Family-run Bruno’s Ristorante has had a storied past at the corner of Centinela Avenue and Venice Boulevard in Mar Vista.
Because of its unusual architecture and other trappings, the restaurant often has been mistaken for a church. Now, in an appropriate twist, it will close in mid-September and be resurrected as a meeting place for the Vineyard Christian Fellowship, which is buying the building from the Tesari family.
“Our guests used to come in and ask if it was a church,” said Bruno’s General Manager Chris Tesari. “The building looks like a cathedral, and we found a user.”
The restaurant, which features soaring ceilings, stained-glass windows and a number of statues, was opened by Tesari’s father, Bruno, an Italian painter, in 1959. Bruno Tesari had a knack for filling the space with everything from antiques to items from Hollywood movie sets. Among other things, the eatery features two centaur statues from the film “Ben Hur” and a mirror from “Gone With the Wind.”
The restaurant shut down from 1989 to 1994, when Chris Tesari’s mother, who was then running it, developed health problems. With no diners to accommodate, the restaurant became a frequent filming location.
Chris Tesari reopened the restaurant in 1994, partly for sentimental reasons and partly as way for him to change careers and leave the banking industry.
At this point, Tesari figures he can make more money by selling the property and reinvesting the money elsewhere than he can by operating the restaurant. “We’re starting to see people come in now for their last supper,” he said.
Norinne De Gal
