Pending a decision by Santa Monica’s City Council Chez Jay might not be around much longer. The owner Jay Fiondella passed away in 2008 and his daughter is running it with former manager Michael Anderson. The vision and rules of operation and construction of the premises expected by the city, leave little leeway for free expression by the operator, who by the way, must privately finance it. It seems to me, it is a tight call as to whether it is worth it under the specific construction and operating rules laid down by the city, for Chez Jay’s to go forward. Keeping consistent with the overall look of the city’s Palisades Garden Walk and “Healthy Foods Initiative” and other restrictions might make it almost impossible.

For more information read this 2009 article