Commercial Property Management in Santa Monica, CA

Santa, Monica, California, last week unveiled its new e-commerce platform for public sector procurement, an effort it said marks the “next generation” of government purchasing.

The platform, powered by government purchasing software company Glass and its G-Commerce software built for the public sector, allows Santa Monica’s employees in more than 10 agencies to buy various supplies with their government credit cards in a more streamlined fashion. Glass estimates the system is set up to support around $3 million in annual transactions of around 5 million products and services offered by city vendors.

The city had initially transitioned to the system in May 2024, with this launch marking a further rollout of the platform throughout Santa Monica’s government. In a statement released by Glass, Santa Monica’s procurement leadership said G-Commerce has “enriched our internal purchasing experience, enhanced our spend visibility and metrics, and positioned ourselves higher as an industry leader.”

The platform allows staff to buy all manner of goods, including IT equipment, office supplies, chemical supplies, construction safety equipment and much more. Any purchases that exceed a predefined threshold are automatically routed to managers for further analysis and approval or rejection within the same platform.

And the software allows the entire purchasing process to be tracked in one place. That’s a big change from before, when the city used what Glass Chief Operating Officer Gerardo Mateo called “black box software” that “didn't allow them to see much of this data or make decisions based on this. They needed to wait at the end of the year to get the report in their platform.” Now, Santa Monica has dashboards that regularly update to give them greater transparency into how money is being spent, and the city receives monthly reports.

“Everything happens in the same flow, in one single place, instead of having multiple email chains with people to get something approved,” Mateo said. “They can track that in real time, they can see the contents of the cart, they can see what is being requested and why. Once the transaction is completed and is approved, then the record lives in one single place forever.”

The platform can be updated to reflect various state and local procurement rules, too. California law incentivizes local government agencies to buy more recycled products and materials, and G-Commerce allows Santa Monica to keep track of its green purchases and adjust where possible. Glass can also update the platform to, for example, make sure that any local requirements around using small, local, minority-owned businesses are reflected in available products.

Finding vendors is easier too, due to G-Commerce’s vendor verification tool.

“One of the biggest challenges that agencies have is that sometimes they work with cooperative agreements and contracts,” Mateo said. “They have a network of vendors, but they don't know who these vendors are. They don't know their pricing. They don't know if the pricing that is contracted is actually competitive. “What we do is we put everyone in one single search bar: the vendors that are contracted, the vendors that are open market, and then the government agencies, they have visibility.”

Glass said it already supports 121 government agencies in modernizing and streamlining their procurement processes, and has facilitated over $6.5 million in public sector purchasing. The company has also received a contract with the General Services Administration to offer modernized payments and ordering for the federal government.

And it comes as governments across the nation are looking to modernize their procurement processes. That modernization has included splashy efforts to revamp the request for proposals process to better reflect technology’s evolution, but it has also involved turning to software to help streamline the process of signing contracts and acquiring services.

In the past, procurement has been a “bottleneck” for government agencies, Mateo said, as they have different forms and databases to manage in different places while executing on a contract or a purchase order. Santa Monica’s procurement process can move as fast as private sector companies while providing cheaper service, Mateo said, with most orders fulfilled within the next three business days.

“We're running all the logistics with the vendors to make sure that the fulfillment is also part of the experience,” he said. “That's our North Star. Since we're all used to Amazon, getting things the next day, that takes a lot of effort and logistics. Doing that with Santa Monica has allowed us to see so many opportunities in connecting local demand with local supply.”

On warm weekend nights, Santa Monica's main retail and dining district feels like a shadow of its former self.

On the Third Street Promenade, the occasional music busker and wandering tourists pass rows of empty storefronts. But starting next month, the city hopes to fill those spaces with something stronger: cocktails, live music and festivals drawing crowds from across the region.

This will be made possible through an entertainment zone ordinance passed last week and set to take effect in time for summer. The law, passed by the Santa Monica City Council, allows open-container alcohol consumption in certain blocks along the Promenade during designated hours. The program, enabled by a California law passed last year, marks the first open-container zone in Southern California and signals a significant shift in the city’s approach to revitalizing its struggling retail core.

“Few places in the country have the potential to rival Santa Monica’s year-round coastal climate,” said Andrew Thomas, CEO of the nonprofit economic development group Downtown Santa Monica Inc., in a statement. “This new experience will further elevate our downtown as a place to socialize and connect.”

