Two new restaurants — El Pollo Loco and RíoZonas Açaí — are moving side by side into two vacant storefronts on Santa Monica Blvd. across from the former 24-Hour Fitness in WeHo. Their imminent arrival will mark the end of long stretches of vacancy for these prominent properties.
EL POLLO LOCO
The popular fast-food establishment El Pollo Loco known for its “citrus-marinated and fire-grilled” chicken has put a “Coming Soon” sign in the window of 8601 Santa Monica Blvd.
El Pollo Loco has nearly 500 locations primarily in the Southwest, with its headquarters in Los Angeles.
Split off from its Mexican parent company in 1980, El Pollo Loco U.S. has in recent years grown into a competitor of national fast-food chicken outlets such as KFC and Chick-Fil-A.
RÍOZONAS AÇAÍ
The Studio City-based chain RíoZonas Açaí, which serves Brazilian-style health snacks and smoothies, will open its fourth location next door at 8603 Santa Monica Blvd.
RíoZonas Açaí, a “certified LGBT-owned small business,” was founded in 2015.
“We are extremely proud to be upfront and a part of the West Hollywood LGBT community!” a notice on the company’s website reads.
El Pollo Loco is already open.
Did I miss any reference WHEN it will open? Anybody??
FOR ME: THIS IS THE GREATEST NEWS I HAVE EVER HEARD.
I am not very mobile, love El Pollo Loco, and short walking distance.
Hallelujah!
Before complaining, just don’t go there if you hate it or think it unhealthy.
Subway, for gods sake, has been all this time selling foot long sandwiches which hand been deemed “not bread” due to however they make it (a real “Twinkies aren’t cooked” kind of situation, but with subways “not bread”
Where were the complainers about really unhealthy Fast Food
Thrilled that I can pick up a somewhat healthy meal at El Pollo Loco again soon. As for all the bitching below. Please stop. Let’s be happy that jobs are coming to Weho and vacant store fronts are filling up. If you need to direct your rage, direct it at the monstrosity planned for the block between Larrabee and San Vicente on Sunset. It’s got everything you’re bitching about below: crass commercialism, too much traffic, no parking and no charm. Have at it.
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i love el pollo loco. if a restaurant is expensive, people complain if it’s affordable, people complain. it’s a no win in this city.
so true.
I am highly disappointed to see a crappy chain restaurant in WeHo.
Will not add to the charm or interest in visiting.
charm? what charm? This city lost it’s “charm” years ago.
According to you.
Oh when the chains come marching in…. The city will grow but it won’t be the same .
Local retailers put 52 percent into the local economy yet national chains only account for 14 percent. Local retail and other businesses were the fabric of our country since founding. Our fabric is tattered and failing. How many fast food places does it take before one endangers their health by convenience. Eventually one pays one way or another.
Pack a home made sandwich. Remember those old lunch boxes in our grandparents era that are now selling fo $$$$. Workmen and laborers stayed on the site and ate lunch without traveling here and there and NO TRASH.
Negative Nancy Warning… While I love the idea of reasonable cost food choices moving into the area, and am a fan of Crazy Chicken ..This is just going to be a nightmare and bad planning. Why you ask ? Smoke from the grill ? Traffic both in person and delivery ? Parking at a Trader Joes lot already at war, Did you visit when Pollo was on Sunset ? The loco is a great stop for many of the service workers, contractors in the area yet they aren’t in Yugos Dorthy !! Im worried about the Rainbow in our once… Read more »
No different from the chaos on outside Rocco’s and the smell from Fresh Corn Grill and pot shops. Wait, I take that back, Pollo Loco will be less chaotic and smelly than those.
More proof that people will complain about anything. If you insist on driving, you can park in the Ramada parking lot, just like you can for Cousin’s Maine Lobster, and the shake place next to it. This is a walking village. More people need to dump their cars. I doubt that El Pollo Loco is going to have lines of people out the door. They certainly did not when they were up on Sunset. As far as “smoke from the grill” goes, they have these things called stove hoods. As far as service workers and contractors go, they would mostly… Read more »
As a local resident I’ll walk and meet you there for dinner Randy…..Just don’t bring your scooter please. 😁
I *will* bring my scooter. Then we can finally argue about it in person. 🙂
And, no, I don’t ride it on the friggin sidewalk.
smoke from the grill..really? Maybe it’ll mask all the pot smoke in the air.
Jonathan, cities have restaurants. Restaurants have kitchens that produce some smoke and other smells. You need to get over it.
I should know better and say nothing but I want to make sure I end my commentary on a positive note that I think some missed …”i will be the first in the door” “Please take as Constructive” ” i love fresh brothers” “i love subway” And Im so close I could roll down the hill to the door when they open.. SO I will be walking too , We need more cost effective choices on the blvd, but we need to be smart about how…Im 6 plus years a planing chair and in design 40 years…I moved here for… Read more »
El Pollo Loco! Yay!…..I’m getting tired of having dinner night after night at Pump and Rocco’s.
Agreed. I’ll add La Boheme, Cecconi’s and full disclosure, I can’t afford them. See ya all at El Pollo Loco.