• November 2001

Copia: The American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts opens. The $55 million center, the brainchild of vintner Robert Mondavi, is expected to draw visitors to downtown Napa with musical and visual arts programs, restaurants and wine- and food-themed events. It is home to a garden, theater, concert space, gallery spaces, a demonstration kitchen and more.

• 2003

Annual attendance at Copia drops from 220,000 in 2002, a number that was already short of original expectations, to 160,000 in 2003.

• 2005

Founding President Peggy Loar resigns and is replaced by Arthur Jacobus. Attendance is roughly 175,000. Copia is losing between $5 million and $10 million a year at this time.

• October 2006

Jacobus announces Copia will lay off about one-third of its employees and that arts would take a back seat to food and wine. Plans at the time included restructuring a $68 million debt and possible sale of the center’s south parking lot.

• March 2008

Jacobus resigns and is replaced by Garry McGuire, formerly a member of the Copia board of directors.

• April 2007

Copia pays a $224,000 penalty to the IRS for violating rules regarding the amount of space a non-profit entity can use for sales and business activities. Copia retains its tax-exempt status.

• September 2008

Copia makes significant cuts to its workforce and budget, reducing hours it is open to the public.

• November 2008

Copia leaders acknowledge they are seeking to sell the 12-acre site in downtown Napa, and hope to lease space on the grounds to continue food and wine programs.