La Gita Kitchen and Focacceria is on its way to the County Line Shopping Center in Westlake Village, setting up shop in a compact 955-square-foot space that will function as a takeout-and-catering kitchen. The concept centers on focaccia baked on site, a lineup of sandwiches, salads, and charbroiled chicken, with beer and wine offered for off-site purchase. Owners are aiming for a late-2026 opening.
Council approves off-site beer and wine
The Westlake Village City Council signed off on a conditional use permit on April 22 to allow beer and wine sales for off-site consumption at the new takeout spot, according to staff in the meeting packet. The City of Westlake Village notes that the 955-square-foot unit sits on the west end of the County Line Shopping Center and that the project qualifies for a Class 1 categorical exemption under CEQA. Council documents spell out standard operating conditions and state that the permit will expire on April 22, 2031, unless it is extended.
What they’ll serve and when
The meeting packet and local coverage describe a focused grab-and-go menu based on on-site baked focaccia, sandwiches, salads and charbroiled chicken, with orders available online or in person for pickup and delivery. What Now Los Angeles reports proposed hours of 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. With such a small footprint, the operation is clearly geared toward speed and catering volume rather than lingering dine-in crowds.
Where it fits in Westlake Village
The slimmed-down takeout model joins a run of recent openings and lease turnovers around the lake as more fast-casual concepts move into the neighborhood. Patch recently reported that a new Cava location is preparing to open in town, highlighting steady demand for quick-serve Mediterranean and bakery-forward options. The County Line storefront faces Lakeview Canyon Road, a busy retail corridor that serves nearby neighborhoods and local offices, which should bring a steady stream of grab-and-go traffic.
Local owners with Stonefire roots
The venture lists local resident Kyle Lopez as a co-owner. Lopez previously served as chief operating officer at Stonefire Grill and currently operates Red’s BBQ in Simi Valley, according to the Conejo Valley Guide. That coverage notes that Lopez’s mother, Mary Harrigan, co-founded Stonefire, a background Lopez’s team says shapes the new concept’s focus on bread and simple proteins. Lopez and his partners have indicated they expect catering to be a key revenue driver while they build a local pickup following.
Permit conditions and next steps
According to the City of Westlake Village, conditions of approval require the business to comply with the municipal code, Los Angeles County health regulations and state alcohol rules, and to have a designated manager present during business hours. The resolution also requires compliance with fire and building safety standards and makes the permit subject to revocation if conditions are violated. These requirements are laid out in the City Council packet and its attached exhibits.
Lopez told What Now Los Angeles that the team is eyeing a Q4 opening and will share menu details and soft-opening dates as plans come together. With the CUP secured, the owners can now move ahead with build-out, inspections and the state alcohol licensing process ahead of a late-2026 debut.
