South Coast Plaza is known for Gucci, Valentino and other chic stores. This month, it gets an electric vehicle charging station.
Actor and environmentalist Ed Begley Jr. is set to ceremonially cut the ribbon on two electric vehicle charging stations at the Costa Mesa shopping center on April 24.
The stations are at the parking structure on the Bear Street side of the mall. They’re part of South Coast Plaza’s effort to be greener.
Begley is set to teach two seminars on simple living on April 24 during the shopping center’s 21st Annual Southern California Spring Garden Show.
The theme of the show this year: “California Dreamin’… Responsib-ly.” It runs April 22 to April 25.
Also coming to South Coast Plaza: IndyCar Series drivers Danica Patrick and Helio Castroneves, better known to some as a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars.”
They’ll be at Macy’s Men’s Store on April 14.
South Coast Plaza also opens a store this month, Teavana, which sells tea and accessories and runs a tea bar. It’s set to open April 29. Teavana has another store at The Shops at Mission Viejo.
Fashion Island Greek
Thasos Greek Island Grille, a casual rest-aurant that serves Greek and Mediterranean food, has opened in Fashion Island’s Atrium Court.
Thasos has another restaurant in Costa Mesa.
Triangle Square
Costa Mesa’s Triangle Square, dubbed by some as the Bermuda Triangle for its troubles attracting and keeping tenants, once again has a new owner.
Richard Kelly, who heads up Newport Beach-based developer and investor Kelly Holdings LLC, hopes to revitalize the shopping center and night spot.
The three-story property is a landmark of sorts at the end of the Costa Mesa (55) Freeway.
But since opening in 1992, Triangle Square has yet to find the right mix of tenants. It has had several owners and leasing managers. The last plan for the mall called for building condos alongside shops and restaurants.
Kelly earlier bought Triangle Square’s Sutra Restaurant and Nightclub, which appears to be doing well. Sutra was formerly owned by Newport Beach-based Culinary Management Group.
Chronic Cantina taco bar next to Sutra at Triangle Square recently closed.
Tenants still at Triangle Square include Yard House restaurant and Edwards Cinemas. Some of the tenants that have come and gone include Niketown, Virgin Megastore, Barnes & Noble and Gap.
Boat Show
The Newport Boat Show is set for April 15 to April 18 at Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach.
The show, which brings together buyers and sellers, is set to feature yachts 35 feet and longer, some worth millions. Also at the show are yacht financiers and sellers of marine gear.
The show’s producer, Irvine-based Duncan McIntosh Co., is expecting a boost in exhibitors and visitors this year.
Back to Normal?
Orange County auto sales appeared to take a turn back toward normal historical patterns in February.
Sales rose 6% from a year earlier, according to the Newport Beach-based Orange County Auto Dealers Association.
Dealers sold 5,849 new vehicles here in February. The figure is based on registrations with the state, a barometer of sales.
The monthly sales gain is among the best for local dealers in the past two years or so, which represent the industry’s worst downturn since the early 1970s.
But February’s sales still were well below the 12,242 autos dealers here sold in February 2007.
Last month’s sales looked more like they traditionally have in the county, with luxury brands showing gains and the stars of the downturn—the affordable Hyundai and Kia—posting their first declines in a while.
Mercedes-Benz, the top luxury brand here, saw sales rise 8% to 411 autos last month. BMW, the No. 2 luxury brand here, was up 10% to 331.
At the same time, Hyundai was down 14% to 232 autos. Kia was down 51% to 46 autos.
Toyota’s woes also appear to have affected sales, but only slightly. The brand was down 3% to 1,138 autos sold here.
Honda and Volkswagen appear to be benefiting from Toyota’s slowdown. Honda was up 23% to 833 autos. Volkswagen was up 23% to 247 autos.
Honda and Toyota have struck up an incentive battle.
Toyota, not known for offering incentives, has needed to draw back customers with financing deals after its massive recalls.
On the Honda front, the automaker came out with a new lease program that requires no payment at signing.
“This Honda program snuck in very quietly,” said James Bell, executive market analyst for Irvine-based Kelley Blue Book Co.
The battle between Honda and Toyota could spur incentive programs from other automakers, which in the short term could drive up sales for local dealers.
