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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.
Original owners of Little Coyote sell pizzeria
Former Little Coyote owners Jack Leahy and Jonathan Strader—the latter of whom moved to Portugual after taking a step back in late 2022 and the former whom moved to Colorado—have formally sold the business they felt unilaterally defined what they called “Long Beach pizza.”
The move comes after accusations of everything from stealing their dough recipe from dough master Waldo Stout—after Leahy’s campaign that he was a mad dough scientist in the middle of the pandemic in order to develop it—to former employees begrudging the pair for on-work treatment. Additionally, the bodega concept that was supposed to be the pair’s initial introduction to the Long Beach culinary scene has fell through, leaving the building up for sale (and the evicted family owners of the previous actual bodega there before, still evicted with no small business in their ownership and the neighborhood with, well, no bodega).
Hope the new owners appreciate Long Beach a bit more…
Olive, replacing Vibes, opens on the Peninsula
Mother-and-daughter team Cindy and Mackenzie Hendrix quietly shuttered their much-loved Peninsula space permanently after being closed since spring of 2023. While the Hendrixes never returned a request for comment, temporary signage for Olive—from the owners of Green Olive—appeared back in January. It has now officially opened. The beginning details, thanks to Helen Temple, a member of the Long Beach Food Scene? A hefty breakfast menu served 7AM to noon. Even more? They’re also open for lunch until 5PM, with a happy hour running in their last hour.
Kique’s Taqueria, taking over K Pasta, opens under the ones of Enrique’s
Formally announcing their closure just weeks ago, the KPasta space at Loynes and Pacific Coast Highway—owned and operated by the Perez family of the neighboring and much-loved Enqrique’s space—has opened Kique’s Taqueria, the concept taking over. Menu speaks for itself—though many will miss their pasta concept.
Waffle Love at SteelCraft to close May 31
It is kind of wild to think about the fact that SteelCraft—the then-brilliant concept of turning used shipping containers into a community and culinary space—has been around for nearly a decade. But approaching eight years, it is (and has already) lost some of its original tenants, with Waffle Love being one of them.
“Waffle Love has been a cornerstone of our community, embodying the spirit of SteelCraft from the very beginning,” read the social media post from their landlord. “As one of our first vendors, they have played an integral role in shaping the unique experience that defines SteelCraft Long Beach.”
Gelson’s LB Alehouse on the Mezzanine concept has opened
Gelson’s at Alamitos Bay has formally opened its (less wine, more beer) LB Alehouse on the Mezzanine concept (where their wine bar is) in the hopes to draw in more beer drinkers in a world where they perceive can’t have spaces solely decanted to wine drinkers (likely due to the overwhelming amount of wine bars throughout the city—and hey, we love them all). Open Friday from 3PM to 8PM and weekends noon to 8PM, I gotta admit: It ain’t a bad place to hideaway and score whatever it is you forgot to pickup off your grocery list.
ICYMI: Sura Korean BBQ’s table top grills are the tangible expression of a long held dream
Sura Korean BBQ has long been the steward of Korean cuisine in Long Beach, largely responsible for not only introducing residents and visitors alike to the vast depth of Korean food but also finding ways to connect with the community via that very food.
And its table top grills, installed on the patio tables earlier this year, are the result of a long held dream from its owners—and even more, brings one of the most distinct communal styles of eating straight to our city.
Click here to read the full article.
ICYMI: Renaissance to revamp, rebrand as Marriott Downtown Long Beach (new bar and restaurant included)
The Renaissance hotel in DTLB is being rebranded and revamped into the Marriott Downtown Long Beach.
Even better? Their new restaurant and lounge space, Local Current, will have amazing cocktails. How do I know this? They’ve brought in one of our best and brightest.
Can’t wait for the big unveil. Until then, check out the renderings and pictures.
Click here to read the full article.
ICYMI: Plunge LBC permanently closes as owner of Liv’s takes over 1900 Ocean space with Hartland’s concept
The bad news? Plunge LBC closed at 1900 Ocean.
The pretty rad news? It already has a new tenant: the owner of Liv’s, Rob White, will be opening his Hartland’s concept there, where he describes it as a ‘Hillstone in Santa Monica meets Long Beach chill’ vibe. So think accessible—burgers and salads—with a bit of elevation—steak tartare and lotsa fish.
Even better? The southeast facing patio will be out of full use.
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