Loop Espresso Club is a brand new Japanese-style coffee shop that opened up in the former Cafe Beaujolais space in August 2025 (originally opened in a different space in March 2024). This comfy space with exceptional coffee, delicious pastries, and a vinyl record soundtrack is the concept of Dominic Abat.
We spoke with Dominic about how he came to the concept for Loop:
What is the story behind Loop? What made you want to open a coffee shop in Eagle Rock?
I’ve worked in the Los Angeles food industry, specifically restaurants, for over 8 years. I worked for Suzanne Goin and the A.O.C. food group and I worked at Bavel and. Bestia in downtown LA, as well as Pizzeria Sei. I always envisioned myself opening a pizzeria somewhere in LA. In November of 2023, I traveled to Tokyo, Japan and ate at multiple pizzerias, but was also able to visit and enjoy many exquisite coffee shops. I am still determined to open a pizzeria, but I came across an exciting location in Eagle Rock and immediately knew my Tokyo-inspired coffee shop concept would fit well there.
What is the vibe of the space?
The vibe is chill and mellow during the weekdays and electric and fast paced during the weekends.
What would you recommend to someone who has never visited a Japanese-style coffee house?
The most popular items have been the espresso black sesame, espresso trung, and matcha coconut refresher for non-coffee drinkers.
🦅 ☕ Loop Espresso Club 1712 Colorado Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90041 (747) 732-2090 Daily: 8am-5pm
Viet Tapas Bar is an exciting new fine dining Vietnamese restaurant that opened in July on the north side of Colorado Boulevard near Townsend. The restaurant is a new concept from Viet Tran, the chef and owner behind Atwater Village’s popular Viet Noodle Bar.
We checked in with Viet to learn more about his vision for small bite Vietnamese cuisine:
What is the story behind Viet Tapas Bar?
I have always wanted to do small bites Vietnamese food (tapas) at Viet Noodle Bar in Atwater since 2009 but couldn’t do it after several trials due to the kitchen setup. I did not want to break the rhythm of making Pho with grilling and frying so I put off the idea of doing tapas.
After few years operating in Atwater, I was fortunate to have Firat Demir to join the staff as the key person to run Viet Noodle Bar, which gave me the opportunity to create a new concept. A year and a half ago, I found an available restaurant in Eagle Rock. I fell in love with the space when I saw it. It took me six months to get it.
What made you want to open a tapas concept restaurant in Eagle Rock after many years in Atwater Village?
I did not want to replicate Viet Noodle Bar in Eagle Rock since it s so close to the Atwater restaurant. So I decided to do Vietnamese tapas.
I want to introduce Vietnamese dishes that diners can share and experience together. The menu is completely different from Viet Noodle Bar and is oriented for sharing. For example, we won’t have pho since it doesn’t fit with the menu and it’s not recommended to share. At Viet Tapas Bar, we will rotate and expand the menu as we go.
What dishes would you recommend to someone who is visiting Viet Tapas Bar for the first time?
I would recommend Chicken or Taro Crispy Roll, Steamed Rice Cakes, Grilled Bison with Lolot Leaves, Beef with Watercress, and end with Rice Claypot with choices of topping
🦅 🥘 🍡 Viet Tapas Bar 1661 Colorado Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90041 (323) 507-2150 Tue-Thur: 5pm-9pm Fri-Sat: 12pm-3pm, 5pm-10pm
Lola Café is an exciting new Oaxacan-themed restaurant that opened on June 30th and is quickly becoming a favorite breakfast, brunch, and lunch spot on Colorado Boulevard.
We checked in with Lola Café’s owner, Orlando Rodriguez, to learn more about his vision for Oaxacan-Californian cuisine:
What is the story behind Lola Café? I’m from Oaxaca, Mexico, and have resided in California for approximately 12 years. Over the years, I’ve worked for various companies in different roles and had the privilege of serving many influential individuals in the culinary industry. I constantly compared techniques from around the world to those of Oaxaca, and I was struck by the striking similarities. It all began because of my mother’s bakery in Oaxaca, where I received my initial culinary education. In that bakery, we exclusively used a traditional clay oven, capable of baking 100 to 150 loaves of bread at a time. We heated it with firewood and employed only wooden utensils. I mention this because my mother taught me to cook using these methods.
What made you want to open an Oaxacan-themed restaurant in Eagle Rock?
