Room is getting red hot

Barbara Diamond

The refurbished Boom Boom Room has taken off like a rocket.

“We are averaging 160 people for breakfast and lunch on Saturday

and Sunday, and that’s in the slow season,” James Marchese said.

“Everyone is welcome, including the families with children,” he

said. “We are a nightclub at night, but a casual, easy-going

restaurant for everyone during the day. We’ve got high chairs and

booster chairs, and we take all the nightclub stuff down during the

day.”

Marchese and partner Patrick O’Loughlin bought the Coast Inn three

years ago from John Halderman. The partners have spruced up the

restaurant-bar-nightclub, which is part of the hotel, and revamped

the menu.

“I personally took down all the tin ceiling tiles, scraped off all

the rust and repainted them,” Marchese said.

He also refinished the wood floors, which were professionally

stripped. The bar was re-sided with stainless steel and topped with

gray metallic Formica that fits into the color scheme of gray and

silver with burgundy and black accents.

“The menu is completely new, prepared by chefs Jeff Johnson and

Terry Sheeran,” Marchese said.

Johnson trained at the Culinary Arts Institute in San Francisco.

Self-taught Sheeran had on-the-job training from chefs around the

world and in the restaurant he owned for 20 years, Marchese said.

“The combination of the two is incredible,” Marchese said.

“Nothing is frozen. Everything is made from scratch.”

Entrees cost between $9.95 and $16 and come with a starch and a

vegetable.

“We are reaching out to new customers with an offer of half-off

for a second entree of equal or lesser value every night except

Tuesday, which is Friends and Locals Night, when the entire menu is

50% off,” Marchese said.

The entertainment is free: a singer and a pianist.

No reservations are needed except for Wednesday nights, when the

Dream Girls show of female impersonators is presented.

“We want people to come as they are and come when they want,”

Marchese said. “But the Dream Girls show is so popular, the only way

we can guarantee seats is with a dinner reservation.”

Friday and Saturday nights are for dancing.

The Coast Inn is at 1401 S. Coast Highway.

Overnight visitors can be accommodated in 14 oceanfront rooms and

14 ocean-view rooms in the hotel. Rooms cost from $69 to $169 from

November through March; and from $99 to $249 from April through

October.

The restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday to

Friday; and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The bar is

open from 11:30 a.m. to 1:45 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

For more information, call (949) 494-7588.

CYNTHIA HARRISS

GOING FOR THE GAP

Cynthia Harriss, who was honored last year by the Red Cross for

her achievements in the corporate world, didn’t leave much of gap

between quitting her old job and taking a new one.

The Laguna Beach resident, who resigned as president of Disneyland

Resort in October, has become president of Gap Inc.’s outlet

division. Gap announced the appointment Jan. 21.

Harriss, who will oversee operations in the Gap, Banana Republic

and Old Navy outlets around the county, will be based in San

Francisco, working once again with Paul Pressler.

Pressler, whom Harriss succeeded at the helm of Disneyland Resort

when he left to head up Disney’s Parks and Resorts division, left

Disney in 2002 to become chief executive officer of Gap Inc. He has

subsequently hired a number of Disney executives at Gap.

“Cynthia is known for her tremendous ability to motivate people

and get the best out of her teams,” Pressler said. “Her extensive

strategy and merchandising experience will ensure that our brand

expressions continue to be integrated and targeted to our outlet

stores.”

Gap’s outlet division, a small component of Gap’s 3,000-plus

stores, was created to broaden the company’s customer base, manage

inventory and increase earnings, according to a company press

release.

Harriss was named president of Disney Resort in December 1999. She

held the position until 2003, the same year she was honored by the

Red Cross with the Elizabeth Dole Glass Ceiling Award. The award

recognizes women who have overcome obstacles in the corporate

environment, breaking through barriers that stand in their way and

improving the quality of life in the county.

Harriss was responsible for the overall management and long-term

growth of the resort, including the operation of Disneyland Park,

Disney’s California Adventure, the Disneyland hotels and the Downtown

Disney District.

Before joining the Disney organization, Harriss spent 19 years

with the Paul Harris stores, in positions from store manager to

senior vice president.

Harriss has been recognized in the “Who’s Who of American Women

and Community Leaders of America.” She has received the International

Distinguished Leadership Award and the 2000 Tree of Life Award from

the Jewish National Fund for outstanding community service.

* DOING BUSINESS is a periodic feature of the Laguna Beach

Coastline Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Mail to Barbara Diamond,

P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, 92652; fax to 494-8979; hand-deliver to

384 Forest Ave., Suite 22; or call (949) 494-4321.