The zone will allow bars and restaurants with alcohol licenses to serve to-go drinks on weekends starting in June, with an official launch tied to the city’s annual LGBT festival on June 21. Supporters say it’s a creative way to encourage foot traffic and boost revenue for small businesses, while skeptics worry about implementation, tenant fit and whether enough retail remains to benefit.

It's hopeful news for the future of Santa Monica, "but the devil’s in the details," Ryan Hawley, vice president of retail brokerage at JLL, told CoStar News. "The city needs to quickly put out a clear plan for how this zone will actually operate."

Retail metrics help explain the need for change. Availability in Santa Monica has reached 15.3%, the highest in nearly a decade, according to CoStar data, while rents have fallen 2% in recent years. Tenants like Rite Aid, H&M and REI have recently closed stores in the region.

At the south end of the Third Street Promenade, the challenges — and the hopes for recovery — are visible. Santa Monica Place, the open-air shopping center designed by Frank Gehry, is being repositioned after its owner, Macerich, defaulted on a $300 million loan last year.

Once a crown jewel of the city’s retail offerings, the mall’s value has dropped 59% since 2017, from $622 million to $255 million, according to Morningstar. Decreased foot traffic, high vacancies and changing consumer habits have all contributed to the slide.

Retail construction has remained minimal across the submarket, with no projects underway, and rent growth has trailed the broader Los Angeles market.

The new entertainment zone could help reset the balance, officials and business owners hope.

“If you’ve got that experiential block where people are walking around with their drinks, some might leave your space — but others will come in. It’s a net positive,” Hawley said.

Like many downtowns across the country, Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade saw pedestrian traffic dwindle over the past five years as remote work took hold and tourist numbers declined in the wake of the pandemic.

But there are signs of a rebound. In April 2025, the Promenade recorded 351,282 visitors — nearly 19 times the foot traffic seen in April 2020.

Las Vegas and New Orleans are famous for allowing public drinking in designated districts, but they’re no longer exceptions. Cities across the U.S. have begun experimenting with entertainment zones that permit alcohol consumption outdoors in specific areas, hoping to attract foot traffic and boost downtown economies.

Kansas City’s Power & Light District, for example, lets patrons carry alcoholic beverages in plastic cups labeled with participating venues’ logos. In Savannah, Georgia, open containers are allowed in the city’s Historic District, a policy that’s helped make the area a popular draw for both residents and tourists.

California joined the movement in 2024 when lawmakers passed Senate Bill 969. The law gives cities and counties statewide the authority to create entertainment zones where adults can legally drink alcohol in public areas like streets, sidewalks and plazas. It’s part of a broader strategy to help businesses recover from the pandemic by making public spaces more vibrant and social.

The legislation builds on a 2022 law that allowed only San Francisco to test the concept. Since then, that city has launched five entertainment zones and piloted several more. One of its early tests — an Oktoberfest celebration — drew 10 times as much foot traffic as the same event a year earlier, according to city officials.

As more California cities consider following suit, debate over the policy’s potential risks is growing. Public health advocates, including the California Alcohol Policy Alliance, opposed SB 969, warning that expanded public drinking could contribute to higher rates of drunken driving and alcohol-related harm.

In Santa Monica, those concerns took center stage at a contentious eight-hour City Council meeting. Dozens of residents voiced opposition to the proposed zone before it passed, citing fears over public safety, late-night disturbances and changes to the character of downtown.

Under the plan, the entertainment zone will run Fridays through Sundays from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Businesses that opt in must verify patrons’ ages, issue wristbands, and use non-glass containers. Drinks can be carried outdoors within the zone but cannot enter other businesses.

The ordinance passed just weeks before Santa Monica hosts one of its boldest events in years: an international skateboarding competition on May 23. The Street League Skateboarding Championship Tour will transform the Santa Monica Pier into a custom-built skate plaza, complete with live music and vendor booths. While it takes place ahead of the alcohol zone’s start date, the event previews the city’s vision for what a more dynamic, experience-driven downtown could look like.

“Santa Monica is the perfect backdrop for this kind of event,” said Frank Lamicella, CEO of Thrill Sports, the parent company of Street League Skateboarding, in a statement.

City officials say the open-container zone is part of a broader strategy to adapt to modern retail realities.

“This caters to the new trends in shopping and dining,” Mayor Lana Negrete said in a statement. “It’s an example of the many ways Santa Monica is thinking creatively about our economic growth.”

