Larchmont Peet’s
Monday, October 3, 2005 23:06
UPDATE: Sign in the window says Peet’s Larchmont is scheduled to open Mon. Oct. 17th.
UPDATE: New sign in the window indicates Larchmont Peet’s in opening Mon. Oct. 24th.
I love Peet’s, but, for me, it’s a ridiculous shlep to drive to the Pasadena, Sherman Oaks or Beverly Hills locations for a cup of coffee — no matter how masterfully the baristas steam my milk.
So, on Monday, when I was downloading a free drink coupon from the Peet’s website (cheap, right?), I almost fell off my cubicle chair when I saw that Peet’s is opening a new storefront in Larchmont. That’s not a stupid shlep for me at all — either on my way to work or during my fabulously glamorous lunch hour.
Now, I know you’ll dismiss the following info, call me the la.foodblogger who posted optimistic ’specialty food chain opening dates’ one too many times. In spite of that, I’m going to share with you what I found out this afternoon. I poked my head into the dusty Peet’s construction zone and yelled to nobody in particular: “Hey, when’s this place opening?” Some guy standing on a ladder in the back shrugged. Then some other voice called out from what sounded like a deep pothole: “Two-and-a-half weeks!”
Translation: The new Larchmont Peet’s is opening in 2.5 weeks, according to people familiar with the situation. If that doesn’t come to pass, allow me to apologize in advance. Maybe the Larchmont location page will have some opening day info soon.
Peet’s Larchmont
124 N. Larchmont Blvd
Los Angeles CA 90004
(323) 978-1003
I know that la.foodblogger Why We Type likes Swork in Eagle Rock. Anybody else? A film crew is taking over the shop from 2 pm to approximately 6 pm on Wednesday. The interior of the store will be closed, but they will be serving free coffee outside. The outdoor tables will still be available for use and there will be parking on Colorado Blvd. That may not matter to some folks who will be sounding the shofar far away from the free WiFi at that time, just thought I’d throw it out there.
SWORK Eagle Rock
2160 Colorado Blvd.
Eagle Rock, CA 90041
t.323.258.5600
Dylan says:
October 4th, 2005 at 12:06 am
Peet’s is definitely one of my top three coffee shops. Hope that one opens up sooner for you.
SoCalorie says:
October 4th, 2005 at 7:57 am
Thanks Dylan. What are your other two favorites?
VeggieGal says:
October 4th, 2005 at 10:32 am
I’ve only bee to Swork once and I may not go back. My bf ordered a soy mocha, and he was given a cup of hot milk. It was a very strange miscommunication. It took some talking, but they finally gave us the soy mocha, but we were left wondering how many people order hot milk at a coffee shop. It’s not a bad place, but those little miscommunications always bug me.
SoCalorie says:
October 4th, 2005 at 10:43 am
The most impressive thing about Swork to me is the rampant corporate identity. It’s a two shop operation with billion dollar branding.
Does the bf like the soy mochas at M Cafe de Chaya?
S. Elliott says:
October 4th, 2005 at 11:03 am
I like Peet’s a lot too, but Larchmont is going to be overrun with coffee houses when it gets there. There’s literally a Coffee Bean across the street and then forming the last point of a coffee triangle is Starbucks. This is all in a half a mile of road.
I’d be fine if Starbucks left to be replaced by Peet’s but isn’t this a little much? I mean there are also about 2 or 3 little cafes and independents on Larchmont. At least we’ll all be awake for the late night’s that — oh, wait… Larchmont shuts down at 10pm.
MaxMillion says:
October 4th, 2005 at 11:18 am
I *love* Peets coffee. My local is Studio City, sort of opposite Arts Deli (which I never frequent!) I also dig their zucchini cake. I think their madelaines are great, but for about the same price you can get them at some Trader Joe’s (6 babies in the clear plastic package — cheap!)