When I was told about the community of Eagle Rock, I was tremendously excited. It’s a tightly-knit, hardworking, and friendly neighborhood. However, as a newcomer, I didn’t know what they favored. There was substantial competition from excellent restaurants in the vicinity. It was then that I remembered my mother’s advice: ‘When you do something, do it with passion, or don’t do it at all.’ I contemplated offering California cuisine with an Oaxacan twist to diversify the typical offerings and to share my Oaxacan roots and culture through my food. It’s not 100% authentic; it’s an infusion of Oaxaca and California, prepared with love. Lola Café is a family restaurant that is forming with the support of friends and acquaintances. One person who has been instrumental in this venture is my friend Gerardo, who manages Lola Café’s kitchen. Each dish is crafted with an Oaxacan touch and presented in an appealing manner.
How do Oaxacan dishes figure into Lola Cafe’s menu, and what dishes would you recommend to someone who hasn’t had Oaxacan food before?
The name Lola Café pays homage to the most significant person in my life, my greatest inspiration and support: my mother, Lola. Oaxaca boasts a diverse range of dishes and culinary treasures, and this is what we aim to convey in every one of our dishes. Each dish was created with the intention of not appearing too foreign or exotic to people’s palates. It’s just a touch of Oaxaca. For example, our Chile Relleno omelet with Oaxaca cheese, panela cheese, and salsa borracha on top is a blend of Californian omelet flavors with the distinct flavors of Oaxaca cheese and salsa borracha, offering a unique twist. Or consider our Oaxaca Fries, featuring Oaxaca cheese sauce and a sprinkle of chapulines powder (they’re not crickets). One dish I’d love for you to try is the Ribeye Chilaquiles with mole and salsa Macha, toasted chiles, and eggs prepared to your liking.
How has the response been so far from Eagle Rockers, and what are you looking forward to as more people try out and become more familiar with Lola Cafe?
The people of Eagle Rock have been incredibly welcoming. We’ve received numerous recommendations from those who have tried our dishes. On our first day, we didn’t even have a printed menu, just a handwritten note. The first person who tried our food posted a photo on the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Group page, and that’s where the Lola Café story began.
🦅 🥞 🌯 ☕ Lola Café 2040 Colorado Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90041 lolacafe2023.com (323) 561-3029 Open Daily: 8am-3pm
Relentless Brewing and Spirits opened in the heart of Downtown Eagle Rock on the north side of Colorado at Caspar Avenue in 2019, and quickly became a local favorite for its exceptional menu, unique craft beers (brewed by co-owner James Hess at Relentless’ brewery in Temecula), signature cocktails, and lively indoor/outdoor space.
We caught up with Relentless’ tireless and welcoming co-owner, Doris Hess, to learn more about what has made Relentless such a central part of Eagle Rock:
What is the story behind Relentless?
Our journey began as a brewery in Temecula. In 2013, we relocated our family from LA to Temecula and established our brewery in 2016. Throughout the process, we observed the burgeoning competition in Temecula, with six new breweries opening during our construction phase. Recognizing this, we made the strategic choice to diversify beyond Temecula. Exploring opportunities, we set our sights on San Diego, OC, and LA to create a bar and dining experience – and ended up with our Relentless Brewing and Spirits in Eagle Rock.
What made you want to open a tap room and restaurant in Eagle Rock?
While searching for bar locations, we found the ideal spot in Eagle Rock. Its charm instantly captivated us. The neighborhood’s inviting vibe, combined with my familiarity from growing up in La Crescenta, made it even more appealing. Recognizing the need, I realized the area lacked a cocktail bar with eclectic Asian-inspired cuisine to reflect its diverse community.
What’s the inspiration behind Relentless’ menu?
Relentless offers inventive twists from many Asian cultures such as Filipino, Korean, Japanese, Hawaiian, and Thai classics with a Southern Californian flair. It’s a collaborative effort by our chefs, taking comfort foods and giving them a creative makeover. We embrace fun and creativity, valuing guest feedback.
Despite opening less than a year before a pandemic, Relentless has managed to become an indispensable Eagle Rock favorite. What and who are behind your incredible success?
One of our chefs, Ray Rivera, played a pivotal role. Amid the pandemic, it was mostly him and me for over a year before expanding the team. We revamped the menu, we offered to-go service, and my dedicated bartenders pitched in. Staying open and hands-on, our customers saw our Relentless Spirit firsthand. We want to be the local bar in town that everyone feels like it’s home!
Vidiots is finally opening this month after years of work to restore Eagle Rock’s historic Eagle Theatre! And the Vidiots video rental store opens today!
