Biz News: Stores bringing changes to South Coast Plaza

New additions are coming to South Coast Plaza’s collection of stores in Costa Mesa. Tadashi Shoji is slated to unveil a revamped boutique on level two of the Bloomingdale’s wing this month.

This summer, French luxury brand Céline and German timepiece maker A. Lange & Söhne will debut their boutiques.

Vitra, a luxury eyewear store, Spain-based Massimo Dutti, a boutique for chic womenswear and menswear, and Moncler, a boutique of sports and active lifestyle collections, are expected in the fall.

Omega and Ralph Lauren plan to debut redesigned stores later in the year.

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Costa Mesa mayor participates in real estate conference

Costa Mesa Mayor Steve Mensinger, president of Newport Beach-based Mesa Management, participated in an executive think tank at the Orange County chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management’s 2015 Southern California Real Estate Conference and Tradeshow on May 28 at the Hyatt Regency Orange County in Garden Grove.

The think tank, which discussed market trends and strategies in the real estate management industry, also included Coreland Cos.’ Cheryl Todd, Cushman Wakefield’s Maria Sicola and Goodman Birtcher’s Mike Kent. Irvine Co. Office Properties’ Holly McManus was the moderator.

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First Team foundation donates $175,000 to Irvine schools

The First Team Real Estate Foundation donated $175,000 to the Irvine Public Schools Foundation for the Summer Enrichment Academy to help provide summer educational activities for students.

“We’re using the sponsorship to offer some of the best enrichment opportunities available for kids in Southern California, including fun ways to show students that STEAM (science, technology, education, arts and mathematics) education matters in their day-to-day lives,” Neda Eaton, president and chief executive of the Irvine Public Schools Foundation, said in a statement.

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Slapfish planning restaurant in Irvine

Slapfish seafood restaurant, based in Fountain Valley, is scheduled to open a new location in July at the University Center on Campus Drive in Irvine.

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EMC Seafood & Raw Bar to open in Irvine

EMC Seafood & Raw Bar plans to open in the fourth quarter of this year at the Heritage Plaza center at 14400 Culver Drive in Irvine.

The 7,600-square-foot restaurant will be EMC’s first Orange County. It will be in the space previously occupied by Elephant Bar.

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Villa Real Estate has new spot in Corona del Mar

Villa Real Estate celebrated the opening May 28 of its newest location at East Coast Highway and Fernleaf Avenue in Corona del Mar.

Villa also was presented with a Beautification Award from the Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce for the office’s architecture and design, which includes an exposed brick façade, red and black awnings and black and white architectural details.

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Trough Sandwich Kitchen coming to Newport

Rancho Santa Margarita-based Grenanimal Restaurant Group plans to expand into Newport Beach late this summer by opening a Trough Sandwich Kitchen on the Balboa Peninsula.

The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, with menu highlights including the Chashu Pork Sandwich with marinated boiled egg, arugula, housemade kewpie mayo and pickled ginger on a corn roll.

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Jewelry company expanding to Arizona

Black, Starr & Frost, a Newport Beach-based fine-jewelry store, plans to expand into Arizona with a new location in Phoenix scheduled to open in the fall.

“This is an important step as we continue to focus on revitalizing the Black, Starr & Frost brand with new collections, signature pieces and new locations nationwide,” Alfredo Molina, president and chairman of Molina Fine Jewelers and Black, Starr & Frost, said in a statement.

Molina acquired Black, Starr & Frost in 2006 and opened its showroom overlooking Newport Harbor in 2011.

—From Staff Reports