Boulevard stores opening, and closing, and news, and boba!
Some new stores have recently opened on Larchmont Boulevard, and their managements report that the businesses are doing well.
The manager of Boba the Great at 142 N. Larchmont told us that the store has received a warm welcome from the community.
“People who don’t even know what boba is pop their heads in and say, ‘Hey, welcome to the neighborhood!’ It seems to be a courteous, nice place.”
Boba the Great brews all its teas and purees in-house. The Signature Brown Sugar Milk Teas and the Signature Ice Teas have been quite popular, we were told. When asked what days and times seem to be busiest, the manager said that when school gets out, a lot of business comes in. The early hours on Sundays have been very busy as well.
So what is boba? It’s a sweet tea-infused drink with optional sugary tapioca pearls lining the bottom, slurped with a straw.
Nearby, at Velvet by Graham and Spencer, 146 N. Larchmont Blvd., assistant store manager Kathryn Fissel told us the community has been extremely kind and welcoming. “We’ve received lots of little goodies from shops around just saying hello and welcome. It’s a really nice community here,” she said.
Velvet is a men’s and women’s clothing store. It already has seen repeat customers with people on their daily walks popping in to see what’s new. “The reaction of the people around us tells us this seems to be a really good fit,” said Fissel.
Thirteen Lune, 120 N. Larchmont Blvd., is getting closer to opening its doors and plans to be welcoming customers starting Fri., May 5. The shop will feature an assortment of beauty products for all skin colors.
New Italian restaurant coming to the Boulevard
Beloved Italian restaurant Vernetti, which was opened on the Boulevard in 2014 by Steve and Joanna Vernetti, will be closing at the end of May. The couple said they have enjoyed serving Larchmont but are ready to move on to other things.
The space at 225 N. Larchmont Blvd. is being taken over by Hancock Park resident Shereen Arazm, an owner of Terroni on Beverly Boulevard. Arazm will be offering food from the Terroni Italian-based menu and special dishes for the new Larchmont Boulevard eatery.
Business owner Jess Rona of Jess Rona’s Grooming at 656 N. Larchmont Blvd. has been working to share her entrepreneurial skills. For the past several years, the pet groomer has offered a course to help small business owners on their journeys to becoming successful.
Rona knows how overwhelming it can be to start and run a business. Ten years ago, she was grooming pets in her garage.
But her now busy brick-and-mortar store speaks to the success she knows is possible for people.
This year’s updated course is currently available for purchase on her website at jessronacourses.com.
Category: Entertainment