TERA took a sneak peak at the new video store, movie theater, and community space that Eagle Rock worked so hard to make happen:
With Vidiots open, there is no better time to support this amazing local theater with an annual membership. Vidiots memberships start at $100 for the entire year and include with great perks:
Exclusive members-only screenings
Access to members-only event pre-sales to ensure you don’t miss the most popular movies
Discounts on all regular screenings
Extended rentals and no late fees at the Vidiots rental store
Free popcorn!
It’s so exciting to have this amazing arts non-profit right here in our community. We hope you’ll join us in welcoming Vidiots to Eagle Rock by becoming an annual member:
Colorado Wine Co opened in 2005 as the brainchild of Jennifer and John Nugent. After Jennifer passed away in 2014, the wine bar was sold to new owners, but sadly saw decline in its upkeep and popularity. Another nine-year period has passed, and the space has once again changed hands, but thankfully remains as a local wine and beer tasting room.
New owners Brian Girgus and Ashley Berry are Eagle Rock locals that have paid homage to the Nugents’ original vision of a community-centered tasting room with a thoughtful refresh, expanded hours, and a rebrand as Western Station Beer & Wine.
Read on for an interview with Eagle Rock residents and Western Station’s new co-owner, Brian Girgus:
What is the story behind Western Station?
Well, we’ve lived in the neighborhood for a long time and we’d stop by the Colorado Wine Co, which existed in the same space, as our friend Dan worked there. It was easy to see the place was in need of some attention and was being neglected by the previous owners. We were fortunate to be able to buy it and give it the attention it needed to be a cool place again. We were well aware of the business that original owners Jennifer and John had created many years ago and we felt like we would be able to give it some of that life that it had where the owners are available and present enough to create a more vibrant place.
What made you want to open a wine bar and bottle shop in Eagle Rock?
Well, being that we’ve lived here for 10 years it wouldn’t make too much sense to try and do business in another neighborhood. I own and operate The New California Barbershop in Echo Park and it’s hard enough to drive four miles down the 2…… haha. An old wise man told me a long time ago that it was very important to work where you live. Especially true in LA.
How do you feel that Western Station fits into the Eagle Rock community?
We have so many friends from the music/arts/film community that we’ve been part of over the years that live around Eagle Rock and Highland Park, La Canada, Glassell Park etc. It’s a natural position for us to offer them all a place to stop in and take it easy for a little while.
After an extended cold and rainy season, what are some of Western Station favorites to enjoy as we move into the Summer?
Chilled wines and cold beers, no doubt about it! I like ice cold beer year round, but the Craftsman1903 Lager or a nice Sauvignon Blanc on a warm sunny day is beautiful thing!
🦅 🍺 🍷 Western Station Beer & Wine 2305 Colorado Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90041 westernstationbeerandwine.com (323) 274-4801 Sun – Thurs: 1pm-10pm Fri + Sat: 1pm-12am
Over the past three months, the City of Los Angeles has presented three implementation options for bikeway infrastructure of TERA’s Rock The Boulevard project on Eagle Rock Boulevard. TERA prefers Option 2 as the concept that best works towards Rock The Boulevard’s goals of a safer, greener, and more pedestrian-friendly Eagle Rock Boulevard. Option 2 is the option that not only provides the safest and most comfortable space for pedestrians, but also preserves the most on-street parking and most well distributed on-street parking to provide access to our existing local businesses.
TERA further encourages Streets LA to study the community generated “Walkable Boulevard” concept, which would fine-tune Option 2 to allocate portions of unusable median space towards expanded sidewalks, space for new sidewalk trees, and space for Al Fresco dining for local businesses.
Haley Solar’s eponymous brand of unique and environmentally friendly fashion is all designed, sourced, cut, and sewn within a five mile radius of Eagle Rock. The designs can be found, along with a curated selection of women-owned, sustainably made, and vegan or locally crafted brands, at her charming shop on Eagle Rock Boulevard.
Read on for an interview with Eagle Rock’s own fashion icon, Haley Solar, about the workshops, her store, and her love for Eagle Rock:
What is the story behind your career in fashion? How did you come to open up a shop in Eagle Rock?
