One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Now Open: The Market at Santa Monica Place
Baked goods, cured meats, imported cheeses, coffee, beer, wine, hand-made chocolates, ice cream sandwiches, and cooking savvy...in a mall? Yep. The Market at Santa Monica Place opens today, rounding out the restaurant and food-shopping options on the third level Dining Deck of the recently-remodeled ocean-side mecca of consumerism.
The philosophy of The Market is laudable, as they aim to unite purveyors of high-quality food and food-related products in a central location that is at once a gathering place and a place to shop. Department stores and, in the later 20th century, malls are known for their boisterous pass-through food halls and courts, so The Market represents somewhat loftier goals, in a, well, loftier locale.
Up on the the top floor, there is less chance for pass-through traffic, though perhaps it is the hope of Santa Monica Place that The Market be considered a destination (equivalent to San Francisco's Ferry Building or New York's Chelsea Market, perhaps). Will you ask the Nordstrom shoe department worker to mind your salumi while you try on some fancy footwear? Tourists and locals alike will surely appreciate having a relaxed but sophisticated spot for a cup of coffee, pastry, after-work or after-sightseeing beer or wine.
The merchants installed in The Market thus far are Beachy Cream ("retro-chic" organic ice cream sandwiches from Malibu), Benedetta (Italian skin care products), Primi Al Mercato (pasta), Norcino Salumeria Cheese Bar (meats and cheeses), Rockenwagner Bakery (breads, pastries and souffles), The Curious Palate (cafe and market), Aurelie: The Cookie Guru (cookies), The Gourmandise School of Sweets and Savories (teaching kitchen), Venokado (wine shop), Groundwork (coffee), L'Artisan du Chocolat (chocolate and sweets), Magical Blooms (flowers), and N'Ice Cream (organic gelato and sorbet).
We checked out a pre-opening party last night at The Market and had a little taste of what is available for diners and shoppers.
The Market opens today, May 20th.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
