No comments.
Corona del Mar Restaurant News: A 2010 Roundup
posted: December 31st, 2010 03:15 pm |
0No Comments
This year was a busy one for Corona del Mar foodies — we said goodbye to two favorites, watched other restaurants battle for more room and parking waivers, and we saw some new openings too. Here’s our roundup of 2010 food news.
* Citing the economy, the owner of the Fuji Grill at Big Corona State Beach closed in November, leaving the City Council to find a new concessionaire for the beach snack stand. Read our story here.
* After 21 years, Oysters at 2515 East Coast Highway closed permanently in February; read our story here.
* The Oysters space didn’t stay empty for long, with El Ranchito moving down and across the street to its new location in April. In October, El Ranchito received permission from the Newport Beach Planning Commission to expand into the empty retail space next door in order to create larger restrooms, a takeout deli counter for party platters and other to-go items as well as a waiting area for customers to relax with a margarita while waiting for a table. Read our stories here and here.
* And in the Corona del Mar restaurant version of musical chairs, the old El Ranchito space at 2744 East Coast Highway was sold and turned into The Summer House, which opened in June with light fare and a bright, beachy interior. Owners Mark and Cindy Holechek are longtime restaurateurs and used to own The Bungalow in Corona del Mar, along with Woody’s Wharf and more recently The Cabana in Laguna Beach, and The Summer House quickly became a local favorite. Read our stories here and here.
* In March, the Little Woman grab-and-go lunch spot opened next to its big sister, The Quiet Woman, at 3224 East Coast Highway; read our story here.
* Rose Bakery Cafe went before the Planning Commission twice in 2010 in an attempt to get approval for expanding its outdoor seating — which required a parking waiver. Permission was granted in March, but there were problems finalizing the agreement, so Rose’s owners went back to the commission in December, where a 6-1 vote granted the waiver of 15 spaces because it includes a parking plan with access to 29 spaces. The Commission also agreed to let Rose stay open one hour later, to 8 p.m. Read our stories here and here.
* In early 2010, SideDoor gastropub had its grand opening as a restaurant within Five Crowns, with a separate entrance off Poppy Avenue; read our story here.
* The Bungalow Restaurant unveiled its extensive remodel in September, which earned the business a Corona del Mar Business Improvement District Beautification Award this fall . Read our stories here and here.
* The B.I.D. renewed discussion of plans for “Restaurant Row,” which would involve reducing East Coast Highway traffic to two lanes beginning at Irvine Terrace and then pushing the sidewalk out into the current parking lane from about MacArthur Boulevard to Carnation Avenue. That sidewalk area would be used for outdoor seating and landscaping for a number of restaurants in the vicinity. Read our story here.
* B. Candy announced it would open an “everything sweet” candy store at 3617 East Coast Highway in the new year; read our story here. Shoppers had a sneak peek at the shop when it opened a temporary kiosk in Fashion Island during the holidays; read more here.
* Corona del Mar will see a new shop open this winter called Vin Goat, which will sell artisan cheeses, wines and other gourmet items. The shop owners plan a February opening in the space at 3326 East Coast Highway. Read our story here.
The bottom image is courtesy of the Corona del Mar B.I.D.
Did we forget anything? Leave a comment and let us know!
We found out after publication that Honeybaked Ham closed on Dec. 31; read our story here.
