Tenant improvements will soon be underway at this site in La Cumbre Plaza, which reportedly has been leased by Lure Fish House. NIK BLASKOVICH/NEWS-PRESS

Ventura County-based Lure Fish House will reportedly cast its net a little wider next summer when a fourth location of the seafood restaurant is scheduled to open at La Cumbre Plaza in the space previously occupied by Ruth’s Chris Steak House.

Lure will lease 6,5000 square feet of retail space at the shopping center, according to Paul Gamberdella, a broker at Radius Commercial Real Estate & Investments. He said the business is taking over a space that has been empty since the high-end steakhouse closed in June of 2011, ending a nearly-four year run and the jobs of about 70 staff members.

Hopefully Lure will be luckier in Santa Barbara than Ruth’s Chris, where the average entree cost $40, but customers had to pony up $10 for sides such as the baked potato and the creamed spinach.

The high-end eatery, known for its seared steaks topped with butter, opened at the mall in November 2007 and the company reportedly sank a hefty sum into kitchen remodeling and other upgrades.

Other casualties in the restaurant business at La Cumbre included Baja Fresh, which flipped into a Chipotle Mexican Grill.

“My understanding is that a lease has been signed (with owner Macerich) and they are obtaining permits from the city” for tenant improvements, said Mr. Gamberdella.

A spokeswoman for the popular shopping center, which is anchored by major department stores with plenty of parking, was not immediately available for comment.

Nor were the owners of Lure, when attempts were made to contact them at their downtown Ventura eatery. The company also has restaurants in Camarillo and Westlake Village.

A published report in late September confirmed Lure’s expansion into Santa Barbara. Owner David Cortina said he was approached by Macerich management a year ago, liked the space, but issues involving the previous alcohol license took some time to resolve before becoming a tenant.

He said the plan was to open the fourth location early next summer at La Cumbre Plaza. The owners expect to employ between 100 and 120 people at the Santa Barbara restaurant.