I have been sewing my entire life. I made all the costumes for my high schools theater and dance teams and headed straight to design school at 18. I started as a design assistant for a contemporary label in LA and pivoted to the retail world as a buyer and store director for mid size boutiques. I spent about 6 years at Anthropologie before leaving to start my own label in 2011. After spending most my time in factories or at trade shows I was really struggling and took some time off, took a serving job while I planned my next step and decided I missed the customer interaction and wanted to be part of a community so I decided to merge my two careers… fashion design and retail, and to open a store in my neighborhood, Eagle Rock, in 2016. I opened my shop with a little cash I had saved and a $2,000 loan from a friend. I kept my waitressing job for a year, working 15 hour days until I had established a customer base. I moved to a larger space a few blocks down Eagle Rock Boulevard in 2019 next to Muddy Paw coffee and opened our second store in Silver Lake in 2020 (I know!).
What led you to start offering fashion courses? What are your goals for the program?
I started sewing at 6 years old and I’m still mastering my craft. I learn new skills every day, it’s a very skilled and challenging job. I wanted to start offering classes to educate people in my community on how apparel is made. Garment work is something our society has really lost respect for with so much fast fashion flooding into our closets and instead of being depressed and feeling that my craft is being devalued I thought I’d do something about it and show people one by one how challenging and rewarding this work is.
What is the process to develop designs from concept to a wearable line?
Lol that’s a long process. It’s like building a house, you need the idea, materials the blueprints the execution the details. We teach all of those things, from sourcing to pattern making, cutting, sewing, fitting scaling production and getting your collection to market. We offer an intensive package that can crash course a semester at a fashion school in a weeks time and consulting for fashion businesses. I have 34 years of knowledge and I love sharing it.
Who are these courses for and how can interested people apply?
Our courses are taught by working fashion designers and are designed to teach beginners who are looking for a fun hobby all the way to people who are trying to launch their own line. Classes are by appointment and can be booked online here: https://haleysolar.com/collections/courses
🦅 🪡 👗 Haley Solar 4606 Eagle Rock Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90041 (323) 381-5502 haleysolar.com Mon – Thur: 10am-7pm Fri: 11am-8pm Sat: 10am-8pm Sun: 10am-7pm
TERA is spotlighting Eagle Rock small businesses to support our neighborhood’s recovery from the pandemic. For February 2023, we are highlighting Talon Tap & Wine, Eagle Rock’s spectacular craft beer taproom and wine shop.
Below is an interview with Talon’s co-owner and wine expert, Tom Anderson:
What is the story behind Talon? How did you come to focus on craft beer and why did you land in Eagle Rock?
My wife, Nicki, and I bought Talon Tap & Wine a little over three years ago. Years of living and working in the Pasadena area led me to develop many wonderful relationships in the restaurant/wine world. When the opportunity to purchase Talon Tap & Wine, formerly named Craft Beer Cellar, presented itself, we were thrilled to embark on this adventure.
We concentrate on loading our shelves solely with smaller, specialty microbrews and avoid the mass production beers. By encouraging our guests to snap off single cans, they can choose, taste & experience a much larger variety. Of course, we a have terrific staff, who can steer you through the constantly changing choices in our bottle shop. Ben & Joe are very “beer savvy” and will help guide one through our weekly new arrivals. Our tap room draft beer selections also change frequently.
My real expertise is rooted closer to the wine world. There is a tremendous similarity to the early days of boutique California wineries and currently microbreweries that are opening. The explosion of so many local craft breweries, we expanded both beer & wine offerings to satisfy more guests.
What are some of Talon’s favorite breweries that you regularly feature in the shop or at the bar?
We love local breweries and of course Eagle Rock Brewery, Ogopogo from San Gabriel & Paperback in Glendale are all featured. Other huge fan favorites are Radiant Brewing from Orange County, Harland Brewing in San Diego, as well as Enegren & MadeWest from Ventura.
How do you see Talon fitting in the Eagle Rock community?
We’re excited to offer a casual place for everyone to taste exceptional craft beers & boutique wines in our Taproom and Patio. Sports has always been a passion of ours and the addition of multiple TVs gives our fans a place to enjoy baseball, football, hockey, golf and soccer. Our spacious, shaded outdoor patio is a great spot to host birthdays, showers or graduation celebrations.
🦅 🍺 🍷
Talon Tap & Wine 1353 Colorado Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90041 (323) 274-4369 talontap.com Sun – Mon: 11am-8:30pm Tue – Thur: 11am-9:30pm Fri – Sat: 11am-10pm
The Milkfarm team (left to right): Andrew (Cheese Buyer), Sam (Beverage Buyer), Kelly, Mike, Davey, Alyssa (General Manager), Devra (Lead Trainer)
TERA is spotlighting Eagle Rock small businesses to support our neighborhood’s recovery from the pandemic. For December 2022, we are highlighting Milkfarm and it’s brand new sibling store on Eagle Rock Boulevard, Parchment Paper.
