- February 23, 2025
“After a lot of soul searching, I have decided that it’s time for La’s to move.”
Carlos Soldevilla, owner, La’s Bistro
It’s a bittersweet time for Carlos Soldevilla. He plans to move his popular restaurant, La’s Bistro, from the 91-year-old building at 63 W. Granada Blvd. to a new location in the Renaissance Plaza on Nova Road.
Soldevilla said the charming building has served his business well over the past seven years, but La’s Bistro has outgrown the location.
“After a lot of soul searching, I have decided that it’s time for La’s to move,” he said.
“I love the building,” he said. “I love the neighbors and the location. I’ve grown here a lot.”
But, in the present location, he is limited by an 11x13-foot kitchen, and he needs more seating. Mostly, he needs more parking.
He said parking has long been an issue on that part of West Granada Boulevard, and especially now that that are more businesses. On a recent day, he noticed his parking lot was full, and his restaurant was only at 50% capacity.
The current location will close on Thanksgiving and he will open at 9 a.m., Dec. 1, at 439 S. Nova Road.
Soldevilla is looking forward to the possibilities in his new location. In addition to having plenty of parking, he’ll be able to do more in the larger kitchen, seat more diners and have more events and parties in the private dining room.
He also believes he’ll be more visible to people driving by than at the Granada location.
“The new place will be a fresh new bistro but we’re going to do all we can to keep the identity,” he said. “We’ll keep the vintage feel. It’ll have a warm and inviting ambience like you’re in someone’s home.”
There will be indoor/outdoor dining, and he will still serve brunch and lunch and specialize in private parties and events with his special event five-course wine dinners.
Soldevilla said he has been working in the restaurant industry since he was 11, and spent 20 years in fine dining. He has worked with chefs who were eager to teach.
“I’m like a sponge,” he said. “I absorb everything.”
He said the West Granada building is available, and the owner has heard from several different types of businesses that are interested in the location.
Soldevilla said that over the years, the restaurant endured challenges, such as the recession. His biggest challenge came last year, when he parted ways with his partner of eight years. It was both a personal and professional relationship: she was co-owner of La’s Bistro.
“It happened Nov. 4, 2014,” he said.
He moved out of their home, and into a 60-square-foot office space in the restaurant.
“I had nowhere to go, no money and the future looked bleak,” he said.
He knew there was only one way to move forward, and with the support of patrons, friends and family, he picked himself up, worked hard and continued to work on his business. He was able to buy out his former co-owner.
He said he has since bought a home in Ormond, and the restaurant is thriving. His October sales were up 25% over last October and he’s projected to be up 32% over last year.
The original owner was named Laura and went by “La.”
La’s Bistro will be in the current West Granada location until Thanksgiving. It will open on Dec. 1 in the Renaissance Plaza, 439 S. Nova Road. Visit lasbistro.com.
