Even More CBTL Losses!

Posted on June 27, 2020 by toddrickallen

Yikes! Ever since I first started telling you about the mass extinction of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf from the Westside, I’ve been hearing from horrified fans mourning the loss of even more neighborhood CBTLs. The Coffee Bean on the corner of Second and Santa Monica Blvd. is now gone. The CBTL on the corner of Wilshire and Federal has disappeared. And, while I haven’t checked it out personally, readers are telling me that The Coffee Bean on the corner of Lincoln and Manchester is now caput. Lots of you have been sending me theories on why this is happening, but if you have definite information, please let us know… CBTL2

Wahoo’s Fish Taco Quits Santa Monica…

Posted on June 14, 2020 by toddrickallen

SoCal native Wahoo’s Fish Taco appears to be quiting their longtime address at 418 Wilshire Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica. A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Trent!) spotted the for lease sign hanging on the front. Since their Brentwood location closed last year, there are currently no Westside location except in LAX. Not sure what happened, but I’ll keep watching to see what develops.

Wahoos

Jimmy John’s Jumps Ship In Santa Monica

Posted on May 8, 2020 by toddrickallen

A victim of the challenging times? It was only back in October of 2018 that I noticed that sandwich chain Jimmy John’s was replacing the Subway at 3023 Wilshire Blvd. Sadly, Santa Monica’s only branch has closed up shop as evidenced by the large for lease sign on the front.

Fresh Corn Grill Confirmed For Santa Monica

Posted on May 3, 2020 by toddrickallen

I’ve been watching the space that was the home of erstwhile Baja Fresh at 720 Wilshire Blvd. (corner of Lincoln). The space has been undergoing a remodel for a while now. An ABC application recently went up on the front confirming that Westwood’s Fresh Corn Grill is on the way. Expect a menu of healthy pizza, pasta, salad, tacos, and enchiladas. We wish them the best of luck.

New Houston Brothers Bar In Santa Monica?

Posted on April 8, 2020 by toddrickallen

A new ABC application has popped up on the front of the old Tinga/Renee‘s space at 522 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica. No business name is listed, but there is an applicant name: Ploenpidh Pola Houston. While this name is associated with a Koreatown bar, the Monte Carlo, after a bit of digging, I found that Ms. Pola is the mother of entrepreneurial brothers Jonnie and Mark Houston, who preside over an empire of themed nightclubs in Hollywood. I don’t have confirmation that this will be their newest project, so if you have any information please let me know. You can read more about the brothers in this LA Weekly story.

La Puglia Landing On Wilshire In Santa Monica

Posted on April 5, 2020 by toddrickallen

Ever since longtime resident Nawab of India pulled out of its spot at 1621 Wilshire Blvd. back in 2017, I’ve been peppered with questions about what might move in. Dark, mysterious plywood has covered the space for a number of months, but I had no clues… until now. An ABC application went up last week and spilled the beans that something called La Puglia is setting up housekeeping. I don’t have any information on La Puglia, but I think its a safe bet to say Italian will be on offer…

Update: La Puglia is now up and running for take out.

Shake Shack Santa Monica’s Sleek Look…

Posted on April 3, 2020 by toddrickallen

About a year ago, I told you about mega-popular Shake Shack‘s intention to build an outpost at 501 Wilshire Blvd, formerly the site of Panera and Polly’s Pies before that. Recently, an artist’s rendering of what the new building will look like was pasted on the front. It seems like they’ve a way to go since no construction has begun yet, and these are uncertain times…

The New Face Of Santa Monica

Posted on April 1, 2020 by toddrickallen

We’re living with madness right now, and shops and restaurants are really feeling it. If you haven’t been out much, you may not have seen that stores have begun boarding over their windows. Sur La Table at Wilshire and Third is covered, and Williams Sonoma on Montana Ave. is also boarded. What they’re anticipating is anyone’s guess…

Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop Heading To Downtown Santa Monica

Posted on March 28, 2020 by toddrickallen

After sitting idle for a while, the restaurant at 331 Wilshire Blvd., that used to be the home of short-lived The Gables, is finding a new tenant. A banner is hanging over the entrance announcing that a branch of the salad, sandwich, and bowl chain Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop is moving in. However, the banner is delcaring that this branch will be called Greenleaf Kitchen & Cocktails. An ABC application in the window confirms the cocktails part. No word on an opening date, and I would expect big delays right now…

Unknown Kitchen Coming To Brentwood

Posted on January 31, 2020 by toddrickallen

It appears that something mysterious is landing in the space that was once occupied by Wahoo’s Fish Taco, at 11911 Wilshire Blvd. in Brentwood. An ABC application posted on the front informs us that an “eating place” called Unknown Kitchen is moving in. There is not much information out there yet, except a nonfunctioning website and a mention on a window job notice of Puzzushi, so if you have any more information, let me know…

(Thanks Steve!)

