Shot through front window. Photo by Bob Edwards
By OB Rag Staff
Reliable locals told the OB Rag staff that Pepe’s – the Italian restaurant on Sunset Cliffs – has closed for good. It’s been closed for days or even weeks already.
It was just last March that we reported there were new owners – Vanessa Perez and her hubby John – and they promised they’d keep the restaurant the same as the previous owners. Vanessa had deep restaurant connections – her mother owned a Los Angeles restaurant for 12 to 15 years and was the personal chef for George Carlin. Vanessa’s extended family has restaurants in Mexico. And John come to Pepe’s with a lot of restaurant experience – he worked for the Marriott and for Brinker, who owns the Chili’s chain.
Pepe’s during better days.
But over these last 9 months or so, John – who managed and cooked – had grown disillusioned with the restaurant, and has closed the eatery down. He does not plan on reopening. The tables and chairs, counters, cases and cooking equipment appear to be still on site, but all the signs are gone.
Here’s our report from March 4, 2019:
New Owners at Pepe’s Promise “No Changes”
There’s new owners at Pepe’s on Sunset Cliffs. Vanessa Perez and her hubby John have taken charge and promise no menu changes – and in fact, stated John – who doubles as manager and cook – nothing has changed; they’ve kept it the same way as the previous owners. As it turns out Vanessa is active US Navy and as a psych corpsman, teaches survivor courses to military people who risk being captured by adversaries, especially pilots. John is Reserve Navy.
Yet restaurants are in Vanessa’s blood. Her mother has owned a restaurant in Los Angeles for 12 to 15 years and was the personal chef for George Carlin, and the family has restaurants in Mexico. It’s definitely a family affair. Vanessa’s mom was there when I visited doing dishes. Vanessa was meeting with bankers. John also has mucho restaurant experience – he worked for the Marriott and for Brinker, who owns the Chili’s chain.
John with apron. That’s Vanessa in the back.
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