Costa Mesa favorite Folks Pizzeria is packing up its cult-status pies and heading north, with plans to open in Culver City this April in the Helms Design District. The new restaurant will take over the former Lustig space at 3273 Helms Ave., marking the brand’s first step outside Orange County. Chef-owner Joey Booterbaugh and partner Chloe Tran, who launched Folks in 2019, have built a loyal following for their fermentation-forward 14-inch pizzas and tight natural-wine list.
According to What Now Los Angeles, Folks announced the Culver City move on social media and said the new spot is slated to open in April. The outlet reported that the restaurant will occupy 3273 Helms Ave., the former Lustig address, and noted that it had reached out to the ownership team for more specifics on the build-out and operating hours.
The original Costa Mesa location, inside The CAMP at 2937 Bristol St., opened in May 2019, according to the restaurant’s website. Folks Pizzeria has become known in Orange County for a compact, share-friendly menu focused on deck-oven pies, salads, and small plates, paired with a rotating lineup of natural wines.
Helms Design District Keeps Shuffling The Deck
The Helms complex has been busy reworking its tenant roster. The Los Angeles Times recently reported that a smaller-format IKEA is set to open in the district this spring, and developers have been courting new restaurants to round out the retail mix. The strategy is aimed at boosting foot traffic after a stretch of closures and tenant turnover across the property. Folks is part of that next wave of openings, lining up to give Culver City one more neighborhood pizza option on a high-visibility block.
What Folks Brings To The Helms Block
Eater LA has highlighted Folks’ dough-first mindset and its rotating list of eight pizzas. The lineup has included margherita, fennel sausage, pancetta and potato, and soppressata, alongside salads and shareable dishes. The Culver City restaurant slides into the space left by Lustig, which Eater LA reported closed in early 2025, giving Folks a corner perch in one of the busier stretches of the Helms food corridor.
For now, details like the exact opening date, hours, and whether the Culver City menu will mirror the Costa Mesa offerings are still under wraps ahead of the planned April debut. Updates from Folks or the Helms Design District will clarify what Westside diners can expect once the ovens fire up.
