A Fabled 14-Year Santa Monica Restaurant Space Returns to Life Next Month

Santa Monica’s staple Wilshire restaurant space is getting a new tenant. The 14-year Westside dining veteran closed earlier this summer, but now the building is set to return to life under a new owner and new name: Fia.

Owner Michael Greco, who hails from the Bungalow at the Fairmont Hotel and years in Vegas, bought the restaurant space earlier this year with plans to put his own stamp on things. Greco tells Eater that the new Fia could be up and running as soon as August, though an exact date has yet to be determined. Meanwhile chef Brendan Collins, who oversaw the final days of Wilshire, will come on board the new Fia project, leaning into a casual California menu with lots of European, particularly Italian, influences.

As for the space, M. Winter Design (Gjusta and Jaffa, among others) is on to give the place a new look, particularly on the sprawling back patio, with its endless greenery and room for 200 diners at a clip. According to Greco, the plan is to keep the space vibrant with events, live music, art exhibits and more, while running daily from happy hour through dinner, weekend brunch, and late-night bites.

The upcoming Fia (named for Fiacre, the patron saint of gardens, apparently) does not have an opening date, but it could come online in a matter of just a few weeks. Meanwhile, Santa Monica continues to churn with a slew of recent openings, including Mason’s out by the ocean for steaks and cocktails, and the new Lanea inside the former Copa d’Oro space.

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