Plenty on Bell, the popular eatery in Los Alamos, is stepping into a new phase, with a new owner.
Announcing the change of ownership as “a new positive chapter” in a Facebook post, the restaurant said the Rowles family has agreed to acquire the longtime establishment.
“Our beloved little restaurant is entering a new chapter, and we are excited for what lies ahead,” Plenty on Bell wrote on Facebook.
Known for its robust community following, Plenty on Bell has been a staple for locals.
The new ownership will enable continuity at the restaurant, which has created a name for itself in Los Alamos “because of the vision, care, and creativity” of Chef Jesper Johansson, Plenty on Bell said.
The Rowles family said that they intend to continue Johansson as the restaurant’s chef.
“His talent, heart, and commitment to quality have made Plenty what it is, and we are excited to work alongside him to support and elevate the remarkable foundation he has created,” Plenty on Bell said.
The Rowles family said they intend to retain Johansson as the restaurant’s chef. The family has known him since his days at Cafe Quackenbush, going on to establish Plenty on Bell and making it a Los Alamos staple.
Johansson co-owned the restaurant with Christine Gallagher, according to Plenty on Bell’s Yelp page.
The Rowles family said as they move through the transition, they will focus on preserving the restaurant, supporting the team, and ensuring the business’s growth.
Highlighting their long ties to Los Alamos, which date back to the 1960s, the family said they have been members of the community for more than 10 years, raised children, established businesses, and made the town their “sole and permanent home.”
Plenty on Bell opened in January 2016 and quickly became a local favorite. Johansson envisioned providing Los Alamos with an affordable and high-quality eatery featuring locally sourced produce, according to Yelp.
Over the years, the restaurant has become a favorite spot for intimate gatherings, small weddings, and rehearsal dinners. In addition to their restaurant, Plenty on Bell also provides offsite catering services for events.
Restaurant Tangled in Legal Dispute
The change in ownership comes against the backdrop of a legal tangle between the Rowles family and the restaurant.
The Rowles family owns the building in which the restaurant is located and was involved with Plenty on Bell in a lawsuit in 2025 over disagreements on lease terms and payments.
Noah Rowles, the building’s landlord, sued Johansson and Gallagher for eviction, alleging that the co-owners were $85,000 behind in overdue rent, according to a Santa Maria Sun report.
The sum included site inspection fees, estimated maintenance costs, and other line items that fall under the purview of rent as described in the restaurant’s lease agreement.
The co-owners had claimed that over half of the $85,000 sum it allegedly owed to the landlord was a projected $45,000 charge for upgrading the restaurant’s roof. The sum also included estimates for future plumbing, painting, and electrical work totaling nearly $33,000, based on a contractor’s proposal.
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Commercial real estate is such a sham. The actual owners of the building expect the tenants to pay for a new roof, plumbing, painting and electrical work, plus any interior improvements to keep the kitchen and aesthetics up and running. The entire model of commercial real estate needs to change. Small business owners are driven into bankruptcy to pay for improvements to the building itself, and the owners are the ones who benefit. Add on the additional NNN$ that allots a certain amount of the businesses’ own profits to be paid to the landlords, and you have a recipe for landlord greed and small business failure. It’s an outdated and deeply one-sided model. And folks wonder why small business and restaurants are constantly going under.
I followed this case online at the Court website. The new owner bought the building and started an eviction. It was not about paying monthly rent. The eviction complaint was dismissed after a hearing. The landlord filed a new complaint only seeking $5,000 in rent. Another motion to dismiss was pending when the case settled. The online file does not describe the deal. The eviction attempt was not successful. The landlord apparently ended up buying the restaurant after the eviction was failing. Hopefully the new owners run it as well as the old owners.