Erewhon Market To Open New Location In Santa Monica

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Erewhon Market today announced Santa Monica as the new location for its fourth store in California. In collaboration with executive architect, Retail Design Collaborative, design architect Montalba Architects,Abbott Construction and Slated Projects, Erewhon Santa Monica is scheduled to open in early 2018.

“The new location will be the fourth Erewhon in Southern California, with other markets in Los Angeles, Calabasas and Venice Beach, each surrounded by thriving and wellness-driven neighborhoods,” said Tony Antoci, CEO of Erewhon.

The single-story, approximately 12,000-square-foot building will be renovated from its original 1993 single-tenant structure to a 10,500 square-foot multi-layered, contemporary façade and landscape design to accommodate a new outdoor terrace area. The project features pedestrian seating and dining areas, climbing vegetation on the face of the building and a unique lighting plan to enhance the design and parking area. Erewhon Santa Monica will be located at 2800 Wilshire Blvd. on the southeast corner of the Harvard Street intersection in the mixed-use boulevard district, with multifamily residential units to the south.

“We are excited by the opportunity to bring Erewhon to Santa Monica. While it was challenging to repurpose the building in this way, we saw it as an opportunity to further express Erewhon's commitment to openness and natural products,” said Branko Prebanda, senior principal for Retail Design Collaborative. “In addition, the redesign reduces the overall square footage of the building by 20 percent, incorporating a unique outdoor patio and seating area for shoppers to enjoy.”

"There is no question this new Santa Monica location will be a great addition to the community.  We are thrilled to have the support of City of Santa Monica and local residents," said Yuval Chiprut, of slated projects, business consultant for Erewhon Markets.  

Additional unique features of the market will include a park-like courtyard, trellis which transitions into a terraced entryway and enhanced landscaping to create an active and pedestrian-oriented environment for new liveliness along Wilshire Boulevard. The exterior of the building features large glass windows, creating a sense of connectivity between the indoor and outdoor areas, and offers a street-level view of Erewhon’s open kitchen experience.

“The primary objective for the project was to rethink how the public engages with the building and enters the market. The notion of contributing to the public experience of the building via the park and indoor-outdoor trellis element was very important and works to unify the primary gathering areas,” said David Montalba, FAIA, founding principal for Montalba Architects. “At Erewhon, the food is at the core of the experience — the vibrant produce, colorful ingredients and curated products. Ultimately, we wanted the design, architecture and landscape to be a platform to showcase the food and foster engagement with guests.”

Retail Design Collaborative specializes in designing unique spaces that support the business goals of retailers and also fit within the tapestry of the surrounding community by creating unique hubs for human interaction. Erewhon market aims to contribute to the image of Santa Monica as a place of beauty, creativity and individuality, and the development supports the overall improvements of the city.

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About Retail Design Collaborative:

Retail Design Collaborative is an award-winning leader in retail design and a full-service architectural firm dedicated to making everyday places extraordinary and celebrating the retail realm as one of the focal points of human interaction. With more than 37 years of experience designing the retail realm, Retail Design Collaborative is at the forefront of the new era of retail, examining changing trends and drawing upon its experience to be a true retail thought leader. The firm has four offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.rdcollaborative.com.

About Erewhon Market:

Since the late 1960s Erewhon has been uncompromising in the commitment to provide foods and products that change the lives of our customers. In 2011, Tony and Josephine Antoci purchased Erewhon. The Antoci’s have spent the last few years immersed in learning the pure foods industry and are committed to creating community, living sustainably and inspiring customers to have the highest standards in foods and products. For more information, visit www.erewhonmarket.com/our-story

Source: Erewhon Market