Walking along the Rec Trail in Monterey, passersby may take note of two fenced-off buildings near Cannery Row – scaffolding, ladders and structural supports standing outside like they’re actively under construction, tools sitting out, pictures in the window – but nobody’s home.
Upon closer inspection, posted on the windows of the two buildings: a residence at 102 Drake Ave. and what was intended to be a Belgian-style brewery at 419 Wave St., are eviction notices from the Monterey County’s Sheriff Office, dated Friday, April 10, informing the building’s former owner, Fabrice Rondia, that the new owner, Holiday Inn Express Cannery Row, has taken possession of the property, which served both as his home and the site of a business venture.
Going back a decade, the Weekly reported on Rondia’s vision for a brewery at the location and when he sold Belgian waffles there in 2022.
According to court documents, Rondia began running into financial troubles in 2024 after suffering from a medical condition.
In a complaint Rondia filed on July 22, 2025 against Monterey County Bank, he states that he filed for a deferment of the roughly $1.2 million loan in December 2024 and that the bank repeatedly requested further information and the deferment was not granted when it should have been.
“This property is the culmination of 25 years of commitment, time and sacrifices,” Rondia says. “It’s more than just buildings or businesses – it has been a home for my family and friends. I believe it was taken from me unlawfully, and I am currently pursuing the appropriate legal avenues to restore what was lost.”
At a court hearing on Tuesday, April 28, a judge gave Rondia until August 2028 to lawyer up in an attempt to reclaim his home and business.
“I’m committed to seeing this through,” Rondia says, “and I’m prepared to dedicate the next 25 years, if needed, to getting it back the right way.”