Inn may be out

Locals, from city hall officials to Laguna Playhouse patrons and cast members, are not happy about the prospect of losing Cedar Creek Inn.

The restaurant’s lease in the Lumberyard complex expires in early 2008, and landlord Michael Koss already has a new restaurant waiting in the wings to take over the spot on the corner of Forest Avenue across from City Hall.

“I have found some nice people who are well-qualified and want to put a nice restaurant there,” Koss said.

An application has been submitted to the city by Cary Redfearn, who owns Oysters in Corona del Mar and Oceans 33 in the Mission Viejo Mall. A staff analysis of the application has been readied for a planning commission hearing March 14.

City Manager Ken Frank announced the application in his weekly Friday Update recently.

“This is kind of an exploratory thing,” said Redfearn, a Laguna Beach resident. “We have been discussing the possibilities of leasing the space, and the Ayres [Cedar Creek owners] are aware of it. We are just making sure there are no issues to opening a nice restaurant there.”

Koss has the final say on who leases in the complex and for how long.

“I haven’t been in negotiations with Cedar Creek for a couple of years,” Koss said. “They told me two years ago that they were opening a new restaurant in a nearby community. They said they would not be renewing their lease and would try to sell the restaurant if they could.”

Lisa Ayres, one of the Cedar Creek owners, said the family had no comment at this time.

“Based on my relations with Koss, I think Cedar Creek is gone,” said Jeff Jahraus, whose family owns the land on which the complex was built.

“Koss is in control of all the buildings until his lease is up June 30, 2029. There is nothing we can do.

“I think Koss is asking for a lot of money, and keeping the restaurant in Laguna is not worth it to the Cedar Creek owners. They don’t need it. I think that’s why they opened the restaurant in Laguna Niguel.”

The Ayres family also owns restaurants in Brea and San Juan Capistrano.

Koss said he has leased the Lumberyard complex for about 23 years. During that time, Jahraus said he has talked on the phone with Koss several times, but met him in person only once.

“I could tell from the beginning that he didn’t know anything about Laguna,” Jahraus said. “He thought he was going to make the Lumberyard into a little Rodeo Drive.”

Martha Lydick, a frequent patron of Oysters and Oceans 33, gave the restaurants good reviews.

“They are both wonderful, especially their seafood, although neither is like Cedar Creek,” Lydick said.

Jahraus said the Cedar Creek in Laguna is special.

“It is a place where locals go in shorts or suits and feel comfortable,” Jahraus said. “I am so ticked. We don’t need another high-end restaurant in Laguna.”

Family patriarch Richard Jahraus echoed his son.

“I would hate to see Cedar Creek leave,” the elder Jahraus said. “They are really nice people, and the prices are reasonable. I have never had a bad meal there, and you always see someone you know.”

The city’s only involvement with the tenants in the downtown is the consideration of a conditional-use permit, unless exterior structural changes are planned or a change is planned for the heritage status of a building, according to Planning Commissioner Anne Johnson.

“My concern with this application is that patrons will still be able to get a meal similar to the less-expensive bar menu that is now offered,” shesaid.

However, Johnson also has a personal concern. She and former Mayor Kathleen Blackburn “regularly” go to Cedar Creek Inn after attending performances at Laguna Playhouse, where they gets a chance to chat about the play with other people from the audience and cast members.

Community Development Department Planning Administrator Ann Larson said applications for similar or almost identical uses have no guarantee of approval, citing the Coldstone Creamery application to replace Baskin-Robbins’ ice cream shop, which was denied.