I’ve never been to Wexler’s and am not familiar with any backstory. Why in the world, with the high cost of rent, would a serious Jewish deli close as early as 6PM in an area like Santa Monica? Downtown … maybe … but on the West side?
Wexler’s in Santa Monica to open May 27. Hours will be 7 to 7.
3 Likes
We’re shooting a segment for a pilot there on 5/26 and I just confirmed they’re opening that day or one day later.
Can’t wait. Maybe I’ll meander by a few days before that to see if there’s any soft-open action. In the meantime, keep an eye on their IG feed: https://www.instagram.com/wexlersdeli/. Here’s a few pics of the happenings at their SM location:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFhmg4SuUX9/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFjtcv0uUUW/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFj7yAKOUaC/
@Jemange, what do you do for a living?
4 Likes
Once and future TV writer/producer. I think I mentioned on one or two CH posts that I used to write/produce for the Food Network way back in the 1990s. This is sort of a “getting the band back together” project. I teamed up with a DP I used to work with and old acquaintances who are food writers and chefs to shoot a pilot about the role spices and the spice trade played in history, culture and cuisine.
We’re doing a segment with Micah Wexler about the elements that go into his pastrami cure -peppercorns, bay leaf, etc. From there, we’ll trace the origins of the dish, how the spices got in to the dish, etc.
I’ll post more info and links to clips when we’ve got stuff in the can. Hopefully it doesn’t violate the site’s terms of service.
11 Likes
Well that’s a dud. I’ll never understand west coast deli. Breakfast and Lunch only?
This isn’t Chowhound… 
5 Likes
Lol! I wish someone would bring David Rosengarten back to TV. That was one of the few shows I liked. Sounds like a fun show, good luck!
1 Like
I used to work on Rosengarten’s TASTE - totally ahead of its time. The way he’d deconstruct and then assemble a dish… great stuff.
3 Likes
Pas du tout, Jemange! The inmates are now running the asylum!!!
1 Like
7 to 7. You must eat lunch very late! I don’t get why a restaurant in that area would close at 7PM either, but at least there’s time for an early dinner. Nate & Al’s and Brent’s are open til 9 I think, How could 2 more hours be a problem? Maybe it’s that 7 actually winds up being 8 anyway, and they’re not interested in a later crowd where 9 becomes 10.
I also wonder if they want to first gauge what the interest is in later hrs b/f committing themselves…
2 Likes
LOL! I like lunch 1pm-ish.
I was speaking more to closing at 4pm during the week. Its something I expect to see from a sandwich shop in an office building or office park. Never heard of this kind of thing from deli’s until I moved out here. Thank God most of the week I am close to Brent’s (which you are correct, is open until 9pm daily)
1 Like
A part of it might be that they make or cure some items in -house and have only limited quantities available each day.
Walked by just a bit ago. Snuck a shot of the menu board.
6 Likes
prices seem quite reasonable, esp. when compared to the $16.95 I paid for a hot pastrami @ Pastrami Queen.
So roughly 6 months then.
In my experience 1-2 weeks on Instagram means about 6 months in reality.
@wienermobile I noticed (and was disappointed by) that too! I’m hoping that they put that on the SM menu.
@aesthete it looks like their interiors are finished and with @jemange saying they’re shooting in the store next week, it seems like they meant what they said about the time frame. This being SM, last minute permits and inspections may still delay, but hopefully they will open by the end of the month as promised.
They better be fuckin’ ready! 
I’ve got a host flying out from NYC and camera dude flying out from Denver.
1 Like