Hawley noted that the 1200 block of the Promenade has seen traditional retail give way to experiential concepts as vacancies mounted. For example, concepts like John Reed Fitness, a gym with an immersive nightclub-like atmosphere and AI-powered "intuitive" equipment, and Holey Moley Golf Club, an indoor mini-golf venue with food and beverage service, have begun to backfill space, but the area is struggling to find its identity.

"This entertainment zone will absolutely put Santa Monica on the map for festivals," Hawley said.

It will soon be legal to drink alcohol outside in certain parts of Santa Monica. What to know about SoCal's first Entertainment Zone.

Patch Staff

SANTA MONICA, CA — Cheers! It will soon be legal to walk around parts of Downtown Santa Monica with a cocktail in hand.

The Santa Monica City Council on Wednesday approved what's known as an Entertainment Zone for the 3rd Street Promenade between Wilshire Boulevard and Broadway. In that zone, located in the heart of the city's pedestrianized commercial corridor, visitors will be able to purchase alcoholic beverages at certain bars and restaurants and consume them anywhere within the zone.

Here are four things to know:

Entertainment Zones are allowed under SB 969, which went into effect this year. The law allows local governments to create designed outdoor areas where open container prohibitions are lifted for beverages purchased from participating restaurants and bars.

Four such zones have been created in San Francisco, most recently in the Castro District.

Find out what's happening in Santa Monicafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The program will begin with a "soft rollout" in early June, with initial hours of Friday through Sunday from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

The official launch is set for June 21, during the annual Pride on the Promenade celebration.

If all goes well, city officials hope to expand the program to 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week.

It won't be a free-for-all. Participating businesses (which need to sign an agreement with the city to participate) will need to check IDs as they normally do and provide customers with a city-approved wristband. Revelers will need to wear those wristbands while consuming alcohol outside.

The only alcohol that can be consumed in the zone is that served by participating establishments and served in to-go cups (which can't be made from metal or glass).

After you get your drink from a certain bar, you're allowed to take it outside onto the promenade. From there, you'll be able to window shop and enjoy any activities happening out on the street. But before you go inside another business, you'll be required to finish your drink.

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SANTA MONICA, CA — Independence Day is Friday, kicking off a star-spangled three-day weekend packed with fireworks, festivals and other Fourth of July fun in and around Santa Monica.

That includes the annual parade down Main Street in Santa Monica.

To help you fit it all in on your 4th of July calendar, Patch has put together a guide to what’s going on around Santa Monica.

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JULY 4: 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular. Featuring a fireworks show above Big Bear Lake with opportunities to watch from the water or Snow Summit.

JULY 4: 4th Of July Fireworks Show. Best viewed from outlet parking lots & immediate surrounding areas.----------

JULY 4: Catalina Island Fourth of July Celebration. Dinghy & golf-cart parades, children's festivals, fireworks & more will keep you busy!----------

JULY 5: Downtown Culver City Independence Celebration. Culver City is trading its traditional fireworks display for a downtown party featuring a drone show.-----------

JULY 4: 4th Of July Fest & Fireworks. Daytime games, including a watermelon eating contest, followed by a night of live music, food booths and fireworks.----------

July 2, 3, 4.: July Fourth Fireworks Spectacular with Earth, Wind & Fire.: Hollywood Bowl. Three nights available to choose for a special Independence Day celebration at the bowl: July 2, July 3 and July 4.-------------

JULY 4: ALA Independence Day Fireworks Spectacular: Hosted by Arrowhead Lake Association (ALA).-------------

JULY 4: 4th of July Fireworks and Celebration: The Queen Mary, Long Beach. "Experience the joy and wonder of fireworks at the Long Beach Waterfront!"

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JULY 4: Dodgers vs. Astros & Fireworks Night. What's better than baseball & fireworks?

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JULY 4: 4th Of July Pool Party Celebration: $5 admission.-----------

JULY 4: 4th Of July Fireworks. "There’s no better place in Los Angeles to see 4th of July fireworks."-----------

July 4: July 4th 5K & 10K Run, Parade & Fireworks: One of Palisadians’ favorite days of the year makes a triumphant return.------------

JULY 4: Palos Verdes Old-Fashioned 4th Of July. "For hundreds of residents, this event is a highlight of their 4th of July festivities and there's no better place to celebrate our nation's independence than on the picturesque playing fields of Malaga Cove School overlooking the blue Pacific."

