Biz News: Japanese grocer Seiwa opens in Costa Mesa
Japanese grocer Seiwa opens in Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa has a new Japanese grocery store.
Seiwa Market, 3151 Harbor Blvd., replaces a Fresh & Easy, whose parent company filed for bankruptcy protection last year and closed several stores.
Seiwa is scheduled to have its grand-opening celebration Friday.
The store will offer Japanese items including fruits, sake, frozen food, sauces and imported seasonings and condiments, according to its website.
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Costa Mesa restaurant Arc beginning no-tipping policy
Arc restaurant in Costa Mesa’s South Coast Collection center is implementing a no-tipping policy.
“Welcome to the implementation of European hospitality,” the restaurant says on its Facebook page. “A system that will preserve and reward our dedicated service professionals the fulfilling ability to progress in their careers. The reward of great service will no longer be based on tips but will come similar to businesses/resorts across the world in the form of a raise, promotion, benefits and other incentives.”
The Orange County Register reported that Arc’s no-tipping policy, reportedly one of a few among Orange County restaurants, will start this month and trigger an average 20% jump in menu prices. Arc’s owners will put its servers and kitchen staff “on the same level, starting at $15 an hour,” the Register reported.
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Afters Ice Cream coming to Costa Mesa
Afters Ice Cream is having soft openings for its new store in downtown Costa Mesa, with a grand opening scheduled for next month.
The ice cream parlor is in the Costa Mesa Courtyards, 1835 Newport Blvd., and replaces a Coldstone Creamery at Suite D160.
The chain, which also has locations in Fountain Valley and Tustin, is known for its Milky Bun — a doughnut filled with ice cream.
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Fresh Bros. opening second pizza place in Newport
Fresh Bros., a pizza chain, plans to open a second restaurant in Newport Beach, near Costa Mesa’s Eastside.
Fresh Bros. plans to open the location in early May in the Westcliff Plaza shopping center, 1124 Irvine Ave.
The chain has another location in Newport at 1616 San Miguel Drive.
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Working Wardrobes opens new resale store
Working Wardrobes, a Costa Mesa-based nonprofit, recently opened its seventh clothing resale store, in Huntington Beach at 6945 Warner Ave.
Proceeds from the store will help the nonprofit’s clients with workplace readiness, interviewing tips and other services.
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TLT Food opening in Newport Beach
TLT Food, a California fusion fast-casual eatery, has announced plans to open a location in May in Newport Beach.
The restaurant, at the Bluffs shopping center at 1332 Bison Ave., will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
TLT Food first opened at the Irvine Spectrum Center in 2014.
Its menu features beef short rib quesadillas, seared ahi tuna tacos, pork belly nachos, craft beer, wine and agave tequila-infused limeades, according to a news release.
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Kidder Mathews opens office in Irvine
Kidder Mathews, a commercial real estate firm, has opened a new office in Irvine and recruited several local brokers, according to a news release.
The office is at 2 Park Plaza, Suite 850.
“In addition to the six professionals we have today, we are expecting several more in the coming weeks and anticipate rapid growth, with a target of 25 to 30 by the end of 2017,” Mark Read, the firm’s executive vice president of brokerage, in a statement.
—From staff reports