Rich Alossi [Flickr]

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Last September, Sandella's Flatbread Cafe announced a new location in Downtown Los Angeles at the Mandel Building. Nearly a year later, the fast-casual cafe is in soft-opening mode, offering pizza-style grilled flatbreads (a thin, unleavened dough), wraps and paninis to passersby on 7th Street.

Sandella's franchisee Robin Kirksey, a Downtown resident, explained that the opening process was a long one for the new venture, especially when it came to dealing with city bureaucracy. Still, Kirksey maintains an option to open five new cafes in the Downtown area, with a USC-adjacent location now in early planning stages.

Hours are limited until the cafe works out opening kinks. A grand opening is set for early- to mid-September.

Sandella's Flatbread Cafe / 510 W. 7th Street, Los Angeles, 90014 / Hours TBD / sandellas.com