Sundried Tomato closing Laguna Beach location

After 12 years in Laguna Beach, Sundried Tomato American Bistros and Catering is closing.

“We have decided not to renew our lease option,” managing partner Rob Quest wrote in a prepared statement. “Unfortunately the location no longer fits our model because of its size and overhead. Sunday, Oct. 27, will be our last day of service at that location [361 Forest Ave.].”

The Laguna Beach restaurant is the smallest of Sundried Tomato’s existing establishments, which include spots in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, the statement said.

The restaurant has done all of its catering out of the San Juan Capistrano location, Quest said, and “we look forward to many more years of catering events in Laguna.”

The first Sundried Tomato opened in Whittier in 1993 and closed in 1997, according to the statement.

“We have and always will continue to grow our brand, keep it fresh and look forward to new opportunities down the road,” Quest said.

Sundried Tomato is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and has happy hour specials from 3 to 7 p.m. every day, according to its website.

—Bryce Alderton

Twitter: @AldertonBryce