Popular Montana Avenue-based eatery Marmalade Cafe has finally completed its relocation to Santa Monica Blvd after more than a year of planning and development. In an official opening party and ribbon-cutting ceremony, locals and invited guests were treated to canapés and cocktails as the venue quickly filled to capacity.
In 1990 the original 1,400 sq ft Marmalade Cafe opened on Montana Avenue and featured a full bakery, fresh salads and entrees for diners on the go. It quickly proved to be a runaway success and was welcomed by the community.
Less than three years later, in response to an increasing number of appeals for a full dining experience at Marmalade Cafe, founders Selwyn Yosslowitz, Robert Burns Jr. and Bonnie Burns opened the first full service Marmalade Cafe in Malibu. Despite only offering 100 covers, this too proved successful and ultimately led to an additional five outlets opening in Calabasas, El Segundo, Los Angeles Farmers Market, Sherman Oaks and Westlake Village.
“It’s been a long time,” said Claudia Salcedo, Marketing Manager of Marmalade Cafe. “We started this project about a year and a couple months ago … and there are so many permits and things that you have to apply for [but] to be completely honest, I feel that it’s an adequate amount of time if you want to open something like this. So in order for us to be 100% ready to deliver to the customer, it took us this amount of time.”
Salcedo explains that while the Montana outlet was well known for its breakfast service and lunch service, traditionally closing at 3pm each day, this new location will offer a dinner service for the first time, plus alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine and cocktails. And all of that is in addition to the existing, familiar bakery and pastry products.
However, Salcedo stresses that given the location of this new site, at 525 Santa Monica Blvd, a “grab and go” menu will be a key focus point.
“When I decided to embark on this project, my message to the team was that I want to be everything to everyone. I told them we are [now] on Santa Monica Boulevard, [with] its bustle and hustle of working people, students and so on,” she says, adding, “I would stand and watch people going past throughout the day and I knew we needed a quality menu offering food that people could walk in and collect or order in advance. So an important part of what we’re going to offer is our ‘Quick Menu.’”
While the opening times are still awaiting official confirmation, Salcedo says that she expects to be open at 7am each morning with a full espresso bar for coffee craving commuters. It will then close at 9pm after the dinner service and operate every day of the week. This eatery will also feature the same, full menu that other Marmalade Cafe outlets offer. She also hopes that the venue will be fully utilized for functions, organized dining events and even weddings.