Successful ventures wanted

Looking for that lost shaker of salt? Well, you’re probably not going

to find it any time soon.

Because you see, not only is there no “Cheeseburger in Paradise,”

there’s no Margaritaville to waste away in any longer either.

It’s enough to inspire a ditty by Jimmy Buffett himself.

That’s right, the popular Coast Highway hangout has shut its doors

after nearly two decades of serving up spirits to surfers, bikers and

anyone else who might want to just kick off their flip flops and sip

a frosty one.

Is Margaritaville just another casualty of the city’s

much-maligned Mariner’s Mile district that has seen its fair share of

turnover when it comes to restaurants and other commercial ventures?

Well, that’s hard to say.

But what can be said is that Margaritaville was a popular haunt

that still couldn’t succeed in an area that is in dire need of

successful ventures. If one named after a frozen concoction can’t

hang on, you have to wonder just what will.

Wait, we have a thought.

Maybe what Mariner’s Mile needs is a place with a little bit more

Newport Beach sophistication.

That’s right, bring on Martiniville.