Below is an interview with owner, Leah Park Fierro, and Milkfarm’s general manager, Alyssa Trulson:
What is the story behind Milkfarm? What made Leah want to open a cheese shop in Eagle Rock?
Alyssa: Leah started her career as a pastry chef. After years of baking and working in kitchens, she decided to quit her job, sell everything she owned, and travel the world for a year. During her travels, she visited many European cheese shops (and ate a LOT of cheesy goodies, of course!). Leah returned to LA, and after googling “cheese shops near me”, she found her way to the Cheese Store of Silverlake. One year turned into six; during those six years, Leah dove headfirst into all things cheese, wine, & business. She’d always wanted to own her own business, and a cheese shop seemed like the most natural and exciting avenue! We at Milkfarm focus on American artisanal cheeses and locally made goods (only products that are meant to go with cheese), which is all part of the original vision. Leah wanted to create a neighborhood shop within a smaller community, which led her to Eagle Rock!
How did you come up with the concept of Parchment Paper after Milkfarm? Had you always planned to branch out and do something different?
Leah: Parchment Paper is a concept that we’ve been talking about at Milkfarm for quite some time. A place where you can buy 100% culinary-inspired greeting cards, trinkets, washi tape, kitchen wares, homegoods, and sundries. At Milkfarm, we started with a little cheese-centric greeting card shelf and it slowly morphed over to an entire table full of salami bandanas, cheese plates with mice on them, and a wonderful collaboration with Mister Parmesan to make custom caps and totes with words like “Gouda”, “Ham”, and “Butter”. Over the past 8 years, we’d constantly joke by saying “When we open Parchment Paper, this is going inside…”
Here we are today, finally open!
Parchment Paper is sure to be a invaluable source for holiday shopping and gift wrapping. What are some of your Milkfarm favorites for holiday gatherings and gifts?
Alyssa: Oh man, where do I begin?! We have so many gift-able items here. I think our Boska Fondue Pots make an excellent gift (plus a few hunks of cheese, of course), as they’re perfect for entertaining or for a solo night in. We have a foolproof recipe here at the shop, so be sure to ask us! As for entertaining, we are cheese board building machines these days. We can typically customize a cheese board to your and your guests’ preferences (except for our specific holiday boards). We ask for 24 hour notice for board orders, which gives us ample time to make it beautiful and flawless (we’re perfectionists over here!).
The pandemic has been so tough for local businesses and yet you have not only kept Milkfarm going but also found time and energy to open Parchment Paper. What is your secret?
Leah: The secret is a strong team of dedicated Cheesemongers who believe in the products and the service we offer. There’s no way Milkfarm would have survived without my core crew who have been with me 2-8 years. The pandemic was extremely hard and stressful for my team mentally, physically and emotionally. We would work 10+ hour days, then jump in our cars and deliver phone orders all around town. Alyssa’s watch clocked us at walking 10 miles in the shop, running between the phone, behind the counter, and out to cars for curbside delivery. We washed our hands SO MUCH, that the water damage around our hand sink literally took the hinges of our cabinet door right off! The 1st year of the pandemic was the hardest I (personally) have ever worked in my life, but failing was not an option. I’m extremely proud of what we were able to accomplish and grateful for the team who stuck it out in order for us to be here today. I feel like Milkfarm is stronger and more organized than ever for surviving these past couple of years.
As far as the time and energy to open Parchment Paper? I’m writing this at 11pm on a Sunday night. My days are 20 hours long and I’m surviving on caffeine. HA! Again, the only reason I am able to open Parchment Paper is because my SUPER DUPER AMAZING TEAM is running Milkfarm. The transition and implementation for me to step away from Milkfarm took about a year, but we are here now and I’m thrilled to open another business in the neighborhood that I live in.
🧀 🍷 🦅
Milkfarm 2106 Colorado Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90041 (323) 892-1068 milkfarmla.com Tue – Sat: 11am-7pm Sun: 11am-5pm (check online for extra holiday hours)
🎁 👩🏻🍳 🦅
Parchment Paper 5054 1/2 Eagle Rock Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90041 (323) 607-1007 parchmentpaperla.com Tue – Sat: 11am-6pm Sun: 11am-5pm
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