Several of the storefronts in the landmark Jensen's Recreation Center in the heart of Echo Park's business district have been vacant as the building undergoes an extensive renovation. One of the empty spaces had been a high-profile corner spot at Sunset Boulevard and Logan Streets. But that space, a former medical clinic that has been transformed into a dramatic two-story space (pictures above under construction) has apparently been leased out to vegan and raw cuisine caterer Stephen Hauptfuhr of Mooi Food.***
Hauptfuhr has been looking for a space to open a vegan-raw food restaurant earlier in the year nearby on Glendale Boulevard where it passes underneath Sunset Boulevard, according to Daily Dish. But he ended up in a much more high profile location in the historic 1924 structure. Hauptfuhr said by email he will provide more details about the restaurant later today. News about Mooi moving into Jensen's comes after another local restauranteur, Gareth Kantner of Silver Lake's Cafe Stella, abandoned plans earlier this year to open a restaurant in the same building.
* Update: Hauptfuhr said his vegan-raw food restaurant might be as open as early as December on a limited basis for private parties before a grand opening early next year. He does not use animal products - not even honey. The tentative plans are to serve sit-down dinners on Wednesday through Saturday, featuring affordable meals - priced from $25 to $40 a couple -as well as more expensive specials. During the day, Mooi would focus on selling deserts, snacks and ice cream (based on cashews) during much of the week.
"This place is perfect," said Mooi. "It's just an amazing space."
Mooi (pronounced moy) means "beautiful" in Dutch, said Hauptfuhr who is half German.
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Raw/Vegan? What a let-down. I've been hoping for something of quality to take-up residence there, so this is a disappointment to say the least. As much as some people like to think there's a strong demand for this type of food, I think this move is "aggressive," especially with Elf always killing it down the street. Oh well...
ReplyDeleteI hope the prices are decent, and I hope there's a good mix of people who go there.
ReplyDeleteIm super siked because elf taste pretty bad and flore is way funkey. I personaly cant wait to get some other vegan options
ReplyDeleteI was sad too...I was hoping for some good sushi ha!
ReplyDeletehooray for vegan!!! elf is okay but waaay overrated. i like flore but the more healthy options we have the heatlhier our neighborhood will be :)
ReplyDeletedo we seriously need another vegan restaurant on sunset? Theres Elf, Flore, Cru, the other Flore Cafe, Vegan House,etc.
ReplyDeleteIm vegetarian (not Vegan) and this is a little much, even for me.
I hope they have vegan tamales.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm really so bored by these new places. I really could care less about another Vegan restaurant in Silver Lake/Echo Park. Why aren't there any restaurantuers in this area that have any vision? Plus you will be competing with about 8 + Vegan restaurants in the area. Ho-hum. I'll be spending my hard earned unemployment dollars in Downtown L.A...
ReplyDeleteWhat a disappointment, that space has so much potential was hoping for some spectacular something to move in! Didn't realize we had that much of a need for vegan chow in the neighborhood. Give me some decent chinese :)
ReplyDeleteIt is a disappointment. Not the fact that it is a vegan restaurant but that it a narrow minded approach to vegan cuisine.
ReplyDeleteyay for vegan!! meat-eaters suck- for the environment, animals and themselves!!
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled for a new vegan restaurant. This is great news!
ReplyDelete