Yeah, Dylan — ‘fess up! Your other two fave coffee houses?! Inquiring minds want to know…
SoCalorie says:
October 4th, 2005 at 11:23 am
Yeah, I think Peet’s closes at 7PM. Isn’t the new location replacing a failed independent coffeehouse? I recall buying an awful coffee in there a few years ago. I’ll confess to seeing Catherine Keener and Dermot Mulroney in the Larchmont Starbucks at least twice. Coffee must be a meal replacement for the actor types over there — perhaps the wall-to-wall shops are sustainable.
VeggieGal says:
October 4th, 2005 at 3:09 pm
Is Peet’s going into the Espresso Roma spot? If so it’ll be a great advantage to Peets b/c of all the seating - compared to Starbucks and especially Coffee Bean which has virtually no seating at all.
I’ve always wondered about Espresso Roma - it is part of a chain - I know I’ve seen them in San Diego and Berkeley, but they’re never very good. Just checked out their website which is partially under construction: http://www.espressoroma.com/ Looks like they stick to college areas mostly.
And yes! SoCal, can’t get enough soy mochas from M Cafe. Still love that place with a passion.
nealgardner says:
October 4th, 2005 at 4:37 pm
hey, how about sharing the link to the free coffee coupon?
SoCalorie says:
October 4th, 2005 at 4:54 pm
VeggieGal - Great intell. It was a crap Espresso Roma outpost. As you suggest, the CBTL should hang it up now, it’s no bigger than an armpit in there.
neal- Don’t think it didn’t cross my mind. The coupon was only valid for Oct. 3 if you were an email subscriber or if a friend emailed you the coupon. If you sign up for the subscription list in one of the stores you should receive similar coupons too. They also have a deal now on Fridays for free beans. I don’t know the details.
viz.
“…join us daily through October 30 for our Truly Fresh Celebration. Enjoy freshly brewed coffee and tea on us daily, take home a complimentary bag of fresh-roasted coffee beans on Fridays, and join us on weekends for comparative tastings.”
Jonah says:
October 4th, 2005 at 5:08 pm
There’s another Coffee Bean/Peet’s/Starbucks triangle in Manhattan Beach, by the pier. They are within a block of each other and the Peet’s and CB&TL are directly across the street from each other.
Come to think of it, there is another coffee triangle on San Vicente in Brentwood. They are a little more spread out, the Peet’s is a few blocks down from the facing Starbucks and CB&TL.
Any others out there?
Dylan says:
October 4th, 2005 at 6:26 pm
Ok sorry to tease you guys about my top 3. i actually have two types of coffee i like. It’s either Peet’s or it’s Vietnamese style French roast with condensed milk. The stuff keeps you up all day and it’s like drinking candy.
SoCalorie says:
October 4th, 2005 at 7:01 pm
Peet’s is better represented on the Westside, and therefore has more coffee triangles, of which I know nothing about. I think the Larchmont location will be the furthest east of the L.A. locations. (Is that right?) There’s a Starbux/Peet’s gauntlet in Pasadena.
Dylan - Do you have a favorite spot for Vietnamese coffee?
Dylan says:
October 5th, 2005 at 10:43 am
SoCal, i usually just go to any chinese/vietnamese market in the 626 and buy it grounded up. it’s a whopping $3.50 /lb!!! i brought it to my last agency, and had about a clientele of 12 asking me everyday for that stuff. it’s a drug.
SoCalorie says:
October 5th, 2005 at 11:00 am
so what’s the recipe and ingredients you prefer to use when you’re making it yourself?
Dylan says:
October 5th, 2005 at 4:58 pm
Coffee and a few tablespoons of condensed milk. if you wanna get fancy, you can buy those mini coffee roasters that perch on the coffee mug. instant gratification.
SoCalorie says:
October 11th, 2005 at 3:49 pm
A sign in the window says that Peet’s Larchmont opens Monday, Oct. 17th.
SoCalorie says:
October 19th, 2005 at 12:32 pm
A new sign in the window says that Larchmont Peet’s opens Monday, Oct. 24th.
SoCalorie says:
October 25th, 2005 at 10:14 am
My maiden voyage to the new Peet’s went down this morning. They don’t yet have their act together but I do not care.
I’m semi-sure that Patricia Heaton was in line behind me. She said she’d already had a green tea at home but wanted another one from Peet’s. I knows the feeling.