Bobby Loco’s has shuttered its doors after about six months operating in the Sherman Oaks Galleria, the second restaurant to close in that location. Bob Wilson Jr., one of the investors in the restaurant and its manager, said he was not at liberty to discuss the reasons for the restaurant’s closure. The restaurant, which combined elements of casual dining, Tex-Mex food and sports bar features, had only been in operation since March. Some locals said that while the restaurant opened to great fanfare, many of the patrons did not return, disappointed in the food and the service. But others said that the size of the restaurant made it difficult for an independent operator without a strong following to succeed. The restaurant occupied about 8,000 square feet, far larger than most restaurants require. “Eight thousand feet is too big for them,” said one broker. “In today’s market, the 8,000 to 10,000 square foot tenants are pretty scarce.” Bobby Loco’s closure follows the exit a little over a year ago of Prego, the first restaurant tenant in the location, which is directly opposite The Cheesecake Factory near the main entrance to the Galleria. The Cheesecake Factory, along with P.F. Chang’s and Fuddruckers, have been highly successful at the Galleria. Although the companies do not comment on individual units, others say that these locations are among the top performers in their respective chains. Prego’s parent, Spectrum Restaurant Group, filed bankruptcy, and closed the restaurant as a result. But Prego had struggled to build a customer following long before its parent ran into financial difficulties. Colleen Kirnan, the broker who represents the center’s owner, Douglas Emmett, said she was in discussions with a number of restaurants interested in the space. Kirnan would not elaborate, but others said that Romano’s Macaroni Grill, a Brinker International division with eight locations in the Los Angeles area and two in the San Fernando Valley, is believed to be close to a deal to open in another location within the Galleria.
