It’s official! A few days ago Co-owners Don and Linda Novack and Hal Frederick signed a lease for 4,700 square feet at Runway Playa Vista, the new community taking shape 3 miles and a 10-minute drive from Abbot Kinney.

“We’re excited to open a new Hal’s in this brand-new community,” the trio said, “and, as we have for 30 years on Abbot Kinney, to play a meaningful role in developing and supporting the Playa Vista community and making it feel like home.”

To our patient and stalwart Venice neighborhood patrons and friends, please stay tuned. Hal’s and Casalinda will announce plans soon to open on Abbot Kinney. (Yes, there will be two Hal’s.)

The new Hal’s at Runway Playa Vista will be directly across from the recently-opened 9-screen Cinemark theaters and steps from a new Whole Foods, as well as other mainly local and regional businesses, including some of our old Abbot Kinney neighbors. Opposite is Runway’s over 1,300 car parking structure (valet available too), retail and creative office space, and above and around us, apartment residences.

In addition to the 13,000 new Playa Vista residents, we look forward to serving the nearby cluster of technology, Internet, entertainment companies, ad agencies, and creatives.

We’ll preserve the elements our guests value most–Chef Manuel Mares’ beautifully prepared food, fine contemporary art and live jazz–and create a vibrant new space and experience that still feels familiar and authentically Hal’s.

The space is about the same size as the original Hal’s, maybe a bit roomier. Targeting a December 1 opening date, design and construction are expected to take 5-6 months.

Hal’s – In the Beginning

When I teamed up with Linda and Don Novack 30 years ago, and we started imagining the restaurant we would call Hal’s Bar & Grill, there were a few “must-haves”: a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere and an upscale, yet casual dining experience.

It would be a place where a great variety and mix of people would enjoy hanging-out; a “Cheers”-like community, worldly and generous, where everyone feels at home, and with a level of sophistication that would appeal to the local community of artists and musicians, organically creating a special vibe.

That was our vision from day one—a set of values we’ve lived by.

As we imagine a new Hal’s at Runway Playa Vista, a community that’s just being born, we’ll honor our original vision.

We’ll continue to feature permanent and revolving exhibitions of budding local artists and established, internationally renowned ones, like Ed Moses, Larry Bell, Laddie John Dill and Kwaku Alston.

Our live jazz program will continue to showcase talented local favorites like Vince Wilburn, Cal Bennett, and John Nau.

And Chef Manuel Mares will lead his great kitchen staff in preparing fresh, hand-made seasonal creations, along with your old favorites.
And everyone will be warmly welcomed!

Yours,
Hal Frederick
We Love Venice!