Yassmin Sarmadi, who purchased Downtown’s successful French bistro Church & State in 2010, is planning to open a new French restaurant named Spring in the ground floor of the neighborhood’s historic Douglas Building at Spring and Third Streets. Brigham Yen reports that the new project will be completed in two stages, taking over 7,000 square-feet of the closed Origami Bistro and Bar space in the first round of construction, and in the second, occupying the former Lot 44 space for a grand total of roughly 15,000 square-feet of new restaurant space. Spring will serve contemporary, seasonal French menus that veer more towards “Southern and Mediterranean French” cooking in a more modern approach than Church & State’s bistro cuisine.
Construction is yet to begin, with a hopeful glance towards next summer for the opening. With former Church & State chef Walter Manzke opening his own French bistro, Republique, in the neighborhood, and the continued success of his nearby alma mater, Downtown may soon stand up to John Mariani’s L.A. French food criticisms single-handedly. [Birgham Yen]
