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A fresh wave of attention has emerged surrounding the $20 Hailey Bieber Strawberry Glaze Skin Erewhon smoothie, but not for the reasons one might expect. On April 10, 2025, Curbed reported that the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health discovered a significant violation at Erewhon’s Santa Monica location on Wilshire Boulevard during a recent inspection. This violation report also gained traction after being discussed on a Reddit thread. Established in Boston in 1966, Erewhon is recognized as a premium grocery store offering a blend of health-focused products and an upscale shopping experience. Its fame has been further amplified by partnerships for its high-priced smoothies with notable figures such as Sabrina Carpenter, Lalisa Manobal, and Nara Smith.
Typically, major health code violations such as this one trigger immediate temporary closures. However, the report dated April 8, 2025, also noted minor violations related to “Time as a Public Health Control,” which refers to instances where food is left at improper temperatures for extended periods or where procedures are not adequately documented. Additional issues logged included plumbing concerns, unclean surfaces not used for food prep, and insufficient ventilation or lighting. As of Thursday, April 10, the Santa Monica Erewhon location remained open, although the tonic bar was temporarily closed.
In a follow-up response to Eater LA, an Erewhon representative expressed their sincere apologies for the lapse in health standards, emphasizing that customer health and safety is of utmost importance. They noted that pest control services are conducted weekly, and they voluntarily closed the tonic bar following the inspection. By 2:45 p.m. on April 10, a reinspection was completed by the health department, allowing the tonic bar to reopen.
Cockroach issues are not unfamiliar in the landscape of Los Angeles restaurants. Notable establishments such as Casa Vega, 101 Noodle Express, Philippe’s, and Rainbow Bar and Grill have all faced temporary shutdowns by health officials due to vermin infestations. Even the well-known Original Pantry Cafe was forced to close down in 2019 because of a similar issue.
In a statement relayed to Curbed, Erewhon confirmed the presence of a cockroach in its tonic bar but did not disclose how long the pest had been an unwelcome occupant. The company stated that it “immediately took action” and hoped for a prompt reinspection from health officials to facilitate the tonic bar’s reopening, ideally free of pests. While Erewhon is celebrated for its innovative smoothie ingredients—such as colostrum in Sofia Richie’s blend—the idea of having eau d’roach might be a step too far for even the most adventurous customers. It will be interesting to see if the cockroach managed to indulge in one last sip of the popular Coconut Cloud before its departure.
—Additional reporting by Matthew Kang
Updated April 10, 2025 at 2:50 p.m.: This article has been refreshed to include a further statement from Erewhon concerning the tonic bar’s reopening.
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la.eater.com