When landmark Kifune Sushi Bar closed up shop at the end of last year after 34 years due to the owner’s retirement, it left a giant hole at 405 Washington Blvd in Venice. Now it looks like a new venture is giving the prominent corner a go: An ABC application taped to the front door informs us that something called Beach & Brew is moving in. I can’t seem to find much on B&B, so if you have information let me know…
The recent turnover in the food court of the Century City Shopping Center is breathing new life to into the dining scene there. Plywood is up on the space that used to house Bibigo Kitchen (which has moved locations in the mall) announcing the impending arrival of Bok Bok Mediterranean. And that’s not all: According to their website, they will be opening a location at 235 Main St. in Venice as well. Look for a menu of panini, pitas, and plates of shawerma, falafel, rotisserie chicken, with other Mediterranean specialties.
Having opened in 2013, Kippy’s! Non-Dairy Ice Cream Shop had high hopes when they moved their location from Lincoln Blvd. to 245 Main St. in Venice. Last week, however, a sad note was taped to the front door pronouncing Kippy’s! as closed. A more detailed notice on their website graciously thanks their customers and promises a comeback. We wish them the best of luck.
Construction is fast and furious on a new Greek restaurant landing in the strip mall on the corner of Rose and Lincoln in Venice. A new sign lets us know that ELA Greek Eats is well underway. ELA is a project from the man behind the erstwhile Waterloo & City in Culver City and Inotheke in Santa Monica, Carolos Tomazos. We wish him the best of luck.
I’d been hearing whispers (Thanks T!) that Montana Avenue’s perennially-busy fave Italian joint Forma was expanding into the cavernous hole left by the abrupt closure of Chaya Venice at the corner of Navy and Main St, but I had no evidence. Now there’s proof. An ABC application recently went up in the window confirming that the good people of Venice will soon be getting a Forma of their very own.
Poplar hip Venice caffeine joint Menotti’s Coffee Stop is continuing to expand. Recently they appeared on Sunset in Hollywood. Now, according to the new signs, it looks like that they are opening another location in an old hardware store at 12450 W Washington Blvd. in Los Angeles (Or is it Culver City? It’s confusingly written both ways on-line.) I’m not sure when the flat whites and cortados will start pouring, but it looks like they’re not too far off…
Creative, plant-based superstar chef Matthew Kenney continues to expand his empire. A small piece of paper on the side of the space at 1700 Lincoln Blvd., in an increasingly fashionable stretch of Venice, lets us know that Double Zero will soon be inhabiting the erstwhile Italian deli. And what is Double Zero? With its flagship store in the East Village in New York, Double Zero will soon deliver to Venice vegan pizza from a custom wood burning oven, small plates including their proprietary plant-based cheeses, and desserts with sustainable European wines served in a “warm casual environment”.
