The Street Seen: Main St - Lost and Won

Main Street (Pico to Marine +)

Main Street can seem sleepy and unchanging but there has always been churn. Since the Covid-19 shutdown a lot has happened. The 4th of July Parade for 2020 and 2021 were canceled. Street trees were lost and new trees planted. Bus stops were moved (and removed). Long time stalwarts Chinois and La Vecchia poured money into restaurant upgrades. Dining became Al Fresco. Robots delivered products. People with dreams opened stores. Tenacious merchants hung on.

Below are just some of the changes since March 2020. Our trip down Main St goes from north (Pico) to south (Marine). Even addresses on the west; odd addresses on the east. Maybe we will be surprised by the number of wins.

1901 Main — City of Santa Monica Housing Office moved out.

1923 Main — Barber shop Oeste closed October 2021.

2000 Main — Lifestyle boutique Lost and Found that opened in 2015 moved south to a smaller space at 2230 Main St. replacing Books & Cookies.

2000 Main — The health and fitness boom in Ocean Park continued with F45 opening.  F is for functional training, which mixes circuit and high-intensity interval training - in 45-minute sessions. Hence the name.

2000 Main — Jyan Isaac bread retail popped-up and then popped back to Sunset Park.

2000 Main — Pizzeria & wine bar Stella Bara expanded into the former M Street Kitchen space on the Bicknell corner - but has shrunk back.

2104 Main — Asian restaurant Cobi at Dhaba replaced long time Indian restaurant Dhaba.

2215 Main — Yogaworks the largest yoga chain in the U.S. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to Covid-19 and closed all of their studios - but has re-opened.

2219 Main — Beach House CoWork - Private and corporate virtual offices closed March 2020 and re-opened June 2021.

2230 Main — Bookstore, bakery and enrichment center for the under-8 set Books & Cookies closed and was replaced by lifestyle boutique Lost and Found.

2300 Main — The Community Gardens has a Garden Volunteer Day on Nov 13.

2305 Main — Hemp clothing for every day living store Vital Hemp closed June 2020 but continues with an online presence.

2307 Main — Ramen place Ensoku who opened May 2020 closed October 2021 but promises on a notice on their window to ‘comeback with “A” new swag.’ Ensoku replaced Poking Poke who opened in December 2017.

2309 Main — Hoboken, New Jersey Alfalfa serving the eponymous Alfalfa salads, soups, breakfast burritos and doughnuts replaced Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken and is listed in Where To Eat Lunch In Santa Monica.

2400 Main — The Bike Shop Santa Monica expanded into the vacated NEX Hair Salon space

2413  Main — The lifestyle store OK replaced Organic Nails & Spa Studio

2428 Main — Crispy chicken from a Michelin star chef is replacing electrical contractor Santa Monica Electric Co.

2430 Main — Natural memory foam mattress store Essentia closed.

2435 Main — The former Salute Wine Bar at Edgemar people came back as Tipsy Chef (with Brick + Mortar occupying the space in the time between).

2441 Main — Iconic ice cream store at Edgemar since 1989 Ben & Jerry’s closed

2502 Main — Corefit provider of custom insoles for arch and heel pain closed.

2503 Main — Crystal store Cabin Creek Crystals  replaced Zumdior Nails & Hair Spa

2507 Main — An unnamed limited service restaurant is under construction in the former Novel Cafe and-Pizzeria space.

2525 Main — After 37 years, women’s clothing store Suji closed.

2612 Main — The Ocean Park Portraits photography exhibition finally opened at the California Heritage Museum that closed in March 2020, due to COVID restrictions.

2619 Main — ZJ’s Boarding House surf shop since 1988 closed. The building was structurally upgraded. A return was announced - but has not yet happened.