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JULY 4: July 4th Fireworks: Shepherd Church. An annual event!-------------

JULY 4: Rancho Palos Verdes Fourth of July Celebration: With inflatables, rides, games & more.-------------

JULY 4: Redondo Beach King Harbor 4th of July Fireworks Show. "Bring your friends and family to enjoy the spectacular display over the ocean. "

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JULY 4: Independence Day Festival, San Fernando Fourth Of July Drone Show. Live music, carnival and drone show.

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July 4: Santa Monica 4th Of July Parade. The annual Main Street event showcases the creative spirit of Santa Monica.

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JULY 4: July 4th Fireworks & Star-Spangled Rock 'N Country Jam. With free fun zone, beer & wine garden, live music and fireworks.----------

JULY 4: Janss Marketplace 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular. Live music, family entertainment and fireworks show.JULY 4: July 4th Fun, Concert & Fireworks. Full day of activities courtesy of Conejo Recreation & Park District

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JULY 4: July 4th Fireworks Show. Two viewing locations are first-come, first-served.--------------

JULY 4: July 4th Celebration & Fireworks: Universal Studios Hollywood. "Don't miss the star-spangled celebration in the Park."-------------

JULY 4: July 4th 'Mr. & Mrs. Muscle Beach' Competition. Open to all athletes.--------—--

JULY 4: 4th of July Fireworks. Featuring live music, food vendors, kids zone and fireworks.------------

JULY 4: LAX Coastal July 4th Parade. This year's theme is "We Love LA!"--------------

JULY 4: 4th Of July Parade & Fireworks. It's a day full of food, music, kids' fun & more.

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Patch has rounded up the biggest July 4 fireworks displays and other events happening in California in celebration of Independence Day. Click here to see our full California list.

One of L.A.’s most iconic sandwich shops closed last week after health inspectors cited a vermin infestation among other infractions, but representatives for Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery — home of the famed Godmother sandwich — say that no rodents were found, contrary to multiple reports.

A representative for the Los Angeles County Department of Health confirmed to The Times that the permit suspension was due to a cockroach infestation. “Vermin closures are consistently the number one reason for a permit suspension,” they said in an email.

Bay Cities celebrated its 100th anniversary this year, long a destination for Italian specialty goods and its sandwiches of imported and domestic deli meats and cheeses stacked on bread baked fresh each day. But on May 21 the Santa Monica culinary landmark was forced to shut down, and remains temporarily closed. The routine inspection from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health found a major violation related to the presence of “rodents, insects, birds or animals.”

The organization lists this violation as a “critical risk factor” in its online guidance for restaurants.

Between Bay Cities’ imports operation and its deli, the health department reported 14 violations. The inspections also cited infractions pertaining to its floors, walls, ceilings, food surfaces, food storage, unsanitary equipment and “proper hot and cold holding temperatures” (another major violation).

Representatives for the sandwich shop and market could not be reached for comment but released a public statement on Tuesday that addresses both the closure and what they say is disinformation regarding the inspection’s findings.

“We are actively working with the Health Department and third-party professionals to address all issues and make meaningful improvements to our operations,” reads the statement, which was posted to the Bay Cities Instagram account. “We also feel it’s important to address some misinformation that has circulated online and in select media outlets. Specifically, some reports have claimed that rodents were found on-site, this is false and not included in the official Health Department report. While we fully acknowledge the legitimate violations cited, we also believe in transparency and want to ensure our community receives accurate information.”

The health department’s inspection criteria group rodents with insects, animals and birds; a representative for the health department told The Times that “vermin infestations are defined as an imminent health hazard.”

The deli remains indefinitely closed until its reinspection. “We are doing the work to come back better,” the restaurant’s public statement said.

A hearing held Wednesday will determine whether Bay Cities’ permit will be revoked — and not just suspended — because the facility’s permit has been suspended twice in one year. A September 2024 inspection found major violations of rules for clean and properly washed hands, proper glove use, and clean and sanitized food contact services. A notice of the hearing’s decision will be issued within five days.

Closures due to health inspection findings are common. According to public documents, in May nearly 60 restaurants, markets and other food and beverage operations were shut down by the L.A. County Health Department. Nearly 50 of these — including Bay Cities — list “vermin infestation” as the reason.