After the renovation of The Westfield Century City Shopping Center a few years ago, this second floor space (next to where Shake Shack is today) was home to international mozzarella specialist Okica. When they moved out, it was supposed to have been a branch of Matthew Kenney’s plant-based pasta joint Sestina. That never materialized. Now, plywood covering the tricky location is letting us know that this will be the future home of Greek/Mediterranean restaurant chain CAVA.
It was back in November of last year when I told you about the disappearance of one of LA’s last branches of Italian mozzarella chain Obica. If you look carefully at the photo below you can see who’s planning on moving into their old second floor Westfield Century City Shopping Center location. Plant-based pioneer Matthew Kenney is bringing a outpost of his popular Culver City pasta bar Sestina to the good people of Century City.
It appears that after a solid run in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center, Italian cheese specialist Obicà Mozzarella Bar Pizza e Cucina has vacated its second floor location. Windows are papered over and signs are pulled down. I bellieve that means that only two locations in New York are the last U.S. vestiges of the international chain, known for flying in fresh Mozzarella di Bufala weekly.
I’ve been carefully watching the branch of international Italian brand Obica at 606 Broadway in Downtown Santa Monica. Recently, the restaurant went silent, and the shades have been pulled down. A sign on the door promises a renovation, new management, and a new concept… all by February 10th. But things look a bit dodgy: While I was checking for progress, a self-identified former employee approached me and told me that the staff were unceremoniously sacked with no promise of rehire. His assumption is that Obica Mozzarella Bar is permanently gone. A cursory glance inside the front door reveals that nothing has been touched and no work has commenced. I’ll keep watching but we’ve seen this kind of thing before…
We’ve known for a couple of weeks now that Danny Meyer’s wildly popular N.Y.-based Shake Shack was coming to the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. But apparently, the burger stand will be bigger than originally thought. The first plywood went up over the space on the second deck that housed Solstice Sunglasses. But recently, the plywood has crept closer to Obica, swallowing up the mall’s outlet of smoothie chain Jamba Juice in the process. No word on Shake Shack’s opening date, but I’ll keep watching.
Tonight (Wednesday, March 11th), at 7pm, Obica in the Century City Shopping Center is hosting a Giropizza Party. What exactly does that mean? For $30 (beverage and tax not included), you well get a slice of every pizza that rolls out of the oven until you cry for mercy. Choices will include classic pizzas, as well as freshly invented varieties and dessert pizzas as well. But you will need to call and make a reservation as space will be limited. Call (310) 566-2452 just as fast as your fingers can dial to secure your spot.
Toddrickallen 