2 businesses, 1 space: Alana’s Coffee Roasters + The VB Grab & Go

By Jessica Koslow, Playa Vista Contributing Writer

It is the prettiest place on Pacific Avenue between Washington and Venice boulevards in Venice. It’s also the only business on the long and narrow beachside strand. What used to be Sal’s Deli & Market and a vegan pop-up called XMarket is now home to the third LA location of Alana’s Coffee Roasters and its cohabitator, The VB Grab & Go, which is the second spot for Chef D Brandon Walker’s The MV Grab & Go.

As its promotion points out, the new establishment carries on the legacy of these two beloved businesses: “Two Mar Vista Legends. New Turf. Same Fire.”

Open just over a month, the new space has already found its footing in the neighborhood. On a summer Tuesday morning around 10 a.m., colleagues were meeting, pals were chatting, and a handful of remote workers were staring at, and sometimes typing on, their computers and phones. Strollers were being pushed around, and commuters were popping in for their morning brew.

In recent years, the building at 26th Avenue has had difficulty sustaining a long-term tenant: Parking can be difficult, there is little foot traffic, and no other businesses operate nearby. As Deniece Williams sang, “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle,” or two savvy entrepreneurs with successful brands.

“The secret to Alana’s success has been community,” said Erin Ward via telephone on Juneteenth, the one-month anniversary of the opening of the Venice location.

When it comes to coffee, Alana’s philosophy is “snobby coffee without the snobby.” It sources excellent coffees from importers and producers, follows seasonal harvests, meticulously roasts its coffees and brews them with a blend of science and vibes. Despite all that work, Alana’s still feels like a local coffee shop. The coffee speaks for itself.

But it’s the community events that have made Alana’s in Mar Vista a favorite hangout for locals. It hosts game and karaoke nights, ukulele jam sessions, open mics and dog days. Ward hopes to bring the same community-building vibes to Venice.

Ward and Eric Stogsdill opened Alana’s in Mar Vista in 2017 and a WeHo location soon followed. In March of this year, Stogsdill parted ways with Ward and Julian Partovi, who operates stalls at various farmers’ markets and is still Alana’s biggest wholesale bean customer, came on board. Alana is the name of Stogsdill’s daughter, who still works at the Mar Vista shop.

“The space at 2524 Pacific is a joint venture between The VB Grab & Go and Alana’s Coffee Roasters,” said Ward. “We are sharing the space and the cost of rent and doing what we each do best: good food and good coffee. It’s not always easy to find places that put the emphasis on both.”

Customers can order a latte or flat white and pastries at Alana’s register and tasty bites, such as the Hangover Potatoes or vegan butternut cornnut tacos, at The VB Grab & Go register.

Chef D Brandon Walker is happy to be back on the Westside after spending the last couple of years in DTLA opening The Art Room.

“This is officially the second location of the Grab & Gos,” he said. “We are nicknaming them after the individual neighborhoods and continuing our tradition of great tacos, salads and sandwiches in addition to breakfast all day long.”

Walker met Ward in Mar Vista. As neighbors, Ward would pop into The MV Grab & Go to eat, and Walker would stop by Alana’s for a wake-me-up. The two, realizing their culinary philosophies were similar, became friendly.

“Our concept is great coffee and great food in the same small footprint neighborhood kind of joint,” said Walker, “because those two things tend to be mutually exclusive.”
Hours are currently 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily but may soon expand to 3 p.m.

Alana’s Coffee Roasters + The VB Grab & Go
2524 Pacific Avenue, Venice
310-301-2524