After years of requests from local residents, the Cheesecake Factory is expected to open a location at the Westfield Valencia Town Center in Santa Clarita by the end of 2016, a spokesperson confirmed Thursday.

The popular restaurant officially closed a lease on an 8,000-square-foot space on Town Center Drive across from Pottery Barn earlier this week, said Stacie House of Westfield.   

“We have had our eye on the Valencia area for quite some time and are very pleased to have signed a lease with Westfield to open a Cheesecake Factory at Valencia Town Center,” said David Gordon, president of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated.

Construction has already begun on the location, which will involve the restructuring of approximately three retail spaces previously occupied by Talbots, Sunglass Hut and Carlton Hair Salon. Surrounding businesses will remain open while demolition is completed, according to House.

“Parking in the immediate Town Center Drive area will not be impacted either,” she added. “They will keep construction contained to their space.”

With a grand opening date slated for December, Santa Clarita Valley residents can expect to dine at the highly anticipated restaurant by the end of the year. 

“Cheesecake Factory has been the most requested restaurant by the community for several years,” said Tom Miller, Westfield’s district manager. “We are diligently working in partnership with Cheesecake Factory to get the restaurant open this year and are excited that they have chosen to invest in Westfield Valencia and the Santa Clarita community.”