New Restaurant Likely Sprouting on Rose Avenue

A new farm-to-table restaurant is in the process of securing city permits to open at 609 Rose Ave. and on Tuesday garnered support from the Venice Neighborhood Council.

The former Ace Trophy Company building will be divided into a law office and a restaurant, which has not yet been given a name nor have owners outlined the type of cuisine to be served.

Venice Neighborhood Council members approved the project 9-1, with three people abstaining from voting.

“I’m going to vote against the project because a lot of neighbors are already up in arms over parking,” said VNC Vice President Marc Saltzberg.

If the building was a new construction, owners would be required to install 19 parking spaces for patrons, but due to a grandfather clause, the restaurant is not required to provide any parking – although it would add six to the existing three spots.

“The addition of this project is really exciting,” said Venice resident Christopher “Nicely” Abel Alameda. “It will do nothing but improve that part of the street.”

The unnamed restaurant would be open from 7 a.m.-11 p.m Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m.-12 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m.-10 p.m. on Sunday.

“It will activate street life on that stretch of Rose Avenue,” said Elisa Paster, who lives in the neighborhood. 

As a condition of their permit, restaurant owners would install bike racks outside and provide employees with off-street parking.