Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Business

What to make of McCormicks & Schmick’s at the CityPlace closing?

Posted on by Posted in Business, Restaurants, Santa Ana 14 Comments

The McCormick & Schmick’s restaurant at Santa Ana’s CityPlace has been closed down, according to the O.C. Register, after the company was purchased by the Landry’s company – which owns a bunch of restaurants including what is left of Claimjumpers.

When the CityPlace opened up I was very critical of their tenant mix.  It seemed too high-end for Santa Ana.  Granted the CityPlace, which is across from the MainPlace Mall, is near Santa Ana’s most affluent neighborhoods – Floral Park and Park Santiago, but the CityPlace is ringed by senior homes and high density apartments (in Orange). Continue reading→

Javi’s Restaurant opens at John Wayne Airport

Posted on by Posted in Airplanes, Business, Food, Orange County, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 27, 2011

Contact: Jenny Wedge, (949) 252-5182 (office), jwedge@ocair.com

JAVI’S RESTAURANT OPENS IN JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Long-time favorite dining destination for local and Orange County visitors, Javier’s, in partnership with HMSHost, has opened their new concept restaurant Javi’s at John Wayne Airport. Javi’s is located in the new Terminal C Marketplace area, adjacent to gates 13 and 14. Continue reading→

Carlos Bustamante named as one of the top 100 worst bosses in America

Posted on by Posted in Business, Carlos Bustamante, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 1 Comment

eBossWatch just published the 2011 America’s Worst Bosses list, and Santa Ana Councilman Carlos Bustamante, who quit a high-paying job as a middle manager at the County of Orange this year after being accused of sexual harassment, was named as one of the 100 worst bosses in America. To date, the 2011 America’s Worst Bosses have cost their employers over $145 million in monetary damages and lawsuit settlement payments.

19 California managers were named among the nation’s worst bosses: Continue reading→

Santa Ana’s new Genki Sushi now hiring

Posted on by Posted in Business, Jobs, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Genki Sushi is hiring restaurant staff! Ranked amoung the top Kaiten Sushi restaurants in the world, Genki Sushi is opening their first California location at Westfiled MainPlace in January 2012.

They are currently seeking restaurant staff as follows: Sushi Chefs, Servers & Kitchen Staff. Interviews are being held next Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Dec. 15th, 16th & 17th) at Westfield MainPlace between 10am and 6pm. Continue reading→

Christmas events and entertainment at the Westfield MainPlace Mall

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Business, Family, music, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Take your picture with Santa Claus at the Westfield MainPlace Mall, in Santa Ana, daily from 10 am to 8 pm.  Hours may vary.  Click here for Santa’s schedule.

Join Westfield MainPlace throughout the holidays for sounds & sights of the season in Center Court:

  • Saturday, December 10, 3pm – Hardey & Welch
  • Sunday, December 11, 2pm – Voices of Hope
  • Saturday, December 17, 2pm – Church of God in Anaheim
  • Sunday, December 18, 1pm – Orange High School Band
  • Friday, December 23, 1pm – V2 Song & Dance Troupe
  • 6pm – Holiday Carolers, Friday, December 24, Noon – Holiday Carolers Continue reading→

AT&T expands mobile broadband wireless capacity in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Business, Santa Ana, Technology Leave a comment

AT&T EXPANDS MOBILE BROADBAND WIRELESS CAPACITY IN SANTA ANA

Additional Spectrum Expected to Improve Connectivity and Performance of Mobile Broadband Data and Voice Connectivity

SANTA ANA, CA, DECEMBER 8, 2011 — Customers in Santa Ana are expected to experience improved mobile broadband coverage and voice performance as a result of continued investment and innovation by AT&T. The company announced today that it has completed a key initiative in its ongoing efforts to enhance the wireless capacity and performance of its mobile broadband network throughout the Santa Ana area.  Continue reading→

What we learned from Occupy Santa Ana’s failed Wal Mart flash mob

Posted on by Posted in Business, Occupy Orange County, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana 5 Comments

“A two-minute flash mob by Occupy Santa Ana protesters did not seem to have the intended effect, leaving some Wal-Mart employees scratching their heads,” according to the L.A. Times.

“Afterward, as the protesters drove away, a handful Walmart employees gathered outside the store’s entrance. One woman called the protest “stupid.” Another said it was “disrespectful,” according to the O.C. Register.

The OC Weekly article about the lame flash mob got a lot of comments – and most of them were anti-Occupy.  And according to reporters and to commenters on Facebook, at most ONE shopper cheered the flash mob – and only ONE worker had anything kind to say about them.  FAIL! Continue reading→

Which Santa Ana small businesses will you shop at this Saturday?

Posted on by Posted in Business, Restaurants, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Stop by Calacas tomorrow and say hi to Rudy and Jackie!

President Barack Obama is urging Americans to shop at local businesses this Saturday, which is the annual Small Business Saturday.  So which Santa Ana small businesses do you plan to shop at?

