The Street Seen: March on Main Street
Main Street (Pico to Marine+)
What’s happened on Main Street since we last looked ? Several vintage clothing / memorabilia stores joined Main Street stalwarts Buffalo Exchange and The Closet Trading Company. A good number of interior build-out projects are making progress - although it is remarkable (as it is well known) how long construction takes in Santa Monica. Sadly we note the closing of 3 locations. Even so there are only 8 retail spaces for lease on Main Street.
Openings
2307 Main — Urban Skillet is serving up elevated halal burgers, wings & burritos in the former Ensoku Ramen place next to Alfalfa. Los Angeles based Urban Skillet has another store in North Hollywood and a third store in Minneapolis.
2525 Main — Vintage clothing / sports memorabilia store Quiz Daddy’s Closet opened in the Suji space. After 20 years of collecting vintage gear, @scottrogowsky is selling off his stash to raise💰for charity.
2665 (b) Main — Sports memorabilia store Beach City Collectibles, buying / selling / trading graded & non-graded sports cards, Pokemon and Funko Pops, opened.
2716 Main — Vintage and limited edition original clothing store Unholy Saints Los Angeles opened in the former (and long vacant) Trendy Sunglasses space.
2721 Main — Athlete training facility Athletic Gaines opened in the former Manduu. Athletic Gaines aims to provide the same training equipment, training apparel, and training methodologies used by professional athletes.
2803 Main — Leon electric bike had a grand opening March 12. Hanover, Germany headquartered Leon has been selling electric bicycles since 2014 under the brands "Leisger" and "NCM". The bikes are designed in Germany and manufactured in western Europe. Leon Cycle has stores in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, UK and US.
3101 Main — Love for Pilates replaces Rudy's barbershop. Love for Pilates offers group reformer classes focusing on total body conditioning through a method utilizing Pilates and performance enhancement tactics. Love for Pilates has another location in West Hollywood.
On Going Construction
2305 Main — Macy + Juliana’s European inspired twist on the laid back California lifestyle store Sanctuaire is replacing the former Vital Hemp.
2428 Main — Josiah Citrin’s limited service chicken restaurant is getting ever closer to opening.
2430 Main — The former mattress store (Essentia) space has been leased by Blow Me Candle which has been operating out of small space on Bicknell just off Main St. The space was advertised for Lease for $17,400/mo ($4.50/SF/mo).
2441 Main — While interior build out continues for Holey Grail Donuts at the former Ben & Jerry’s at Edgemar, donuts and drinks are being served (Wed thru Sun) out of a food truck parked on Main Street.
2507 Main — Slow (even for Santa Monica) progress continues for an unnamed limited service restaurant at the former Novel Cafe and-Pizzeria space.
2619 Main — Interior build out (including a new door opening on Ocean Park Blvd) continues at ZJ’s Boarding House. The long time Ocean Park surf shop vacated the space in August 2020 and then in December 2020 announced plans to return.
2708 Main — The former used clothing store (Trading Closet) space has been leased by Feat clothing. This would be the flagship store for the Los Angeles based comfortable clothing company. Founded in 2015 by Taylor Offer and Parker Burr, Feat last year did just under $10 million in sales. This year, Offer and Burr expect to at least double sales and, in a few years’ time, see the brand competitive with Lululemon (who have offices at 3008 Main St). The space was advertised For Lease ($11,700/mo - $4.95/SF/mo).
2901 Main — The former Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf building survived a December 2021 double dumpster fire in the rear parking lot, and the long rumored Starbucks finally started interior construction. The rumor that Starbucks would also take over the adjacent 2905 Main (former Sam’s Bagels) turns out to be incorrect.
Change of Ownership
2907 Main — Taverns LLC is taking over Ricks Tavern which has been on Main Street since 1997. Rumor is there will be a big facelift and a new name by the new owner from New York.
2911 Main — Ocean Park Hospitality LLC is taking over Library Alehouse which has been on Main Street since 1995. Main St staples and close neighbors Ricks Tavern and Library Alehouse both changed ownership in 2013.
