A small banner has appeared in the window of the space at 235 Main St. in Venice, previously home to The Anchor Venice. A new eatery named Three Flavors appears to be moving in. I don’t have much information on this establishment, other than the banner promises an interesting combination of “Thai, Sushi, Phở”.
This from my Inbox:
“On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 8:00am, Levain Bakery will celebrate its Beverly Hills grand opening – and third opening in the Los Angeles area – with a team ribbon cutting. The first 100 people in line will receive a custom Levain Bakery Beverly Hills tote bag filled with fun bakery swag celebrating the Beverly Hills community.
To further celebrate the opening of their Beverly Hills bakery, Levain will offer a brand new limited edition cookie flavor available exclusively at the new Beverly Hills bakery – Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Chip. This cookie, available for just one month, is a new twist on a classic, and a tribute to Levain’s original Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip cookie. All proceeds from Levain Bakery’s Beverly Hills opening day will support Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles, whose mission is to combat hunger by providing meals, love, unity and community. To that end, OBKLA mobilizes volunteers in Los Angeles to cook and package meals for those facing food insecurity.”
Levain Bakery is located at 130 S Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills, and is open from 7:00am to 10:00pm daily (on opening day, we will open at 8am).
LA-based exclusive eyewear designer Jacques Mari Mage is known for cutting-edge limited-edition glasses. What they are not known for is dining… until now? There is an ABC application in the window of the build-out at 2297 Abbot Kinney in Venice listing the applicant of the new “general eating place” as none other than Jacques Marie Mage. The business name is not listed, but JMM has a boutique just across the street. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what develops.
There’s new window paper up on the space that used to house erstwhile Louisiana chicken phenom Willie Mae’s. Currently operating from The Colony across the street, New York Chicken & Gyro is setting up housekeeping at 324 Lincoln Blvd. in Venice. Besides the Venice location, New York Chicken & Gyros has three other locations around LA and offers a menu featuring “NY-style Middle Eastern halal food”.
Crazy popular Levain Bakery continues its LA expansion. There’s window paper up at 130 S Beverly Dr, previously home to a poke shop, announcing the latest branch. Levain Bakery began in NYC in 1995 and has since grown to a smattering of locations around New York and other locations including Larchmont Village, and a new location in Venice. They are famous for ridiculously good handmade cookies that they describe as, “crispy, chewy, soft and melty”.
I just noticed that Abbot Kinney’s popular coffee truck Niche has landed a cozy neighborhood brick-and-mortar. Their new awning is up at 712 Washington in MDR, formerly home to a realty company. It appears that they are ready to open with “coffee, matcha, tea, milkshakes & superfood smoothies” as well as breakfast and baked goods on offer.
Construction is fast and furious at the site of the old Craftsman bar at 119 Broadway in Downtown Santa Monica. An ABC application on the front lists the new business as SoCal Vibes Co. This is the tap room/restaurant branch of Carson’s very own Honest Abe Brewery. With locations in the South Bay and Venice, SoCal Vibes Co. offers “unique food and beverage offerings in a beachy, chill atmosphere” with live music and game nights.
This from the folks at Levain Bakery, at 1161 Abbot Kinney Blvd:
Levain Bakery on Abbot Kinney will open Friday, April 4th!
“And as a special flavor… we will be offering our Black & White Chocolate Chip Cookie ONLY at the Venice bakery, for a limited time
Our co-founders, Connie McDonald & Pam Weekes will be here for the occasion
We’re doing a ribbon cutting at 8am
The first 100 people in line will get a free Levain tote bag!
ALL proceeds from our opening day will be donated to St Joseph Center in Venice.”
Directly behind the incoming Dayglow coffee shop on the corner of Rose and Rennie in Venice, window paper indicates a new branch of Awan. While their website doesn’t reveal much, Awan appears to specialize in coconut-based ice creams in flavors like Balinese vanilla bean, blood orange, and black sesame cherry chocolate chip. They currently have two other locations, in West Hollywood and Larchmont, with another location coming to 843 N Spring St. in Chinatown. (Thanks Jason!)
A new coffee concept is landing in Venice. Window paper is up on the space at 540 Rose Ave., previously home to Jeni’s Ice Creams, announcing the arrival of Dayglow. Dayglow began in Silverlake in 2018 and has spread to a smattering of locations. They offer “unique coffees, from unique roasters, for unique experiences” with an emphasis on tasting notes.
It appears that a new eatery is taking over the former Plant Food and Wine space at 1009 Abbot Kinney in Venice. Window paper and a new ABC application are declaring that Alisa Greek Restaurant is setting up housekeeping at the address. While the website is still being developed, What Now Los Angeles has more details here.
New York’s crazy/popular purveyor of baked goods is opening a second LA location. There’s window paper up on the old Lemonade space at 1661 Abbot Kinney announcing the arrival of Levain Bakery. Levain Bakery began in NYC in 1995 and has since grown to a smattering of locations around New York and other locations including Larchmont Village. They are famous for ridiculously good handmade cookies that they describe as, “crispy, chewy, soft and melty”.
(Thanks Robert!)
As signs recently went up at Venice’s new “smart kitchen” The Colony at 401 Lincoln Blvd (previously home to a large encampment) readers have been excitedly asking me what would be on offer. Here’s a partial list of what I know so far: Crumbl, Kakkoi, Main Chick, Goop Kitchen, Muy Thai, Good Steak, Behold Burger, Sweet Rose, Culture Crush, Xenia, and Jennie’s House. You’ll notice that this list is very similar to The Colony on Santa Monica Blvd. You’re welcome.
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.
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.
It appears a “high-quality meat and seafood” purveyor is moving a location into the cavernous space that previously was a hot yoga studio at 2570 Lincoln Blvd. (corner of Washington) in Venice. Wild Fork has locations across the US and offers a wide selection of products for pick up or delivery. It looks like they’re planning on an August 28 Grand Opening.
(Thanks Jeff!)
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”.
Cozy local java joint Gnarwhal Coffee Co. is apparently branching out from its buzzy Main Street location to an even buzzier neighborhood. There’s an ABC application up at 1700 Lincoln Blvd. in Venice, previously home to the troubled Double Zero, letting us know that Gnarwhal is moving in. I’m sure that organic, socially responsible coffee will be on the menu, but so will beer and wine according to the ABC app, so this may be a slightly different concept that their Main St. branch.
If you blinked, you probably missed when Roca Pizza was open at 1061 N Swathmore in Pacific Palisades. They were only open about six months. Now the location is getting another pizza restaurant, Jemma Pizzeria. Jemma Pizzeria is another project of Jackson Kalb (Ospi, Jemma di Mare) who spilled the beans to Eater about what to expect.
Toddrickallen 