Venice's Iconic AXE Calls It Quits After 15 Years on Abbot Kinney

Owner Joanna Moore sent out a heartfelt email late last week telling fans that she will be closing Axe in Venice after a 15 year run. With a commitment to organic, sustainable cuisine long before it was the trendiest thing in town, Axe served a reliable stable of market-driven, health-conscious cooking that came to represent the quintessential Westside brunch spot.

No word on why the actual closure, though Moore does comment on the overall gentrification and change that's taken place Venice over the years. See Moore's entire email below and lament the loss of one of Abbot Kinney's finest restaurants. Along with Joe's, this is the second major change to take place on the boulevard at the twilight of this year. In 2010, Axe suffered a major fire that knocked out operations for nearly a year, only to return service in July 2011. Where will Westsiders go now for their multi-grain pancakes?

Dear AXE Family and Friends,

It's with a full heart I am announcing that AXE will be closing its doors after 15 years at 1009 Abbot Kinney Blvd. Our last service will be Brunch on Sunday, December 21st.

There was no way I could have foreseen what lay ahead when I first envisioned making 1009 AXE's home. I never imagined the neighborhood would evolve as it has. A very different energy prevails from those days when storefronts were boarded up and the streets were empty of people. I do miss the old ‘hood, yet things change and I am now eager to engage in my own metamorphosis. There is so much I am personally looking forward to after nurturing AXE for all these years. I hope to share some discoveries along the way, so please stay tuned!

To those who have been part of AXE's history, thank you for your loyalty.
Thank you also to those who have recently discovered AXE and have expressed great enthusiasm for what we offer. I and the many people who have been employed at AXE, have taken part in a long-term experiment committed to organic, seasonal and minimally manipulated food. In creating a simple and wholesome haven, AXE operated with the larger context in mind. The environment matters! Our relationship with the environment matters! We can engage with the natural world in a conscious, intelligent and beautiful way while supporting ourselves, each other and all life. It's these ideals and ethics that will always be the foundation of AXE in whatever form it takes.

May the AXE community thrive!

With love and gratitude,
Joanna