John’s Incredible Pizza, which opened in July, seems to be giving Buena Park Downtown a needed boost.
“Overall, the center has experienced a significant increase in traffic in comparison to the same time last year,” said Cyndi Taylor, general manager of the mall.
The 58,000-square-foot restaurant and arcade seats 900 people in six themed rooms and 10 party rooms. The restaurant has a pizza and dessert buffet and games and amusement rides.
The mall’s owner, Ohio’s Developers Diversified Realty Corp., signed John’s Incredible as a tenant in 2007. Mall officials had been hopeful that John’s Incredible Pizza would help revive the struggling mall.
“Several stores are reporting traffic increases of up to 35%, and movie sales have spiked since the opening of John’s Incredible Pizza in July,” Taylor said.
The mall also is seeing a boost at its Wal-Mart, which has continued to fare relatively better in the downturn because of its discount bent. The store, part of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., is undergoing a makeover.
Wahoo’s Growth
Santa Ana-based Wahoo’s Fish Taco appointed Tom Orbe vice president of franchising to handle a planned expansion.
Wahoo’s plans to add at least 100 franchises during the next five years, including 15 in California this fall. The first five are being determined by lottery because of demand, according to Wahoo’s, which started in 1988.
Wahoo’s, which serves Mexican food and rice bowls, plans to open four locations in Arizona this year. Franchisees there will be chosen through a lottery. Wahoo’s initial franchise fees: $30,000 for the first store and $25,000 for additional ones.
Orbe, a skater and surfer, owns the Temecula Wahoo’s. Prior to selling fish tacos, Orbe was the vice president of sales, product development and marketing for Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A.
Wahoo’s was founded by Wing Lam, Ed Lee and Mingo Lee.
Store Openings
Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s Orange County office recently opened a suite at Fashion Island near Barnes & Noble to register people for the 2009 Race for the Cure, slated for Sept. 27.
Race for the Cure raises money for breast cancer research and mammograms for women who don’t have health insurance.
Neiman Marcus Last Call store recently opened at The Block at Orange.
The 28,000-square-foot Last Call sells Neiman Marcus stores’ goods that are marked down by 30% to 65%. It is the Last Call’s fourth store in California and the 26th in the nation.
Traditional Charity
Traditional Jewelers of Newport Beach is marking its 30th year in business with two soirees that will benefit children’s charities.
The first event on Sept. 24 is a designer watch soiree themed “The White Party.” The party will have a club-like atmosphere, including a deejay and white decor. The event will benefit the Los Angeles-based Children’s Bureau of Southern California, which has offices in OC.
Traditional Jewelers will hold “The Black Party” on Nov. 19, showcasing jewelry designers. The event will benefit Irvine-based nonprofit, Miracles for Kids.
Lula Halfacre and her late husband Marion Halfacre opened Traditional Jewelers in Newport Beach in 1979. In 1991, the store moved to Fashion Island.
Several family members work at the store, including son Erik Halfacre and his wife, Bonnie, and sister Halfacre.
Natalie works at the Halfacre’s Malibu store, which opened last year in the Malibu Country Mart.
Yacht Expo
The 31st annual Lido Yacht Expo in Newport Beach is set for Sept. 24 to 27 at Lido Marina Village. Irvine-based Duncan McIntosh Co. Inc. puts on the show.
McIntosh is expecting 12,000 to 15,000 people to attend, roughly the same as last year. He is expecting many of those attendees to come with the intention to buy.
About 200 boats will be on display, mostly used power boats that are 40 feet to 50 feet long.
Supplies of new boats are running down. Manufacturers have slowed boat production due to the falloff in buying.
Boating sales have been off about 20%, but in the past month they’ve been picking up considerably as prices have come down, McIntosh said.
“(Interest) is as high as we’ve ever seen it,” he said.
Boat prices have been cut by up to 30%. But, McIntosh said, that when supply runs down, prices will start to go back up.
