Opa! founder Angelo Shelby Heropoulos did not return requests for comment, but his company's name is listed on a Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control application posted in the University Avenue window. The space has been vacant since alkymists suddenly closed in November after less than two months of business.
Before that, the space housed Palo Alto Grill, which closed after just more than a year. alkymists and Palo Alto Grill were both run under the ownership of Luka Dvornik, a Croatian transplant who also owned now-shuttered Lavanda down the street. Before Palo Alto Grill, Japanese restaurant Miyake occupied the 140 University space.
Opa! currently operates five restaurants in the Bay Area ? Los Altos, Los Gatos, Willow Glen, Walnut Creek and Campbell ? where they serve "authentic" Greek cuisine. The menu is vast, with numerous Greek-style appetizers, spreads, salads, flatbreads, gyros, pita sandwiches, souvlaki, grilled meats and fish and plenty of less traditional items like sliders and a cheesesteak pita sandwich.
Opa! also does brunch, happy hour and cocktails; luckily the Palo Alto spot came with a full liquor license.
After alkymists closed, the 3,926-square-foot space was put on the market, listed for $14,000 Triple Net plus $6,000 Triple Nets or for sale for a cool $300,000. (In the comments section on the listing was this statement: "Seller invested over $1.0 million in the past two years. Please do not talk to employees.")
