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Long Beach Food Scene Intel is a series from Brian Addison that will recap food news throughout the city, both news that needs just a quick mention or repeated news where you might have missed the full features.
The space that was supposed to be a bodega from Little Coyote owners? It’s for sale
Remember how the pair of gentlemen who opened Little Coyote said they were first going to supposedly open a bodega at an already-existing mini-market space? That has clearly fell through as crews cleaned up the space and put not a for-lease sign but a sale sign at the building at the northwest corner of Cherry Avenue and Broadway.
Headed by Pabst-Kinney—the infamous property management company if you’ve ever rented with them in Long Beach—the sale marks an open-ended question: Who will buy it and what will they make of it? The former mini-market was an essential base for many in the surrounding neighborhood and was immediately booted when the Little Coyote boys decided they wanted to do a higher end bodega concept. That fell through and testing for the former head chef’s pasta concept, JR’s Pasta, also fell through as the two owners took massive steps back, with one moving entirely out of the country and the other moving back to Los Angeles.
Dress code enforcer 4 Shore puts up sign in Naples
The 4 Shore signage, in what used to be the now-shuttered and sadly missed Chianina space, has gone up in Naples.
It was easily one of the most discussed (and amusingly derided) concepts to be discussed when it was announced by new owners that they would be creating a dress-code-enforced, mandatory bottle service concept in the former Naples steakhouse—if only for the absurdity of the name. But perhaps most eyebrow-raising is the fact that their signage pays homage more to the dive bars of Long Beach like the Dirty Thirty (3636), The Annex, and V-Room far more than it screams ultra-high end. Maybe the joke is on us—but when asked how the concept will work directly down the street from the (rightfully) much lauded Michael’s on Naples, co-owner Joshua Sanchez said, “It will be like having Gucci next to Louis Vuitton.”
Ooph.
ISM Brewing hosts grand opening and launches brunch
Master brewer Ian McCall and the entire ISM Brewing family celebrated its formal grand opening on Jan. 13, with politicians honoring the crew and some stellar beer brands also reppin’—from Long Beach Beer Lab and Burnin’ Daylight to Beachwood’s The Blendery and Villains and Craft Beer LB.
Also, this weekend marked the launch of the brewery’s brunch menu includes some staples—a two-egg breakfast and some avocado toast—but mainly sticks to the decadent: coconut French toast, biscuits and chorizo gravy, an omelette and pork belly sandwich, and chilaquiles gone barbecue with smoked pork beans.
Zuzu’s Petals permanent sidewalk dining looks stellar
Zuzu’s Petals, the brunch’n’lunch concept from owner Evan Papadakis, has a stellar and permanent sidewalk dining space. This follows La Traviata’s permanent parklet continuing westward on 3rd Street and really emphasizes the need and desire for outdoor dining. Many restaurants—particularly in the Shore—have faced an uphill battle when it has come to scoring permanent parklet status post-COVID, including mainstay staples like Legends, whose owners have repeated kept returning after rejection while most have given up.
Tito’s expansion moves forward (with free space for local artists included)
Not only did Tito’s score a much needed crosswalk across 4th Street at Cerritos—though, let’s be honest, Public Works: Each of these crosswalks not at a traffic light need the blinking light signs a la 4th at St. Louis; otherwise, drivers don’t care—but they are continuing to move forward with their expansion that was announced in November of last year.
Owners announced on Instagram that the massive wall in the space will be dedicated to highlighting the work of local artists and will be entirely free, with Tito’s taking no profit from any sale that may occur. That, indeed, we salute.
Osaka Story swiftly replaces in Belmont Shore
Osaka Story swiftly and quietly took over what used to be the Goyen Sushi space on 2nd Street in Belmont Shore. The woman-owned business led by Ryeo Na Kim (고옌바이어), or Reyna as some call her, has altered the interior of its previous tenant, making it delightfully more feminine and welcoming with bright pink lights and an already growing patronage one month in.
Adelita’s Revenge to host queer women-centric ‘Noche de Amor’
The amazing queer Latina’s behind the vastly underrated Adelita’s Revenge shop inside Viento y Agua in Belmont Heights are hosting a lover’s night for queer women on Saturday, Feb. 10. Drinks, food, and dancing are to be included in the night that will finally give homage solely to women. For more information, click here.
El Sauz (finally) soft opens their 4th Street location
After first announcing their second location at the northwest corner of 4th Street and Temple Avenue back in March of 2023, their signage going up in May, and postponing a November opening, El Sauz has officially opened the doors of its newest location this week, as reported by Caitlin Antonios. It will have exactly the same menu sans the famed taco window that made its Anaheim Street and Walnut Avenue location a local legend.
ICYMI: Grill Em All to close original Alhambra location, move all operations to Long Beach
Grill Em All, the “death to all burgers,” metal-inspired burger joint that has been an Alhambra staple since 2013, will be moving its entire business operation to Long Beach, where it will be opening in the Bayshore concession stand location near the south end of Horny Corner.
Announcing on Instagram that their Alhambra “Valhalla” location will shutter come Jan. 21, owner Matt Chernus said the plan was to always have the Long Beach location be just an extension—but the roughness of 2023 for restaurants has caused them to rethink their entire plan.
To read the full story, click here.
ICYMI: The Long Beach pizzerias reppin’ the city for L.A.’s massive Pizza City Fest
Five Long Beach pizzerias—Speak Cheezy, La Parolaccia, Nonna Mercato, L’Antica da Michele, and Little Coyote—will be reppin’ Long Beach at this year’s second annual Pizza City Fest, the region’s largest festival dedicated to the mighty pie.
For the full article, click here.
ICYMI: Famed pastor slinger Leo’s Taco Truck adds Long Beach to its list of permanent homes
Leo’s Taco Truck, the massively popular and idolized taqueria that is known for its pastor, has officially added Long Beach to its growing list of permanent homes as its parked for the first time this past week at the southwest corner of Wardlow Road and Palo Verde Avenue off of Los Coyotes Diagonal.
