Council Approves CdM Concessionaire, Stop Sign on Hazel Drive

posted: March 14th, 2012 04:08 pm | 5Comments

The Newport Beach City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the Rooster Cafe as the Big Corona State Beach concessionaire during a consent calendar vote.

The Rooster Cafe was chosen from five applications, which city staff narrowed to one to recommend to the City Council.

Newport Beach residents and brothers Wing Lam Ed Lee are partners in the original Rooster Cafe in Costa Mesa, a city staff report said, and are co-owners of Wahoo’s Fish Taco, which has more than 60 stores and annual sales of more than $60 million; read our earlier story here.

The concession stand should be open before Memorial Day, a company representative said.

The beach has been without a full-time concessions stand since since November 2010, when the Fuji Grill closed. At the time, the owner said the bad economy and increased parking rates made it impossible for him to run a profitable business. Last summer, the city arranged for different food trucks to serve beach visitors over the summer.

The Council also approved the addition of a stop sign at Hazel Drive and Poppy Avenue; read our earlier story here. That item also was passed unanimously as part of the consent calendar.

5 Responses to “Council Approves CdM Concessionaire, Stop Sign on Hazel Drive”

Comments

Becky B

March 14th, 2012

I wish the residents had a say on this - I 've been to their location in Costa Mesa and can honestly say that Rooster Cafe on beach does not seem very appealing and sounds boring. I hope they can survive during fall and winter months but I think they will just close it up for that part of the year. Why folks with $60M annual revenue want a concession stand in CDM is also beside myself!!!!

Dan

March 14th, 2012

It will be difficult to keep the concession open during the winter because it is inconvenient for many locals to walk or ride up and down the steep and narrow drive. In addition coffee drinks, good food and juices, residents like to people watch. At least two groups of lookers who may want to visit cannot. Mommies in hot pants cannot get their strollers easily down and back and bicycles cannot make it safely up. The pedestrian path is narrow and nobody dare ride or walk on the street, lest they risk being hit by a vehicle gunning it up the hill. That just leaves dog walkers and a smattering of oddballs to ogle at each other. It is easier to continue walking on Ocean Blvd. A long-term solution for locals is to reduce the grade of the drive and make a wider, safer path for strollers and bikes. Also, there needs to be more protection from wind and sand on the patio during the winter. The onshore winds are strong and lots of airborne sand blows directly at the concession stand. It is not a place you want to use your phone, tablet or laptop much, because they won’t work for long.

jamie

March 14th, 2012

I'm fine with the new concession, but why not just say the owners if Wahoos will run it. I'll go down the hill for fish tacos!

OTGrouch

March 15th, 2012

How many people are "Wing Lam Ed Lee"?

Corona del Mar Today Staff

March 15th, 2012

Reply to

OTGrouch

March 15, 2012

How many people are "Wing Lam Ed Lee"?

Typo fixed; thanks!


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