I have to admit, in the past, I didn’t love the coffee there: too bitter for me. However, when I was recently at the Venice Grind for the launch of the OPEN Daily, I treated myself to a latte and Loved it! First of all, a-dor-able foam art, but more importantly, a delicious, smooth — key element — hot beverage. Turns out the Venice Grind now serves Stumptown roasters coffee, which I admit I’d never heard of before last week, but I can assure you, it’s worth knowing about. Excellent coffee.

The other change I noticed, and happily so, was the quiche. I’ve eaten their quiche many times, and, again, in the past, I felt it was perfectly passable but nothing to write home (or a blog post) about. However, the quiche is now lighter, with a sweeter custard and a lovely herb mix. I really like the improvement; I’ll be back for more.

Check out the Venice Grind on UpTake.com as well.

The Venice Grind, 12224 Venice Blvd., Mar Vista 90066

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Oh, and if you’re on the Westside on Tuesday, February 23rd at 8:30am, stop by the Venice Grind, 12224 Venice Blvd. 90066, for a free cup of coffee on us! Yvonne’s Gluten-Free Goodies, too! Come on by!

But of course there will be food! Earl’s Gourmet will serve lots of grub: sandwiches, some grilled, some not, big salads and deli salads (like with orzo and quinoa), and there will be cheeses and a retail grocery section as well. I, for one, can’t wait!

Stay tuned for opening day details…

Earl’s Gourmet Grub, 12226 Venice Blvd., Mar Vista 90066

I already know about 2 other dispensaries in the neighborhood (one just about 1.5 blocks west on Venice Blvd. on the north side, and the other on Washington Place just east of McLaughlin), and I am a middle-aged mom. There are probably others I’m completely unaware of.

This location is 2 blocks from my kids’ school, and much closer to 2 preschools. And I realize that the actual marijuana for medical purposes is legal. But isn’t there a moritorium on opening any new dispensaries in the city of LA?

And here’s my strictly business question: have these guys done their market research? I mean, can Mar Vista really support that many dispensaries? I certainly hope it’s a no answer. But it begs the question: if not this, what businesses are going to fill the empty store fronts along our little downtown corridor?

I fully understand that rents need to be paid, and some of these buildings have sat unused for a nearly a year. Mar Vista Mom has profiled The Curious Palate and Floyd’s Barbershop, which have both recently opened, bravely, it might seem, in this economy — and I salute them and support them. They are the kind of businesses I am happy to see in my neighborhood and would love to see something open up there I could really get behind.

Because, as you might have guessed, I am not the target customer for the dispensary. No surprise, right? I am really looking for some cute retail options, some places to browse through (and buy from) after I’ve had my hair done at Floyd’s, with a Venice Grind coffee in my one hand, my Farmer’s Market veggies in the other. So if you’ve got a notion to open a store like that, please check out Mar Vista. There are leases to be had!

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An original post by Sarah Auerswald.