Some of you have been fretting about the fate of Andre's, that little Italian cafeteria in Los Angeles that I like so much. Let us review…
Last July, I told you that the owners of the shopping mall wherein Andre's resides have big expansion plans. What they want to do is tear down a rather decrepit Kmart when its lease runs out and erect a massive structure, variously described as between 19 and 26 floors and full of new retailers and housing units. It didn't look like there was room in their plans for Andre's.
Last August, a whole bunch of us appeared before the Mid City West Community Council to argue that the development should not be permitted. I think a pretty strong case was made that evening — only a tiny bit of it by me — but it doesn't seem to have stopped anything.
Last September, it was announced that the Kmart is indeed closing. Something else is going to go there and it looks like it's going to be that huge retail/housing building.
So here it is October and the Kmart is having a massive going-outta-business sale. Everything in it is marked down somewhere between 30% and 60% and a sales clerk told me that prices will be going lower as they near their closing date, which is the last week in November. I went in and bought a whole lotta cheap things and there's no need for you to be jealous. If there's a Sears or Kmart (they're owned by the same company) near you, it'll probably be having one of these sales in the next year or so. They just announced even more closures.
But here's what's up with Andre's and it's not terrible. The owners of the shopping center are reportedly impressed with the place and its loyal clientele so they've given them a lease extension to the end of 2019. During this time, they'll be drawing up plans for the big new complex and trying to work out a way to incorporate my favorite place for cheap pasta into the layout. It will almost certainly be necessary for Andre's to close during construction but there seems to be a good chance it will return and live on indefinitely. So that's good news…not as good news as if they just left it the way it is but good news, nonetheless.
In the meantime, the owners of Andre's will be opening a new restaurant, regardless of what becomes of Andre's. It'll be called the Grandi Italiani and it will be located in Canoga Park near the intersection of Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Sherman Way. It will have the same menu and cuisine as Andre's and, one hopes, close to the same prices. I'll let you know here when they announce an opening date. It's too far from me but already a few of my friends who live out that way are happy and eager to get in line.
If you live or travel anywhere near The Grove, Farmers Market or CBS, you're close enough to Andre's that you oughta go get a meal there. Just in case.