Biz News: Glassblower opens kiosk at Newport Beach’s Fashion Island

Glassybaby, a glassblowing company founded in 2001, recently opened a kiosk at Newport Beach’s Fashion Island.

It is the company’s first expansion into Southern California, according to a news release. The kiosk is next to Fashion Island’s koi pond, near Anthropologie.

Glassybaby also has locations in Northern California, Washington and Oregon.

Skosh Monahan’s briefly closes after cockroach infestation

Skosh Monahan’s, a Costa Mesa restaurant owned by former Councilman Gary Monahan, was closed for less than a day recently after health officials found live and dead cockroaches inside, records show.

The Orange County Health Care Agency visited the restaurant at 2000 Newport Blvd. on Oct. 18 after receiving a complaint. During the visit, a health official found several live cockroaches within seat cushions, a live cockroach at the bar station and numerous dead cockroaches on the floor against the back wall of the customer seating area and inside the lower back rim of a golf machine, according to a county report.

The county suspended the establishment’s health permit, but it was reinstated the same day after a follow-up inspection requested by Monahan.

“All dead cockroaches were cleaned during the inspection,” the follow-up report stated. “A thorough inspection of the facility was conducted and no further evidence of a cockroach infestation was observed.”

Bob’s Discount Furniture coming to Huntington Beach

Bob’s Discount Furniture, a retailer with 89 stores in 15 states, plans to open a location in Huntington Beach next year as part of its first venture to the West Coast.

Six new Southern California stores are scheduled to open Feb. 15, including at 16242 Beach Blvd. in Huntington Beach on the former site of a Sport Chalet.

Bob’s stores include cafes with free coffee and sweets. Customers also can buy furniture online at mybobs.com.

Johnny Rockets and George’s Grill close in downtown H.B.

Two downtown Huntington Beach restaurants closed recently.

The Johnny Rockets at 120 Fifth St. and George’s Grill at 300 Pacific Coast Hwy., have shut down.

According to the Orange County Register, the Johnny Rockets closed because its franchisee ended his lease term and wanted to close the diner. It will be replaced by a taco restaurant.

George’s Grill moves to 5 Points Plaza at Main Street and Beach Boulevard. Its former downtown location will become an ice cream shop, according to the Register.

Coca-Cola executive to speak at Costa Mesa breakfast

An Orange County Business Council Chairman’s Leadership Breakfast in Costa Mesa will feature a talk by Peter Villegas, vice president of Latin affairs for Coca-Cola Co. and a past chairman of the business council’s board of directors.

The event will be from 7:15 to 9 a.m. Nov. 7 at the Center Club, 650 Town Center Drive. Tom Phelps of Manatt, Phelps and Phillips LLP will serve as host.

Admission is $85 for business council members and $145 for non-members.

To register, visit ocbc.org/event/chairmans-leadership-breakfast-with-peter-r-villegas.

For more information, contact Pamela Chamberlain at [email protected] or (949) 794-7200.

Newport Bank of America employees help veterans

Newport Beach Bank of America employees and other BofA workers from around Orange County recently held a donation drive for veterans attending Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.

The employees gathered 2,000 items of food and school supplies, according to a news release. They also will provide ongoing career mentoring and financial education.

Bank of America also provided a $5,000 grant to Saddleback’s veterans program earlier this year.

“The donations are very heartwarming,” Chase Tolles, president of the Veterans Student Council, a branch of the campus’s Associated Student Government, said in a statement. “It’s humbling that people will help out. It shows the kindness of strangers.”

Newport firm acquires CdM commercial property

MSM Global Ventures LLC, based in Newport Beach, has acquired a shopping center in Corona del Mar anchored by Smart & Final Extra, according to a news release. The price was not disclosed.

The 1.5-acre site is at 3021 to 3049 E. Coast Hwy., near Jasmine Avenue.

Mark Moshayedi, chief executive of MSM, said in a statement that his company is looking to redevelop the property by adding parking and other changes.

“We believe the site can be much more than it is today,” he said. “Corona del Mar has some of the most affluent demographics in the country, and this site is prominently located right in the heart of it with exceptional traffic counts along PCH. The property has been owned by the same family for 70 years, so when we had the opportunity to buy it, we aggressively pursued it.”

Malibu Farm restaurant to open in Newport

A Malibu Farm restaurant will open in Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach in the spring, according to a news release.

It will be in a nearly 2,800-square-foot space.

Malibu Farm has a restaurant and cafe on the Malibu Pier, a location in Hawaii and another planned in Miami. Newport’s restaurant will have items picked from the Malibu Pier location, plus its own ice cream and other fare.

Huntington Beach staffing firm being acquired

BC Management Inc., a Huntington Beach-based executive staffing and research firm founded in 2000, is in the process of being acquired by another company, according to a news release.

Novume Solutions Inc., based in Virginia, wants to fold BC into its wholly owned subsidiary, Firestorm Solutions LLC, a crisis and risk management firm.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and approval by the Novume board of directors, according to the release.

Architectural consultant wins award for article

Howard Jancy, a commercial architectural consultant for Huntington Beach-based Custom Building Products who has more than 30 years’ experience in tile, stone and concrete flooring as well as paving design and installation, recently won the Construction Specifier Article of the Year Award, according to a news release.

The Construction Specifications Institute gives the annual honor, which recognizes exemplary editorial contributions by a member to the institute’s magazine, The Construction Specifier.

Jancy’s article, “For the Want of a Horseshoe Nail: Identifying Causes of Tile Failure,” used a case study to reinforce the importance of starting a project with accurate specifications to avoid problems later, according to the release.

H.B. financial planner elected president of association

Evelyn Zohlen, founder of Huntington Beach-based Inspired Financial, has been elected president of the national Financial Planning Assn. for 2019.

Zohlen has been a member of the organization since 2002 and was president of the Orange County chapter in 2010. The Financial Planning Assn. is a professional organization based in Colorado for certified financial planning professionals and educators.