if you know more, please send it along.
The space at 345 N Canon Dr. in Beverly Hills has been a number of different things, including a hair salon and whatever this was. There’s now an ABC application on the front, indicating that a plucky new contender is about the give the location a go. The name of the new eatery is listed as Cavcas Restaurant. Other than that, I can’t seem to find much information. If you know more, let me know…
A new tenant may have been found to fill the vacancy left by the closure of Yojisan Sushi at 260 N. Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills. While there’s no sign up or even any indication of life, a “leased” sign has been slapped on the front. There is, however, a “notice of non-responsibility” taped to the front door. Careful inspection of that appears to spill the beans that the new shop will be nonother than a branch of popular organic and gluten-free bakery Breadblok. You may recall that the farmer’s market fave opened a brick-and-mortar about a year and a half ago in Santa Monica. So yes Beverly Hills, honey lavender cakes may indeed be heading your way…
There’s a new ABC application up on the old Sfixio Ristorante space at 9737 S. Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills. The application lists the name of the new business as Velverie Cafe and Tea House. There isn’t a great deal of information out there yet. The website is still under construction, but I’ll keep watching to see what develops.
I recently noticed paper covering the windows at 9632 S Santa Monica Blvd. You may recall that this space was most recently inhabited by a branch of Danish lifestyle brand Joe & The Juice. It looks like Joe has moved on and something called La Ong is moving in. I don’t have any information on La Ong, except that “Thai cuisine” will be on offer.
There’s a new ABC application recently posted to the front of the space at 9705/9709 S Santa Monica Blvd (formerly Il Forno Caldo). It names the upcoming restaurant as Demonico’s. I don’t have much information on the upcoming eatery. There is already a Domenico’s that offers Italian products at local farmers’ markets, but I don’t have any confirmation that the two are connected. If you know more, let me know…
S Santa Monica Blvd. is a revolving door for restaurants. The space at 9527 S Santa Monica Blvd., most recently occupied by top-secret brioche breakfast place The Kind Ones, is no exception. But one plucky contender is going to give it a go. There’s paper in the windows announcing an upcoming branch of New York’s own Joe’s Pizza. We wish them the best of luck.
Good news people of Beverly Hills, high-end goceries are heading your way! Many of you grieved when I told you about the closure of the much-beloved Williams Sonoma at 339 N Beverly Dr. Wasting no time, window coverings are informing us that this location will eventually be an outpost of popular (if pricey) natural foods grocer Erewhon. It appears that they are taking their time: They’re shooting for an opening next year.
I recently noticed an ABC application taped to the front of what had been formerly understated sandwich shop Everyday Cafe Seletto in a quieter part of The Golden Triangle at 434 N Camden. The application lists the new business as Beverly Bar. According to this article, the owner Matthew Raanan is working in partnership with Chef Felix Garcia owner of Toca Madera and Tocaya Organica. Otherwise, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of info out there quite yet.
A reader with super human powers (no mere mortal would be able to spot this, Thanks Tony!) let me know about some activity at the former home of fossilized diner, Roxbury Cafe at 459 Roxbury Dr. in Beverly Hills. An open air dining permit request on the boarded-up front door lists the name of the new business as Impasta. I have no confirmation that this is the same restaurant, but there is an Impasta with one other location in LA that offers a menu designed for low-carb and gluten-free diets with items such as “classic pasta and pizza recipes made with zero to low carb noodle options, [and] cauliflower crusts”. Also, there’s no red meat is on the menu. We wish them the best of luck.
Update: Jennifer W was kind enough to let us know that in their Instagram feed, Impasta has said that they are relocating to Beverly Hills. So this will not be a second location.
It appears LA’s premier and exclusive destination for pricey deep-fried nibbles is about to change hands. There’s an ABC application on the front of Tempura Endo, at 9777 S Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills, indicating that the Japanese restaurant that caused quite a stir when it first opened is changing owners. While it remains COVID-closed, at least we can rest assured that a restaurant will be reopening at the location. I guess we’ll have wait and see what it will look like… (The new owner, Peace Dining, appears to be a big player in sushi.)
Well this is sad news indeed. Look at this photo in the window of Beverly Hills’ bright, beautiful Williams-Sonoma. Yes, it’s true: this location at 339 N Beverly Dr., known for having the best selection in the area, will be permanently closing its doors. They will remain open through the end of January. Their locations in Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, and Pasadena will stay open, for now…
Toddrickallen 