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.
The troubled space on the corner of Wilshire and 4th in Downtown Santa Monica has had its share of issues. For a long while, it was a sputtering branch of P.F. Chang’s. That disappeared in 2021. Then a new contender, Lotus Dim Sum Dumpling House, gave the spot a chance and opened about a year and a half ago. Sadly, it now appears they too have given up the ghost. I’ll keep watching to see what may give the commodious location a go.
Santa Monica is about to get its second branch of international acai experts Oakberry (the first location is on the corner of Berkeley and Wilshire). There’s window paper across two storefronts at 705 and 707 Montana Ave announcing the news. Oakberry offers acai that is 100% natural with no food coloring, artificial preservatives, or guarana syrup. They operate a number of locations in Brazil and continue an impressive international expansion.
A happy new food choice is coming to Santa Monica soon… There’s window paper up on the space at most recently occupied by Luna Grill at 3001 Ste 103 Wilshire Blvd. announcing the impending arrival of Jin Cook. Promising “Authentic Korean Soul Food”, Jin Cook has locations in Glendale and Santa Clarita and offers an exciting menu of soups, “hot stone” dishes, pancakes, and katsu.
Update: Jin Cook is now open.
Well, I can’t exactly say this was a surprise… While other locations of Mexican party spot Kalaveras are quite popular, Santa Monica’s branch has long struggled to attract crowds. Perhaps this was because of the cursed location (it was previously the doomed home of Belcampo), or its proximity to perennially popular El Cholo across the street. But whatever the reason, Kalaveras has abandoned this location at 1026 Wilshire Blvd. I’ll keep watching the tricky space to see what may develop…
I must say, this is a bit of shock… Riding the cupcake wave of the early 2000s, Vanilla Bake Shop burst on the scene 16 years ago and quickly became Santa Monica’s go-to spot for baked treats. Sadly, they have quit their longtime location at 512 Wilshire Blvd. A gracious note in the window thanks their customers and introduces a new bakery to take over: The Butter End Cakery. Apparently, the LAX location of Vanilla Bake Shop is still up and running.
Update: The Butter End Cakery is now open at this location. (09/2024)
There’s a new banner hanging over 331 Wilshire Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica. The space has long sat empty since Greenleaf Kitchen & Cocktails closed up shop during The Pandemic. The name on the banner is Maru Sushi and underneath that, it promises “ramen / ezakaya“. I’m unable to find any more information about the new eatery as there are a number or restaurants that use the word “Maru” in their name, so if you know more, reach out to me…
Good People of Brentwood, you’re about to be spoiled for choice when it comes to wine, beer, and spirits. A sharp-eyed reader noticed the ABC application on the front of the cavernous old CVS space at 12015 Wilshire Blvd. The application spills the beans that Brentwood will be getting its verey own location of retail alcohol superstore Total Wine & More.
(Thanks John!)
I told you two years ago when Brentwood’s fave watering hole/pickup joint Cabo Cantina, at 11829 Wilshire, fell victim to the Pandemic. The space has sat empty ever since. That’s about to change. A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Matt!) spotted an ABC application on the front of the address that confirms that Banana Leaf is moving in. Bringing a much-needed and refreshing injection into the Brentwood food scene, Banana Leaf has five other LA locations and offers a menu they describe as a “balance between classics and progressive Indian cuisine”.
Normally, I do my own investigating, but I’m hearing from so many people on this story that I’m simply passing on the information others have shared with me. With its buzzy bar and laid-back comfort food, the closure of local fave Ingo’s Tasty Diner, at 1215 Wilshire, was a real blow to neighborhood. Plywood went up on the front, and not much happened after that… until recently. Construction has been fast and furious, which prompted readers to check into what was going on. They’ve uncovered that Ingo’s will be reopening at this location (their website confirms a Summer opening) and that they are expanding into the old Vienna Bakery space next door, possibly meaning more baked goods on menu. Also there are whisperings of a beer garden in the back as well. Let me know if you have any more information. (Thanks to Kurt, Rob, and others)
A little over a year ago, I told you about some activity at 925 Wilshire Blvd.# C in Santa Monica. At the time, all I could discern wat the new establishment was associated with JP’s Bar and Grill, a fave neighborhood watering hole at Wilshire and 11th that had shuttered during the Pandemic. I even reached out to the people behind JP’s, but at the time, they didn’t wish to share any details, so I only referred to the location as “a new JP’s project”. Now a liquor license has gone up on the space, (perhaps) putting an end to the mystery. The business name is clearly listed as JP’s Bar & Grill.
