Business & Tech
Manhattan Beach Restaurateur to Bring Cajun Flair to Mar Vista
John Atkinson of North End Caffe will open Louie's of Mar Vista on Grand View Boulevard later this year.
Hoping to capitalize on the momentum gained from his appearance on The Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, John Atkinson, owner of North End Caffe in Manhattan Beach, is opening a restaurant in the neighborhood called Louie's of Mar Vista.
Atkinson is a Southern California native, having grown up in Mar Vista, a town still near and dear to his heart. In the 1950s, Atkinson's grandfather purchased a building on Venice and Grand View boulevards and opened Louie's butcher shop. New owners turned the store into a dry cleaners, but now Atkinson has bought back the store and is retrofitting it as a restaurant. Atkinson plans to keep the name Louie's to honor his grandfather, who died a few years back, and will serve up his famous food with a Cajun influence.
Atkinson has spent the past two years obtaining permits from the city of Los Angeles for the venture. He hopes to open the restaurant later this year.
