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Status Update: San Juan’s River Street Marketplace signs 22 food, retail shops

April 3, 2023

Nearly two dozen tenants have signed leases at River Street Marketplace, a retail and dining center coming this fall to a former nursery in San Juan Capistrano.

Shoppers can expect a farmhouse-style space with gourmet eats and locally-owned boutiques. Renderings offer a sneak peek of the 60,000-square-foot concept with walkways lined with native plants and water features while the buildings carry peaked, flat or arched rooflines.

Property owner Almquist, formerly Frontier Real Estate Investments, is developing the center, which should be completed by October-November.

We asked Dan Almquist, the managing partner/developer, a few questions about the center.

McConnell’s Ice Cream, a 70-year-old California ice cream brand, is opening its first scoop shop at River Street Marketplace this fall in San Juan Capistrano. (Courtesy of McConnell’s Ice Cream)

Hudson’s Cookies, a local bake shop known for hefty, gooey treats meant to be enjoyed “medium rare,” is coming to River Street Marketplace this fall in San Juan Capistrano. (Courtesy of Hudson’s Cookies)

Toes on the Nose, a family-owned and operated surf apparel company based in Laguna Beach, signed a lease at River Street Marketplace in San Juan Capistrano. The outdoor retail center opens in fall 2023. (Courtesy of Toes on the Nose)

SALT, an independent eyewear brand, is among the myriad retail merchants coming to River Street Marketplace this fall in San Juan Capistrano. (Courtesy of SALT)

River Street Marketplace, a retail and dining center coming this fall to a former nursery in San Juan Capistrano, has signed 22 new tenants. The 60,000-square-foot outdoor center will feature a farmhouse style with native plants and water features. (Rendering courtesy of Bickel Group Architecture)

Pick Me Flowers is among the new merchants coming to River Street Marketplace this fall in San Juan Capistrano. (Courtesy of Pick Me Flowers)

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Q: Is this akin to a food and retail hall?

A: River Street Marketplace is going to be a sprawling outdoor retail and dining center with a mini food hall component called Rodeo River Street. There will be several retail storefronts, standalone restaurant pads and a large, barn-like structure that will house Rodeo River Street food hall with 10 fast-casual food tenants.

Q: What was there before the development of River Street started?

A: The site was previously home to Ito Nursery, which closed at the end of 2021.

Q: How many or how much of the property will be ready by fall? Is the structure built yet? How much is expected to open in 2024?

A: We anticipate that 70 percent of the tenants will be ready to open by fall. All the buildings are framed out with sidings. All buildings are technically built, just site work needs to be done now. Projected openings will begin in October this year going into Q1, with all tenants fully open by or before spring 2024. They have about 5 spaces left available to lease that can be either restaurant or retail.

Retail merchants that have signed leases include:

Common Thread, a locally-owned womenswear boutique.

Fermentation Farm, a probiotic concept that sells sauerkraut, pickles, long-fermented sourdough bread, bone broths and kombucha

Free People, a women’s brand that sells apparel, intimate wear and accessories.

Hudson’s Cookies, a local bake shop known for hefty, gooey treats meant to be enjoyed “medium rare.”

Kozan Teahouse & Boba offers a wide variety of specialty beverages.

McConnell’s Ice Cream, a 70-year-old California ice cream brand, is opening its first scoop shop. The company is known for making ice creams with local and organic ingredients sourced from local orchards and ranches.

Seager, an 8-year-old San Clemente clothing brand that sells apparel, outdoor gear and experiences with a style that embraces the Old West.

SALT, an independent eyewear brand.

Toes on the Nose, a family-owned and operated surf apparel company based in Laguna Beach.

Wildfire Mercantile, a boutique offering Western lifestyle clothing and apparel such as cowboy hats and boots along with accessories, home goods and gift items.

Restaurants include Bred’s Hot Chicken, Capistrano Brewing, Finca by David Pratt, La Vaquera, Gueros Cevicheria, The Meat Cellar Market and Steakhouse, Mendocino Farms, Nana’s Fish Chippery, Shootz Hawaiian and Ubuntu Café.

Stay tuned for more details on those eateries from the Register’s food reporter Caitlin Antonios.

Urban Air Adventure Park opened April1, 2023, at Fullerton Metrocenter at the corner of Harbor Boulevard and Orangethorp Avenue. (Courtesy of Urban Air Adventure Park)

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Adventure park for kids debuts in Fullerton

An indoor bounce, jump chase and climb for children (and anyone else who loves to scramble) has debuted in Fullerton.

Urban Air Adventure Park opened Saturday, April1 at Fullerton Metrocenter at the corner of Harbor Boulevard and Orangethorp Avenue.

Attractions include a warrior course, virtual reality, laser tag, climbing walls, ropes course and Sky Rider.

Owner Parag Laddha described Urban Air as a place where families can “disconnect from a busy outside world and cherish the joy of laughter and giggles through play.”

Address: 1515 S Harbor Blvd. Unit 10, Fullerton, CA, 92832.

The Anaheim Vintage Toy Buying Show this week features Joel Magee, a Disney expert featured on the TV Show “Pawn Stars.” (Courtesy of Anaheim Vintage Toy Buying Show)

Vintage toy show continues this week

The Anaheim Vintage Toy Buying Show started April 2 and continues through Thursday.

Toy collectors are encouraged to bring their classic collections so that Joel Magee, a Disney expert featured on the TV Show “Pawn Stars,” can review and maybe even make on-the-spot cash offers.

The show runs daily this week at two locations from 10-5 p.m.

Monday: Residence Inn, 700 W Kimberly Ave, Placentia

April 4-6: Hilton Garden Inn, 11777 Harbor Blvd., Garden Grove

Admission and parking for the show are free.

For toy or doll questions or for more information about the show, check out toyscout.com, or contact Joel Magee at 561-628-1990 and [email protected].

On the move

Julio E. Martinez has joined Gilson Daub, a workers’ compensation defense and subrogation law firm, as managing partner of its headquarters office in San Clemente. He has been managing teams and handling workers’ compensation claims since becoming an attorney in 2007. Most recently, in August 2022, Martinez was appointed to the board of the Hispanic Insurance & Risk Management Association as their director of legal affairs.

On board

Providence Mission Hospital welcomed six new members to its Community Ministry Board. The board is composed of educators, healthcare workers and community services workers. They are James C. Bastian Jr., lawyer; Elizabeth Jensen, chief financial officer for Goodwill of Orange County; Jeremy Laster, president of Rancho Mission Viejo; Raul Marquez, a Providence Mission Hospital doctor; Michael Moodian, Chapman professor; Linda Sieglen, Providence Mission Hospital’s former chief medical officer.

Good works

Beyond Blindness’ raised $252,874 at its sixth annual Vision Beyond Sight Gala at the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin. The nonprofit will use the money to support children with visual impairments and other disabilities. Beyond Blindness also has a new strategic plan for the next five years that will expand early intervention, education and enrichment and family programs. By 2027, the organization plans to serve more than 2,600 children and families.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast raised $42,000 at its sixth annual Women of Greatness Brunch & Bubbly, which celebrated women who made a significant impact in the lives of Orange County youth and their families. BGC of Central OC will use the money to continue providing mentorship to youth and comprehensive services to families.

Status Update is compiled from press releases by contributing writer Karen Levin and edited by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items and high-resolution photos to [email protected]. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.

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