Fate of Finbars Up in the Air

A longtime Seal Beach restaurant may have served its last cannoli.

A comment on Finbars Italian Kitchen’s public Facebook page Tuesday seems to indicate the business, which lists itself as closed for remodeling on its official website, faces the possibility of losing its 620 Pacific Coast Highway location.  

The restaurant responded to a commenter with the following statement:

Hi Laura, the fate of the building is not in my hands, so I remain hopeful that a favorable outcome will allow me to continue to serve Seal Beach and all the friends I have made here for the past twenty years...I should know soon and I want to sincerely Thank everyone for the support I have been receiving. I want to also thank all you 200 or so young women and men that I have had the pleasure of working with for the past 17 (HS) years....can ya believe it?! I hope they all learned something that will shape their lives.... I certainly have learned plenty from them!! 

The comment, attributed by Facebook to user "Finbars Italian Kitchen”, is most likely from restaurant owner Joe Barbara. However, Patch has not confirmed this fact.

Barbara did not return calls for comment. 

In a later comment, the page’s manager said the comment was a response to another commenter, Laura Westall, who said, “Why would you tell some people you are "Remodeling" and others you are Closing the Seal Beach Location...Silly!”

Here’s the statement from the restaurant’s main Website at Finbars.com: “Starting April 1, 2013, our Seal Beach location is closed for remodel. Please check back here and follow us on Facebook and twitter, and, of course, visit us in Costa Mesa at Metro Pointe!”

In June 2010, the temporary closure of Rancho Santa Margarita Finbars became permanent.

Customers on the Finbars public Facebook page commented on the possible fate of the restaurant:

Laura Walker Ellsworth Good Luck Joseph. You have the best chicken parm and cheesecake in town. My family looks forward to your new location, or restaurant.

Debbie Viorel Joseph Tell me you are not closing My son and daughter inlaw had their wedding rec at Finbars and it was the best they live in Chicago but come back every anniversary We will be so SAD

Sandra Brygart Rodriguez Closing???

Jason Morrow NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I sure hope you can find another place! All the best!!!

Editor’s note: Comments have not been edited.

Patch will continue to follow up on this. 

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