Construction Begins for Pedalers Fork Restaurant

Remodeling work begins Tuesday at a building in Old Town Calabasas that will become Pedalers Fork, a cyclist-themed restaurant.

Tim Rettele, one of the owners, said the city granted the necessary building permits last week to begin work on the structure at 23504 Calabasas Road, which until last year housed Tour Eiffel.

Rettele said Pedalers Fork would include a juice bar and that he obtained an alcohol license to serve cocktails.

The eatery would aim at becoming a destination for breakfast, lunch and dinner, he added. Most meals would cost between $10 and $15, he said.

"We're very aware of what the economy is," Rettele said.

A remodeled kitchen with a view to allow patrons to see the chefs preparing dishes is one of the biggest remodeling efforts, he said.

The project gained approval last December from the after it . Resident Myra Turek, who serves on the Parks Recreation and Education Commission, was opposed to the owners' plans to install a glass wall on one side of the restaurant because it was out of step with Old Town's western theme.

Rettele eventually scaled back the glass wall element to just a few windows.

Turek said she hasn't had any complaints about the project since then.

"For what they want to do, that would be OK with Old Town," she said. "It was a relatively satisfactory agreement."

Rettele said he would also organize group bike rides that meet up Pedalers Fork once it opens in about six to eight months.