Inside Intelligence on Intelligentsia Opening (Finally)

I’m such a mean girl. On Sunday, I drove down to Venice to check out the new Intelligentsia Coffee shop only to find it closed. The torturous sight of a few people wandering around inside was made worse when you figured out that they were employees training on how to make the best espresso in Los Angeles. As a former Seattleite, I am very, very picky about my coffee and have been waiting for something like this to open on this side of the earth.

We were a little upset (OK, totally bitter), and Tweeted our disappointment with the non-opening of the second coming of coffee. After all, not only had I not gotten into their crazy opening night party, but that party was, like, weeks ago and they still weren’t opened? WTF!

Sitting in the lovely but not-home-of-coffee perfection Abbot’s Habit, I Tweeted: “Dear #Intelligentsia Coffee: if you are going to have an overhyped grand opening, you should actually open. #fail.”

I was immediately hit up by three Intelligentsia people who helpfully explained that they were being impeded by technicalities (read: the City).

Wrote @EvaSaulo: “Tell that to L.A. DWP and the health dept! We should be open @ intelligentsia Venice later this week :-).” And @GlanVillain wrote: “We scheduled that party to happen a week after we opened, but have experienced unforeseen setbacks. Next week!! #bureaucracy.”

For an explanation longer than 140 characters, Intelligentsia’s Doug Zell blogged about the delay in a bit more detail: “In order to open, we need to pass our final inspections and the Department of Water and Power (it is ominous-sounding for good reason) needs to provide the necessary power.”

On Twitter, @TimStyles said that Thursday is the day that the sun shines on Abbot Kinney and everyone can taste the delicious coffee without driving to the East Side or flying to Seattle.

UPDATE: Tim says that due to an unavailable health inspector, they might not be open tomorrow. Cross fingers for them!

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