Woodland Hills staple Nicola’s Kitchen could be closing before the end of March 2020.
The 29-year-old Italian restaurant’s 2,180-square-foot space, at 20969 Ventura Blvd., is available for sublease, according to a Compass Commercial listing.
Nicola’s Kitchen has five years remaining on its lease with a built-in, three percent yearly increase in rent, and is available within “30 days.”
The restaurant includes a private, enclosed patio area with outdoor seating, and a new lessee would have access to a type 41 ABC License for beer and wine.
“A prospective lessee may be able to expand patio seating towards Ventura Blvd upon landlord and city approval,” according to the listing.
The restaurant’s furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) are available for $395,000 in “key-money” as part of the sublease.
“The versatile, turn-key space is ideally situated and built-out for concepts including, but not limited to restaurants (with liquor), cafes, coffee shops, specialty restaurants, bars, and more.”
Co-Owner John Saffell confirmed the listing with What Now Los Angeles (WNLA) in a telephone conversation but said he might take the restaurant off the market to settle “confusion” among customers.
“Your assumption that we may be ‘calling it quits’ is not in our plans,” Saffel wrote in an email to WNLA following the publishing of this article.
“Thank you for taking time, so that I could explain we are not closing.”
[Editor’s note: this article was updated March 2, 2020, with comments from Saffell.]
I have been a regular customer, friend and neighbor to Nicola’s Kitchen since they opened. I would be sorry to see the Saffell’s gone. The food is always good and the atmosphere great.
Mr Spivak
We demand a retraction of your post immediately!
Or this matter will referred to our attorney!
Please advise.
John Saffell
Owner