California Pizza Kitchen could soon say goodbye to Santa Monica.
The massive commercial space at 210 Wilshire Blvd. — home to CPK since 2000 — is again being marketed to potential tenants as a “second-generation restaurant,” renewing questions about whether the struggling pizza chain is preparing to leave town.
The 5,245-square-foot site, steps from the Third Street Promenade, is being offered for a whopping $30,158.75 per month –– plus triple-net charges. That means a new tenant would also be responsible for its share of common-area maintenance, insurance and property taxes tied to the building.
The property was first listed for lease in early 2025.
But CPK says diners should not start holding a candlelight vigil for their famous BBQ chicken pizza just yet.
“Currently, there is no planned closing date for this restaurant,” a company spokesperson tells The Sun.
A pizza pioneer in trouble
California Pizza Kitchen was founded in 1985 by former federal prosecutors Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax, who helped turn pizzas topped with once-unthinkable ingredients into a nationwide casual-dining phenomenon.
The original Beverly Hills location remains open, but the chain itself has reduced greatly in size. CPK ended 2025 with just 120 U.S. locations — down sharply from roughly 265 locations a decade earlier.
The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July 2020, after the COVID shutdowns worsened a debt-heavy balance sheet. It emerged from bankruptcy that November after eliminating more than $220 million in debt, with its lenders taking control of most of the company’s equity.
CPK has changed hands several times over the years, including a 2011 acquisition by private-equity firm Golden Gate Capital. In late 2025, Consortium Brand Partners announced it had acquired the chain in a deal valued at just under $300 million.
Nearby closures add to speculation
The Santa Monica listing comes after a pair of nearby CPK restaurants have closed.
The chain’s Brentwood location served its final meal in October 2024. The Marina del Rey store shuttered in June 2025.
Meanwhile, the Wilshire Boulevard restaurant has seen sales decline as approximately 26 percent of retail stores on the promenade remain vacant.
For now, the chain continues to serve Santa Monica while someone — whether CPK, the landlord or both — quietly looks for a possible next act.
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