Cafe Gratitude to open downtown at One Santa Fe in early 2015

Vegan favorite Cafe Gratitude, which has Los Angeles restaurants in Larchmont Village and Venice, is planning to open downtown at the Yards at One Santa Fe in the arts district.

Cafe Gratitude will be joining other shops, restaurants and community art spaces at the mixed-use development designed by architect Michael Maltzan. In the works is a 99-seat theater, a 2,000-square-foot gallery, Malin + Goetz apothecary, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream and Manhattan Beach-based Grow Market.

“We’ve always been excited about the possibility of being part of the cultural renaissance in downtown,” said Lisa Bonbright, chief executive of Cafe Gratitude Southern California, in a statement. “As an L.A. native, it’s been thrilling to see how the area has developed in recent years.”

Construction on the 4,200-square-foot restaurant will start this summer with plans to open in early 2015. The interior design will be led by designer Wendy Haworth.

The downtown Cafe Gratitude will feature an organic, seasonal menu by executive chef Dreux Ellis featuring produce from farmers markets and Be Love Farm in Vacaville, owned by Cafe Gratitude founders Matthew and Terces Engelhart. The Engelharts founded the first Cafe Gratitude in the Bay Area in 2004.

The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with cleanse programs featuring freshly pressed juices and vegan dishes. There also will be grab-and-go breakfast pastries, desserts, Stumptown coffee, milkshakes and elixirs.

Twitter: @bettyhallock