Erewhon natural foods market coming soon to Venice

Erewhon, the Beverly Boulevard natural foods store known for its tonic bar, organic produce and pressed juices, is opening a new location in Venice Beach. The Venice Boulevard Erewhon will be the third location in Southern California, with a store in Calabasas and a possible downtown L.A. location and Orange County locations planned for the future.

“It’s a highly intelligent demographic with people who make choices and actually consider where they live, what clothes they wear and what food they put into their system,� said Erewhon business developer Yuval Chiprut. “In my mind, they are an accelerated community.�

According to Chiprut and Erewhon Chief Executive Tony Antoci, the new Erewhon will feature more merchandise and a larger deli with a selection of house-made products, including bread.

“We’re going back to our roots in some capacity,� said Antoci. “It’s very aligned with what the store was in the ‘60s, in that it’s highly curated. It’s slightly smaller than our current store and we are going to really focus on the best of the best.�

The store will feature the signature Erewhon full-service tonic bar and a cafe serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, and will also introduce a wood-burning rotisserie oven. The produce will be organic, just as it is in the other Erewhon locations, and the nutrition department will have a naturopathic doctor on staff.

Chiprut’s company Slated Projects, along with Scott Morris Architects, are working to design the brick bow truss building, hoping to keep it close to what Erewhon customers are used to, while highlighting the new space.

The Venice Erewhon is scheduled to open late fall.

585 Venice Blvd., Venice, www.erewhonmarket.com.

More food news? Follow me on Twitter @Jenn_Harris_