Sterling BMW near deal for Auto Bistro

Paul Clinton

Sterling BMW is close to a deal to buy the one-acre former Auto

Bistro, which closed more than three years ago, and replace the

restaurant with an expanded used-car lot.

Sterling BMW and Theodore “Bob” Robins, Jr., who owns the

property, expect to close escrow on the sale of the parcel in the

coming week, both said Tuesday.

“Our business has increased such that we need to expand,” said

John Belanger, Sterling’s general manager. “We are very fortunate to

have this property next door. It makes it easy to expand.”

Belanger said the dealer plans to demolish the former gourmet

fast-food drive-through. In its place, Sterling plans to add a new

building that would allow the dealer to expand its used-car sales

unit, as well as provide more service to customers out of an expanded

garage.

It could take up to 18 months to complete work and cost about $4

million, Belanger said.

Sterling and Robins entered escrow on the purchase in April and

secured approval from Newport Beach to subdivide the property in the

summer.

Belanger and Robins both declined to discuss details of the sale

until they seal the deal.

Once that happens, it would mean the end for the Auto Bistro, an

ambitious attempt to sell high-end sandwiches on focaccia bread to

the area’s ritzy clientele. The food was lowered down to customers

via a mini elevator as they headed through the circular

raceway-themed building.

After the eatery closed, locals complained about its garish

multi-colored exterior, which didn’t gibe with Mariner’s Mile’s

nautical theme.

“It is an unusual building that exists there now ... certainly

incompatible with the surrounding environment,” said Richard Luehrs,

the executive director of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce. An

expanded BMW dealership “sure beats a vacant restaurant that doesn’t

work anymore.”

Newport-Mesa’s only BMW dealer last moved from a location on

Jamboree Road, in 1996. At the time, the dealer moved from a

48,000-square-foot building to the current 140,000-square-foot

building on three acres.

The new property would cover the Auto Bistro’s one-acre property,

fronted by East Coast Highway, and include improvements to Avon

Street, behind the former restaurant.

The project would significantly expand Sterling’s service area,

adding as many as 12 additional service bays to the existing 22.

* PAUL CLINTON covers the environment, business and politics. He

may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

paul.clinton@latimes.com.