Chronic Cantina Sports Bar and Grill worked its way through the permits and opened last week at Triangle Square in Costa Mesa.
“We got everything,” said Keith Scheinberg, co-owner of the restaurant.
Chronic Cantina plans to have live bands under a separate “dance permit.”
The Mexican restaurant’s walls are plastered with 50-inch plasma TVs. The owners enclosed 2,300 square feet of patio space.
To get the word out, Chronic Cantina hung a 40-foot banner from the side of the building and has run a full-page ad in OC Weekly for the past few weeks.
“Everyone pretty much knows,” Scheinberg said.
The restaurant could help enliven Triangle Square, which had been neglected by its current owners and plagued by vacancies.
Newport Beach-based Greenlaw Partners LLC, a real estate investor and developer, is set to buy the center.
No official plans have been announced for the center. Adding condos to Triangle Square has been mentioned.
“Anything and everything is great with us,” Scheinberg said.
He said he’s met with Greenlaw, though they haven’t revealed any specifics.
There seems to be increased interest in the center, according to Scheinberg.
“We’ve seen a lot of suit and ties walking around measuring doors,” he said.
Triangle Square is home to Sutra Lounge nightclub, Edwards Theatres, The Gap, Yard House restaurant and others. Recently departed include Niketown, Barnes & Noble and Virgin Megastore.
Bella Debut
Huntington Beach’s Bella Terra, alas, is set to have its official grand opening next month.
Last year, San Jose-based DJM Capital Partners Inc. acquired the mall, which has been undergoing renovation with an Italian village theme. The mall used to be the Huntington Center, an indoor mall that languished for years.
Stores include: Justice for Girls, Huntington Surf and Sport, Shoe Pavilion and Barnes & Noble.
Some of the grand opening events: concerts, surfboard shaping and a performance by the Orange County Children’s Theater.
Macy’s Makeover
Fashion Island is looking to buy back the empty 80,000-square-foot Macy’s building from Federated Department Stores Inc.
Once that happens, mall owner The Irvine Company plans to demolish the store and build something else. It’s too early to say what, spokesman Bill Rams said.
Fashion Island also plans to add a two-story, 92,000-square-foot building near the Atrium Court and a parking structure with 500 spaces.
The mall is fully leased, Rams said.
More Irvine Co.
Same-store sales at all stores at the Irvine Spectrum Center are up 20% since Nordstrom opened last year, according to the company. Now officials are watching for the Target effect. The discount retailer opened last month at the Spectrum Center.
The Irvine Co.’s Orchard Hills Village Center, a neighborhood shopping center at Portola Parkway and Culver Drive, is slated to open next summer.
The 125,000-square-foot project has a Tuscany design and is set to be anchored by Pavilions and CVS drug store.
Zov’s Bakery and Cafe of Tustin is set to open a second location at the center. Other stores include: Peet’s Coffee & Tea and Lilikoi, a women’s boutique.
It will be the second location for Lilikoi, which has a store at The Bluffs in Newport Beach.
The center will be prettied with a variety of trees,pepper, olive, Italian cypress, Tristania and Eucalyptus windrows.
PinkMascara Opening in Irvine
Costa Mesa-based PinkMascara.com, an online seller of designer clothes, handbags, shoes and jewelry, is opening its first store at Woodbury Town Center in Irvine in the fall. Pink Mascara carries brands such as Theory, Kooba, Tracy Reese, Sam Edelman and Citizens of Humanity.
JCL Style Inc. owns Pink Mascara. Renee McCracken is the president.
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Lamborghini Murci & #233;lago: debuting in Anaheim in October |
Car Show
The Orange County Auto Show is set for the Anaheim Convention Center Oct. 4 to 8.
It’s the first show of the auto show season. This year, “green” cars and luxury autos are set to be a highlight, according to Motor Trend Auto Shows Inc., which produces the show for the Costa Mesa-based Orange County Automobile Dealers Association and the Southland Motor Car Dealers Association.
The show will debut a new Lamborghini Murci & #233;lago,the first time it will be debuted in North America.
Car customizer “Big Slice” will be showing some tricked out rapper rides from Snoop Dog, Warren G and Ice Cube.
