The brightly colored Hotcakes Bakes is opening as a deli/ restaurant/ wine store in its current spot in Del Rey, located at 4119 S Centinela Ave.
The trendy bakeshop recently applied and was approved by the City of Los Angeles Planning Department to change its current use from a bakery to a cafe with dine-in seating. The new version of the business will feature 27 indoor seats and ten outdoor seats on the sidewalk. On top of that, owner Elfie Astier plans to add options for onsite alcohol consumption. This won’t be the first time the bakery has seen alcohol, as the ABC has allowed it to sell for off-site consumption during the pandemic.
Astier tells What Now Los Angeles she will introduce several new foods and drink options with this new development. First, she hopes to start selling breakfast and lunch in the next couple of weeks. Some new menu items include Oysters, sliders, and charcuterie boards, all made in-house. There will eventually be a happy hour with its own food menu. Next, Astier will add a wine store with craft beers and beers on tap and hard kombucha, expected to open by the end of June or early July. Most of the wines featured in the upcoming wine store will be from local vendors.
“I’m really happy; I’ve been at it for 17 years,” Astier tells What Now Los Angeles. “Covid was really complicated, and I’m happy to finally be able to give the community a place like this. There isn’t really a good organic cafe with the options we have. I think it’s really going to add to the community. It’s a place where you can buy anything for a party, such as a bottle of wine, a cake, or a candle.”
Born in Paris, France, Astier initially started her career as an actress and singer before moving to Los Angeles and realizing she wanted to pursue baking, a passion she shared with her parents. In 2005, after having baked privately for many clients, Astier decided to open Hotcakes Bakes near the corner of Washington Boulevard and Centinela Avenue. The business is currently opening, and guests can order various cakes, morning pastries, cupcakes, and coffee blends for same-day in-store pickup or delivery.
The store is a blend of Astier’s heritage, being born in Paris and growing up in Southern California. She says the business is all about quality and good food in moderation. It’s a place where you can have a little bit of everything in moderation, just like how the French live their lives.
