Last week, 10 Los Angeles-area Rite-Aid pharmacies, many of which feature Southern California’s iconic Thrifty Ice Cream counters, were announced to be closing in June as part of a nationwide reduction following Rite-Aid’s second bankruptcy filing in as many years. More than 300 pharmacies are scheduled to close out of the company’s more than 1,200, leaving many to wonder about the future of its Thrifty Ice Cream brand.
Thrifty began as a West Coast pharmacy chain in 1929, sourcing ice cream from local vendors and selling scoops for 5 cents before producing its own in the 1940s. In 1976, the company opened a large factory in El Monte that still makes around 60,000 gallons of ice cream a day. Thrifty was acquired by Rite-Aid in 1996 but retained many of its ice cream counters.
With Rite-Aid’s recent bankruptcy announcement, media outlets are wondering what will become of the beloved ice cream brand. Rite-Aid hasn’t commented on the future of the brand and its iconic cylindrical cones (whose scoopers are still for sale for around $30). Thrifty still sells retail containers of its ice cream at local grocery stores and continues to offer wholesale ice cream for food service, so it’s likely the ice cream brand will endure. Rite-Aid is currently trying to find a buyer for its retail pharmacies, with many stores virtually bereft of items on their shelves.
A halal Venice expansion
Toddrickallen reports that the Valley’s popular New York Chicken & Gyros is opening soon on Lincoln Boulevard in Venice. Bringing a bit of Flushing, New York, to Los Angeles, the chain first opened in Canoga Park in 2017, where it sold halal cart-style food. The chain also operates in West Los Angeles and Pasadena.
Sawtelle Japantown scene update
Japanese soft serve chain Indigo Cow, which also operates in Echo Park, opened in Sawtelle Japantown this weekend, serving frozen treats with dairy sourced from Japan.
In addition, Filipino restaurant Spoon & Pork, which operates in Silver Lake and Sawtelle Japantown, has been open about its recent struggles on social media. (Operators Ray Yaptinchay and Jay Tugas say they’re in the process of selling the Sawtelle Japantown space.) The beloved comfort food restaurant seems to need a boost right now.
Long Beach’s restaurant week
Long Beach Food Scene Week kicks off on August 1 and will feature 80 restaurants across the southern Los Angeles County city. Learn more here about the 10-day event.
Tariffs hit a South Bay restaurant
Ruiji Sichuan Restaurant in Lomita posted a sign that’s been trending on Reddit that details some of the cost increases that it blames on tariffs, including cooking oil, takeout containers, and chicken wings. It’s a reminder that restaurants can’t always pass increased costs to consumers without some pushback.
Santa Monica’s booze zone
Like the Las Vegas Strip and parts of New Orleans, Santa Monica has opened a “booze zone” along Third Street Promenade where imbibers can enjoy alcohol on the street. Food & Wine has a story with more details that could help revitalize the struggling retail strip.