Breaking News: Citrin Opens On…

Posted on December 6, 2019 by toddrickallen

Many of you have been asking for answers about what is happening behind the construction at LA’s legendary fine dining space Melisse. This just landed in my inbox: Josiah Citrin’s highly anticipated new restaurant is named Citrin and will open on December 12th at the Melisse location (1104 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica). The food is being described as “modern Californian” and the space a “fun, welcoming, and approachable room” with a large bar and an a la carte menu. Reservations are now being accepted here. And we’re being told to expect a new “Melisse experience” soon. I’ll keep you posted…

Citrin Image.jpg

Trader Joe’s Wilshire Will Open On…

Posted on November 15, 2019 by toddrickallen

What must be the Westside’s worst-kept secret, Trader Joe’s arrival to the heart of Santa Monica has long been established. Ever since I first confirmed it to you earlier this year, I’ve been deluged with questions about an opening date from adoring fans who were geographically challenged by not having one in their backyard. So here ya go: Trader Joe’s Wilshire officially opens tomorrow, November 16th at 2300 Wilshire Blvd. You’re welcome.

TraderJoe's.jpg

Mio Babbo Taking Over Enzo & Angela in Brentwood

Posted on November 5, 2019 by toddrickallen

Inhabiting a space on the second floor of the strip mall at 11701 Wilshire, old school red sauce joint Enzo & Angela has stood like a sentinel over the corner of Wilshire and Barrington in Brentwood for a really long time. A little over a month ago, a handwritten note appeared on the front door saying that they would be closed for a short period after which they promised to reopen. Sadly, it looks like that didn’t work out so well. They have vacated the space and it is currently being gutted. But it looks like a new restaurant is lined up to move in. An ABC application on the front lists the new venture as Mio Babbo. The name on the application is Umberto Ferri. While I don’t have any confirmation, I’m assuming this is the same truffle hunting restaurateur that is behind Casa Modena in Culver City.

Il Fornaio Triumphantly Returning To Santa Monica…

Posted on September 15, 2019 by toddrickallen

You may recall that a branch of Il Fornaio used to anchor the corner of Ocean Ave. and Colorado (where Del Frisco’s Grill now resides) until its closure many years ago. But now it appears that the beloved Italian bakery/restaurant is about to make its return to Santa Monica. The space at 401 Wilshire Blvd, suite 150, has just completed a major renovation, turning it into a bright and airy storefront with a large deck and a mid-century feel. Recently an ABC application was affixed to the front informing us that this will be the location of Osteria Del Fornaio, a slightly different business name, but the applicant is listed as the Il Fornaio America Corporation, parent company of Il Fornaio and Canaletto Ristorante Veneto. Right now, the space is completely gutted, so we may have to wait a while to find out more…

Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop Folds In Beverly Hills

Posted on July 23, 2019 by toddrickallen

Beverly Hills can be a tricky location for casual lunch spots. Sadly, one that has survived the sturm und drang for 10 years recently closed shop. A gracious note on the front door lets us know that Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop has quit its location at 9671 Wilshire Blvd. Greenleaf has six other locations across the LA/OC area.

Bluestone Lane Paving The Way In Brentwood

Posted on July 17, 2019 by toddrickallen

If you’ve noticed all the construction on the building at 11601 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood, on the corner of Wilshire, you may be wondering what’s coming… Window paper recently went up letting us all know that the prominent location will soon be the home of Brentwood’s first branch of rapidly-expanding Australian coffee chain Bluestone Lane. Where to find parking on the busy corner is anyone’s guess…

Signs Of Life At Melisse…

Posted on June 11, 2019 by toddrickallen

LA fine dining legend Melisse closed it doors at 1104 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica back in March with a vague promise of reopening soon. At the time, there were a lot of unanswered questions (including whether or not the name of the establishment would continue to be Melisse), and Chef Josiah Citrin wasn’t spilling the beans. But things appear to be moving forward. A note on their website promises a Fall 2019 opening and a “whole new menu and concept”. And late last week a new ABC application appeared, hidden in the front entrance, that continues to name the business as “Melisse“. I’ll keep watching…

Wahoo’s Fish Taco Set To Close In Brentwood…

Posted on June 7, 2019 by toddrickallen

I recently heard from a reader (Thanks Steve!) that Brentwood neighborhood fixture Wahoo’s Fish Taco was going to close at 11911 Wilshire Blvd. after a nearly 20 year run. For lease signs point to the sad fact, but a notice on the door confirms that they will indeed close at Summer’s end. All may not be lost though, according to the notice, they are looking for a new space somewhere nearby…

Wahoo's.jpg

Viva Vegan Replaces Golden Mean In Santa Monica

Posted on May 10, 2019 by toddrickallen

I recently noticed a sign change at Santa Monica’s popular plant-based bastion Golden Mean Cafe, so I popped in to check out what was going on at their 1028 Wilshire Blvd space. New owners have taken over from Golden Mean and renamed it Viva Vegan. But besides the rebranding, I was assured that everything else will remain the same. And yes, you can still get the much-lauded “works” burger.

LDH Kitchen The Robata Closed In Santa Monica?

Posted on April 27, 2019 by toddrickallen

I first noticed that a new restaurant was coming to the erstwhile Cadet space at 2518 Wilshire Blvd. back in April of 2016. It took a while, but LDH Kitchen The Robata opened in the Summer of 2018. Known for their wild light displays, LDH Kitchen was a branch of massive Japanese lifestyle brand LDH (Love+Dream+Happiness). Sadly, in less than a year, it appears that the love may be gone. While I don’t have any confirmation that they’ve quit the location, I’ve noticed that the restaurant is dark in the evenings, and Yelp is listing as it as closed, so I think its safe to say that they have. I’ll keep watching to see what develops…

Toddrickallen

The Westside at Its Finest

Tag Archives: Wilshire Blvd.