In time with local efforts to upgrade retail and dining offerings at top Orange County shopping centers, such as South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island, the Downtown Disney District will start a few final pieces to its sitewide renovations in 2025.
The Disneyland Resort last month revealed the last of its new concepts that are set to replace previous tenants. A full-service steakhouse Arthur & Sons Steak and Bourbon and quick-service eatery Pearl’s Roadside BBQ, both led by Michelin-honored Chef Joe Isidori, will fill in the space left by Tortilla Jo’s, which closed in March.
Construction on the two new restaurants will begin soon with no opening date announced just yet.
The new Porto’s Bakery and Café location on the east side of the 20-acre shopping center, in place of the former La Brea Bakery, is already in the works with new concept art confirming Porto’s first sit-down, full-service restaurant and a full bar.
December marked the debut of two new retail shops in the Anaheim center featuring Marvel Studios and Disney-themed products, respectively.
In early 2025, Downtown Disney will be opening the doors of its first food hall Parkside Market on the far west side of the district between the Lego store and a newly built stage area. First announced in 2023, the two-story market will feature four different places to eat and drink – Seoul Sister, Sip & Sonder, GG’s Chicken Shop and Vista Parkside Market – operated by Levy Restaurants.
The district will also see the opening of a new confectionary next year.
These new and incoming stores represent an almost eight-year investment by Disney to reconstruct the shopping center and attract a more upscale consumer. With this year’s approval of the multi-billion-dollar expansion project DisneylandForward, the entertainment company will have even more chances to try.
Downtown’s Longstanding Tenant
Renovations are constantly top of mind at the Disney parks and the shopping district is no stranger to the construction that regularly makes its way across the resort.
Disneyland President Ken Potrock in 2022 pointed to $2 million worth of updates at one point happening across the two parks, three hotels and retail center. Many of these projects have been completed since.
With an influx of new tenants making their way to Downtown Disney over the years – at least eight new concepts were introduced in 2024 – one of the original restaurants that opened alongside the center in 2001 has stood its ground against the wave of replacements.
The two-story Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio by the Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, previously known as Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, completed a remodel back in 2023 after a series of buildings had been torn down or were scheduled to be renovated on the west side of the center.
The Jazz Kitchen is owner and operator Ralph Brennan’s only California outpost among his portfolio of five independent restaurants, bakery and catering company, all in New Orleans. The restauranteur knew Disney would be a good investment over 20 years ago.
“Coming to California was definitely a good leap,” Junior Vice President Charlee Williamson told the Business Journal. “With the biggest brand name in hospitality, to be part of what the magic they create, we couldn’t say no.”
During renovations, the restaurant also took the chance to remodel its adjacent quick-service venue into a new counter-service component called Beignets Expressed, which now prepares over 300,000 pounds of dough a year.
“We’ve been here for a long time, but we have to evolve, and we have to modernize to stay relevant,” Williamson said.
She added that Brennan is an active and involved owner. “It is not just a name on the front door,” she said.
