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Rosemary Grill secures beer-and-wine license for downtown Los Angeles location

Rosemary Grill secures beer-and-wine license for downtown Los Angeles location

Built World Los Angeles, CA local

Santa Monica-based Mediterranean chain gets beer-and-wine license at 510 W 7th Street

September 8th, 2026: DTLA beer-and-wine license activated

Overview

Updated Sep 16

Rosemary Grill, a Santa Monica-based Mediterranean chain, received a license for its first downtown Los Angeles location. The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control activated a beer-and-wine license for the restaurant at 510 W 7th Street on September 8.

The license is one approval in a longer process. It allows beer and wine sales with food, but it doesn't mean the restaurant can open. Health permits, building inspections, and staffing still have to come together first.

Why it matters

If the downtown outpost opens, office workers and residents on 7th Street get a new beer-and-wine Mediterranean spot.

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Key Indicators

Type 41
ABC license class
On-sale beer and wine for a bona fide eating place.
1
Active license at 510 W 7th Street
Record shows one active license as of September 8, 2026.

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People Involved

SD
Sam Dashti
Founder and owner of Rosemary Grill
Running the chain and expanding to downtown Los Angeles

Organizations Involved

Rosemary Grill
Rosemary Grill
Restaurant chain
Expanding into downtown Los Angeles

Mediterranean restaurant serving kabobs, falafel, wraps, and salads, with locations in Santa Monica and downtown Los Angeles.
California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
State licensing agency
Issued the beer-and-wine license for the DTLA location

State agency that licenses and enforces all alcohol sales in California.
Fresco Sauce
Fresco Sauce
Food brand
Bottled line tied to Rosemary Grill's recipes

Bottled sauce brand derived from Rosemary Grill's in-house recipes.

Timeline

2012 September 2026

3 events Latest: September 8th, 2026 · 2 months ago

  1. DTLA beer-and-wine license activated

    Latest Regulatory

    California ABC approves a type 41 license for Rosemary Grill at 510 W 7th Street.

  2. Fresco Sauce bottled for retail

    Product launch

    The restaurant's signature sauce goes on sale to the public.

  3. Rosemary Grill founded

    Founding

    Chain opens in the Santa Monica area; Fresco Sauce created as an in-house condiment.

Scenarios

1

Rosemary Grill DTLA opens serving beer and wine

Likely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: The chain's expansion plans and its active license

The chain finishes the remaining permits and build-out, then opens the 510 W 7th Street dining room. The type 41 license gives it a path to alcohol service without the cost of a full bar.

2

DTLA opening delayed or scrapped

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Common causes of restaurant delays in Los Angeles

Construction, permitting, or financing issues stall the project. The license could lapse or transfer to another operator without the restaurant ever opening.

3

License upgraded to full liquor service

Unlikely Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Typical growth path for successful restaurant chains

If food sales perform well, the owner applies for a type 47 full-liquor license. That would let the DTLA location serve spirits alongside beer and wine.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2012–2020

Downtown Los Angeles dining revival (2010s)

Grand Central Market reopened its historic arcade with food vendors, and the Arts District filled empty warehouses with breweries and restaurants. New foot traffic and apartment towers followed across downtown.

Then

The neighborhood became a regional dining destination drawing residents and office workers.

Now

A critical mass of potential customers now supports new restaurants across downtown.

Why this matters now

Rosemary Grill's 510 W 7th Street location taps the same downtown customer base that revival built.

1935–present

California post-Prohibition alcohol licensing (from 1935)

After Prohibition ended, California created the Alcoholic Beverage Control agency to license every alcohol sale in the state. Restaurants that want to serve alcohol must get an on-sale license specific to their business type.

Then

Restaurants gained a regulated path to serve alcohol alongside food.

Now

The system still governs who can sell beer, wine, and spirits, with separate license classes for each.

Why this matters now

The type 41 license Rosemary Grill received is a product of that regulatory system and a required gate before it can serve alcohol.

Sources

(3)
California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Rosemary Grill order.online