The former bank building at 3032 Wilshire, on the corner of Berkeley and Wilshire in Santa Monica, continues its transformation into a food destination. There are the delightful Portuguese egg tarts from Paderia at the back of the building, and in the front, you can get your acai at Oakberry. Soon you can add one more choice. Signs recently went up on Suite B4, on the Berkeley side of the building, announcing a new “curry & sando” spot: Katsu Bar. Katsu Bar has a smattering of locations throughout SoCal and offers a menu of appetizers, salads, chicken or pork katsu sandwiches and sandos, and curry bowls.
In a recent post about Mid-City, I opined about the plethora of empty storefronts along Wilshire Blvd. One plucky contender appears to be bucking the trend and is moving into a space along the storied stretch of boulevard. There’s a banner up at 6254 Wilshire (formerly home to Pita Kitchen) announcing the impending arrival of Laki Ramen.
A concerned reader (Thanks Lisa!) took the time to let me know about some recent blows to the Mid-City food scene. Korean eatery Genki Grill is now closed at 6355 Wilshire. A little farther East, gastropub Spare Tire Kitchen & Tavern has completely disappeared from its erstwhile location at 5370 Wilshire. I’m not sure what this portends, but there do seem to be an awful lot of empty storefronts along Wilshire Blvd.
You may recall that the Pandemic Closures hit bars particularly hard, and Brentwood’s local watering hole Bru Haus at 11831 Wilshire Blvd. was no exception: It closed in 2020. Then it appeared that the location was going to get an island-themed restaurant named Morabeza, but that never materialized. Now there’s a new ABC application posted on the front listing the new tenant as The Auld Fella. The Auld Fella describes itself as “an Irish joint” and currently has a location in Culver City. Hopefully their arrival will bring new life to Brentwood’s once-thriving bar scene.
(Thanks John!
It was back in September when I told you about Everytable‘s triumphant return to Santa Monica with a new location at 1005A Wilshire. Everytable believes that “nutritious food is a human right”, and aims to bring communities fresh, ready-to-eat chef-prepared meals at price points based on what is affordable for that area. While this location has already been in soft opening, Everytable will host their Grand Opening this Thursday December 15 at 11:00am. There will be a live DJ, and you can score a free meal if you’re one of the first 200 people who sign up for their rewards program.
I’ve been hearing from startled readers who have noticed that one of the last local branches of former pizza darling 800° Woodfired Kitchen has been taken off life support at 120 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica. Signs have been pulled down and the cavernous space has been gutted. 800° burst onto the scene a few years back wowing people with their innovative design-your-own assembly line approach using quality ingredients that produced a charred-crust pie that seemed like a revelation at the time. I’ll keep my eye on the tricky address to see what may move in.
On a tip from a reader, I went by to check out what was going on at Santa Monica’s branch of healthy California-cuisine minichain Fresh Corn Grill. It was over two years ago when I first told you about their arrival to the space at 720 Wilshire, formerly home to a branch of Baja Fresh. Sadly, this location is ceasing operations after today (Friday 09//23). It was explained to me that the company is being restructured by the owners. The other two locations (Westwood, West Hollywood) are to remain open.
(Thanks Jonny!)
Everytable has had a spotty history. After appearing on the scene a while ago with grand ambitions, they were forced to close a number of locations, including Downtown Santa Monica’s branch. Everytable is the nobly-inspired concept chain aiming to bring fresh, nutritious, made-from-scratch meals to a fast food world at price points based on what a community could afford. New signage has popped up almost overnight at 1005A Wilshire announcing a brand new outpost of of the socially-conscious brand. They appear to have shifted their focus to subscription and home delivery, but hopefully retail will be available at this location.
It was back in March of this year that I told you about what was going to fill the cavernous hole left by the shocking disappearance of P.F. Chang’s on the corner of Wilshire and 4th in Santa Monica. Wasting no time whatsoever, Lotus Dim Sum Dumpling House has fully moved into the location and is throwing open their doors today, July 27th at 12:00pm. Along with recently-opened popular Osteria Del Fornaio on the opposite corner, Lotus is bringing a much-needed injection to a struggling Downtown Santa Monica dining scene that was hit hard by pandemic closures. We wish them the best of luck. You can check out Lotus’ menu here.
Toddrickallen 