Here are a few ideas:

  • Calacas  – Not only can you start your shopping there, at the new Calacas Cafe, but you can also pick up all kinds of neat stuff at their store.  You won’t find another store like it in Orange County!  They are located at 324 W 4th St #B, in downtown Santa Ana.
  • The Road Less Traveled – For over 5 years Road Less Traveled has supplied Orange County & greater Southern California with non-toxic, green and fair trade goods.  They specialize in hard to find, special and unique items for the home, kitchen and gifts. 2202 1/2 N. Main St., Santa Ana, CA 92706 · Get Directions Continue reading→

PBID to be reconsidered by the Santa Ana City Council in May

Posted on by Posted in Business, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez tried her best to stop the PBID (a property tax in Downtown Santa Ana that is used largely to promote bars and restaurants and to maintain and secure the area) at Monday night’s Santa Ana City Council meeting, but she could not muster any support from her colleagues.

Instead, “The issue will be taken up again in May, according to Councilman Sal Tinajero, who told the Voice of OC “because the city should be allowed to consider dismantling the district without threat of litigation at that time. The law governing the district requires council members vote annually on whether to continue the district.” Continue reading→

Sneak a peek at Santa Ana’s new Playground restaurant this Saturday night

Posted on by Posted in Business, Food, Restaurants, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Open wide…

Jason Quinn’s Playground is about ready to open up shop.  According to his Facebook page, Quinn is going to have sort of a soft opening this Saturday, Nov. 5, during the Santa Ana Art Walk.  He won’t be open yet but will be letting folks have a sneak peek at his new restaurant.  Their grand opening has been set for Nov. 18-20.

Quinn is famous for his Lime Truck, which was featured on the Great Food Truck Race in the Spring of 2011.  You can read about his vision for Playground on his new website.  Apparently his dad helped fund the new business. Continue reading→

Santa Ana’s El Torito, at the MainPlace Mall, closes down

Posted on by Posted in Business, Food, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

No more $1 Taco Nights at Santa Ana’s El Torito…

Santa Ana has lost its El Torito, which was located at the MainPlace Mall.  “The 5,600-square-foot restaurant, which debuted just before the economic downturn, could not sustain good financial results at the location, said Rick Van Warner, spokesman for El Torito’s parent company Real Mex Restaurants,” according to the O.C. Register’s Fast Food Maven column.

What a shame!  I loved their $1 Taco Nights – and their freshly made guacamole, which their servers would prepare table side. Continue reading→

Celebrate Halloween at Santa Ana’s Velvet Lounge

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Arts and Culture, Bars, Business, Dance, Entertainment, music, Restaurants, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Santa Ana’s new gay bar, the Velvet Lounge, will be hosting a Halloween Party on Monday night.  It will start with the Screamgirls Revue, which is the Halloween version of their weekly Dreamgirls Revue.  That will be followed by a dance party with DJ B.Magick, costume contest and more!

Cover is only $5 for this special event. 18 and over admitted with ID.

The Velvet Lounge is located at 416 W 4th St., in Santa Ana.  Check them out on Facebook here.  Join their Facebook group here. Continue reading→

Irv Chase’s promoter blames the “dirty Mexicans” in Downtown Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Business, Latinos, Santa Ana 43 Comments


Irv Chase’s promoter, Archer Altstaetter, told NBC yesterday that the Chase family is “upgrading and investing in their buildings, without any malice toward anyone.”  ”It’s no different than the Irvine Company or any other retailer in a mall saying hey, if your stores are not clean, you’re out,” said Altstaetter.

Excuse me?  Did Archer just blame the “dirty Mexicans?”  You can see his commenting about this in the video provided above. Continue reading→

Volunteers create workforce readiness space at Santa Ana community center

Posted on by Posted in Business, Charities, Churches and Religion, Jobs, Labor, Santa Ana Leave a comment

What started as an underutilized, rundown building is now an inviting space that will host a variety of community, education and workforce programs thanks to the work of more than 100 ARAMARK volunteers.  They gathered together on Oct. 27, from 10 am to 3 pm, at The Salvation Army Santa Ana Community Center, located at 1710 W Edinger Ave, in Santa Ana.

In a single day, the volunteers completely transformed the Salvation Army Santa Ana Community Center, which serves more than 1,250 people monthly. The refreshed space now boasts a fresh coat of paint, a community garden and outdoor recreation space. But perhaps most importantly, volunteers created functional and attractive workforce readiness rooms that will provide members of the community, which has the second highest unemployment rate in Orange County, with the space and tools to train for and find jobs. Continue reading→

The Memphis at the Santora now offers an authentic Crawfish boil

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Business, Food, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The French began to settle New Orleans in the 1690’s.  In 1763 the French sold the area to the Spanish, who rebuilt many of the structures on Bourbon Street after two fires.  If you visit there today you will see that the architecture is mostly Spanish, not French.  As for the cuisine, well it is Cajun – and it is awesome.

I thought of that as I visited the Memphis at Santora restaurant yesterday to partake of Executive Chef Diego Velasco’s new Crawfish Boil.  The last time I ate crawfish was when I visited New Orleans in 2005, while I was overseeing the safety of 300 restoration workers, after Hurricane Katrina.   Continue reading→