2645 Main — Coffee shop Go Get Em Tiger replaced Amelia’s.

2651 Main — The vacant building sold for $2MM in October 2020.

2654 Main — Hip sneaker shop Undefeated was closed following the May 31 unrest but is back - undefeated !

2654 Main — The Chase bank branch temporarily closed in 2020 and re-opened in February 2021.

2665 Main — Bollman Hat Company in the New Orleans Building closed April 2020.

2665 Main — High end stroller company Uppababy opened a service center.

2708 Main — The Closet Trading Company a women's boutique selling secondhand designer apparel, outerwear, accessories, jewelry & shoes moved across the street to 2711 Main St.

2710 Main — Nail and spa place Spa de Rejuvenation opened.

2711 Main — The Closet Trading Company moved across the street from 2708 Main St into the long time vacant former long time Mindfulnest space that featured art and hand-made items by local artists and artisans.

2715 Main — Acai bowl and empanada store Ubatuba Acai X opened in the former Poke Ceviche (and before that, Knuckle & Claw lobster roll) place.

2716 Main — Santa Monica's largest independently owned sunglass boutique since 1998 Trendy Sunglasses closed.

2717 Main — Psychic reading and crystal store Psychic Boutique opened – but somehow you already knew that !

2727 Main — Breastfeeding and baby care store The Pump Station moved from Wilshire Blvd @ 24th St replacing women's clothing store Hiptique.

2724 Main — Raw fish outlet Crudo e Nudo opened and is listed in Where To Eat Lunch In Santa Monica.

2732 Main — Elevated French bistro Pasjoli earned a Michelin star.

2736 Main — Venice full service hair salon Trim opened a branch replacing furniture store Plantation.

2740 Main — A 2-story building was built ground up. It replaced a parking lot.

2801 Main — Arizona based contemporary art gallery Axiom closed.

2803 Main — Electric bicycle retail store Leon cycle opened replacing Electric Bikes of Santa Monica.

2808 Main — Cigar lounge Hollywood Smoke opened.

209 Ashland — Primal Center founded by Dr. Arthur Janov closed.

2901 Main — The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf locations across the U.S. of were closed following their purchase by the Philippines fast food chain Jollibee.  Rumors swirl that as soon as Sam’s Bagels moves out, Starbucks will take over both 2901 Main & 2905 Main to open a Starbucks Reserve.

2905 Main — Bagel shop Sam’s Bagels is planning to close and move to Montana Ave.

2912 Main — Japanese chef Makoto Okuwa opened Edobox replacing short lived hamburger place Cowabunga Republic. Edobox is listed in Where To Eat Lunch In Santa Monica.

2914 Main — The fermented kombucha people from San Diego opened Juneshine with a temporary alcohol permit.

2917 Main — Wood fired pizza restaurant Pblc Trde is now The Drift Kitchen.

174 Kinney — Enterprise Fish Co. a Main St institution since 1979 closed and the building sold.

2921 Main — Mystic Journey Crystals moved from Abbot Kinney.

2923 Main — Mystic Journey Books, featuring spiritual titles, cards, incense & natural health products, also moved from Abbot Kinney.

2929 Main — Women’s underwear store Knix replaced Australian life style store Lazybones.

2936 Main — Construction is underway to replace Japanese lifestyle retailer Muji who filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy closing all 19 U.S. stores.

2940 Main — Fitness studio AN Ride from Venice based Aviator Nation is under construction replacing casual women’s wear boutique Planet Blue that closed all of its retail locations.

3001 Main — Health food store One Life Natural Foods closed and remains vacant.

210 Pier — When Vital Hemp closed their store at 2305 Main St in June 2020, G&V Tailoring who were sub leasing space, moved to 3013 Main St and then this October moved around the corner to Pier. G&V Tailoring has over 30 years of experience men's and women's outerwear and alterations.

3101 Main — Coffee shop Gnarwhal  replaced Espresso Cielo.

3101 Main — Barbershop Rudy's closed and remains vacant.

3101 Main — Greens Up serving fresh salads and sandwiches closed October 2020 and remains vacant.

We haven’t added it up - but maybe there are more wins than losses. But this is just a list of addresses - the real story is about all the dreams and hopes; all the courage of people who are our neighbors. Go see for yourself.