Temporary Closings
2400 Main — JINYA ramen is temporarily closed following a major kitchen fire but promises to re-open soon (May).
2816 Main — Stansbury custom sofas closed temporarily following a roof leak during January’s heavy rains causing a partial ceiling collapse. The original plaster on lath ceiling has asbestos containing acoustic spray (pop corn). The store promises to re-open (with no ceiling) following asbestos remediation.
2929 Main — Women’s underwear store Knix temporarily closed to take inventory.
Closings
2116 Main — Green Dog Dental & Wellness, Los Angeles veterinary dental healthcare provider established in 2013 with three locations in Sherman Oaks, Venice and West Hollywood, is moving to 210 Main Street (Venice). Rumor is that there was a dispute with the City about parking requirements. City wide, Medical Offices and Veterinary Services are required to provide 1 space of off-street parking per 250 sq. ft of space - which would be 7 spaces here. The freestanding 1757 sq. ft house was formerly a hair salon. Like much of the north end of Main Street, the property is zoned Santa Monica Mixed-Use Boulevard Low (MUBL). A change of use to Veterinary Services in all Mixed-Use and Commercial Districts (MUBL, MUB, GC, NC) requires review and approval of a Minor Use Permit (MUP).
2665 (c) Main — Main Street fixture since 2003 Arts & Letters closed. Owner Linda Oppenheim (& Lee & Sasha) are retiring. Arts & Letters served the Santa Monica community for over 25 years as a premiere destination for unique gifts as well as personalized custom invitations and stationery.
2827 Main — OneWest Bank at Ashland will close May 6. The bank was not able to come to a new lease agreement. The site was a long time First Federal Bank of California branch. First Federal got caught up in the 2008 financial crisis and was closed by the Office of Thrift Supervision in 2009 and all 39 branches re-opened as OneWest Bank. In August 2015, OneWest Bank was acquired by CIT Group and in January 2022, CIT was acquired by First Citizens BancShares.
2912 Main — Edobox, which opened in October 2020 offering fast-casual bento boxes, has folded.
2917 Main — Wood fired pizza restaurant Pblc Trde, which briefly became The Drift Kitchen, is “relocating”.
For Lease
Along both sides of the 1 mile stretch of Main Street Pico to the south City border past Marine, there are only 7 retail spaces left for lease.
2116 Main Green Dog Dental & Wellness (Veterinary) For Lease ($10,100/mo - $5.75/SF/mo)
2502 Main Corefit (Shoe in-soles) For Lease ($9,350/mo - $5.50/SF/mo)
2665(c) Main Arts & Letters (Stationary) For Lease ($4,500/mo - $5.75/SF/mo)
2665(d) Main Bollman Hat (Clothing) For Lease ($6,300/mo - $5.75/SF/mo)
2714 Main Aura Shop (Crystals) For Lease ($10,400/mo - $5.25/SF/mo)
2905 Main Sam’s Bagels (Fast Food) For Lease ($11,500/mo - $5.75/SF/mo)
3101 Main Greens Up (Fast Food) For Lease ($5,900/mo - $4.95/SF/mo)
The leases are triple net (NNN) whereby the tenant pays all the expenses of the property, including real estate taxes, building insurance, and maintenance. These expenses (in the range of $0.75 - $1.00/SF/mo) are in addition to the cost of rent and utilities.
There are another 7 vacant retail spaces that don’t have a “For Lease” sign and some of them may be available.
1921 Main Bonjour (Life Style) vacant
1923 Main Oeste (Barber) vacant
1925 Main Bangs (Bike Shop) vacant
2000(A) Main Lost Found (Life Style) vacant
2000(D) Main M Street (Restaurant) vacant
2820 Main Areal (Restaurant) vacant
2912 Main Edobox (Restaurant) vacant
Rumors
Your reward for getting all the way down here.
2515 Main — Interior demolition is underway at this industrial concrete tilt-up building and rumor is that offices and a coffee shop are coming. Although the gated fence across the front parking would seem to preclude a coffee shop.
2820 Main — Rumor is that Areal is coming back soon as a clothing store.
174 Kinney — Interior demolition is underway for an unnamed restaurant that has leased the former Enterprise Fish Co. building. Rumor is the Gjelina Group are opening a Mexican eatery.