(MercuryNews) - Napa’s Copia complex has long been vacant, an ambitious idea that perhaps came before its time. But by early October, it will again be a haven for culinarians.

On Wednesday, the Culinary Institute of America announced that the downtown Napa building will become a sister campus to its CIA at Greystone in St. Helena. There are plans for a new restaurant on the site, demo kitchens, wine tasting events, cooking lessons, a store devoted to “lifestyle” products and more.

Inaugurating the renovated space will be three author events, all free to the public. First up will be Virgilio Martínez Véliz, author of “Central,” on Oct. 8, followed by Stephanie Danler, author of “Sweetbitter,” on Oct. 13. The authors of “China: The Cookbook,” Kei Lum Chan and Diora Fong Chan, will make an appearance Oct. 20. (Reservations: www.ciachef.edu/cia-california/)

The Copia reopening news comes just two weeks after the death of one of the center’s founders, Margrit Mondavi. She and husband Robert Mondavi paid $2.1 million in 1996 for the site along the Napa River that was transformed into Copia: The American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts.

Opened in 2001, the museum’s 80,000 square feet contained theaters, classrooms, library, demo kitchens, a restaurant and more. The building rejuvenated the area, which became home to the Oxbow Market, among other offerings. But Copia, overburdened by debt, with insufficient ticket proceeds, closed in 2008.