The District at Tustin Legacy recently added two new restaurants and a retailer, with more coming by the fall.
They include:
Jini Mini, a gift shop with international plushies, Korean beauty products and more, is open by ULTA Beauty.
Café 86, a dessert and drink spot known for ube (purple yam) creations and sweet treats, is open in The Promenade near Prego Restaurant.
The District Eatery, located next to AMC, offers a healthy take on Asian comfort food.
Coming later this year are Activate Games, due to open in July, which features interactive gaming.
By the fall, Le Macaron will bring its French pastries to the dining options.
Address: the inside-out retail center, with its parking in the middle and stores circling the lots, is at the northwest corner of Barranca Parkway and Jamboree Road. For more information, go to thedistricttl.com.
In case you missed this other mall news:
The Shops at Mission Viejo is expanding, adding a 50,000 outdoor “village.” The expansion will bump the retail space into part of the parking lots, according to Simon, the mall’s owner.
Simon also owns Brea Mall, where a multimillion-dollar expansion is adding apartments and retail space where a former Sears was located. Some of the newest tenants to sign on include Rivian and eight other merchants including UNIQLO.
Rodrigo’s closes temporarily in Anaheim Hills
Rodrigo’s Mexican Grill in Anaheim Hills is closing temporarily while it makes “extensive” renovations to the restaurant.
Dating to 1977, the Mexican restaurant will be closed through summer marks as the owners modernize “and reinvent its space while honoring the rich history and tradition.”
The remodel will act as a template for other Rodrigo updates in the chain.
Renovations will include new windows, booths, flooring, and other interior “enhancements.” Expect the Anaheim Hills location to reopen in the fall.
The company has restaurants in Orange, Anaheim, Tustin and Corona.
Zonta Filmfest returns to Chapman U
The 15th annual Zonta Filmfest takes place from 1-4:30 p.m. at the Dodge College of Film & Media Arts at Chapman University in Orange.
The film festival features short films directed or produced by women, which are screened in the Marion Knott Theatre. Net proceeds from ticket sales go to Working Wardrobes, which helps at-risk individuals with career development and professional wardrobes, and female film students at Chapman.
The event sponsor is Zonta Club of Newport Harbor. The organization was founded in 1948 with a mission to support women and girls with service projects, grants, scholarships and advocacy.
For more information, go to zontanewportharbor.ejoinme.org/filmfest2025
Job fair is April 24 in Santa Ana
A job fair is coming to Santa Ana College on April 24.
The event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. will include at least 60 employers looking for qualified candidates.
This job fair sponsored Sponsored by the Pizza Press, Santa Ana Work Center and the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce is aimed at Santa Ana College students and Santa Ana Unified School District’s high school students and any job seekers in Santa Ana.
Saddleback Church is providing two professional photographers who will be available to provide free headshots on a first come, first served basis.
Address: 1530 W. 17th St. Santa Ana, CA 92706
To register and find out more details, go to tinyurl.com/29p4adu4
IVC adding new student buildings
Irvine Valley College has launched work on two campus projects that will add a new student union and student services building.
The $70.9 million expansion will add a combined 77,000 square feet to campus amenities:
—The services building at 47,437 square feet will include a modern facility aimed at streamlining support services.
— The Student Union will span 30,362 square feet.
The builder for the projects is ProWest Constructors out of Wildomar.
CureDuchenne Clinic coming to CHOC
Newport Beach-based CureDuchenne is partnering with Children’s Hospital of Orange County to create a CureDuchenne Clinic within the Neuromuscular Program at CHOC in Orange.
The nonprofit is granting CHOC nearly $1.5 million over three years to build out the diagnostics and treatment center for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
The clinic will offer therapies, clinical trials, and services aimed at enhancing the “quality of life and long-term outcomes for individuals with DMD and other neuromuscular diseases,” CureDuchenne said in a statement.
Julian Thomas is the medical director of the Neuromuscular Program at CHOC.
“We are at an incredible moment to drive advancements in care and our partnership with CureDuchenne will help us chart a bright future,” Thomas said.
On the move
Krista Hollinger is the incoming president and chief executive at Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties. She is the organization’s chief operating officer and will rise to CEO on July 1, after Jon Dunn steps down from the role after 31 years. Hollinger, who first started her career with the organization as a program manager, rejoined PPOSBC in December 2021, and previously was chief administrative officer for Obstetrics and Gynecology at UC Irvine Health.
Good works
Westcliff University in Irvine recently hosted Inclusive Sports Day 2025, which brought together more than 200 students with disabilities and at least 175 student-athletes and volunteers at Edison High School in Huntington Beach. The carnival-style event celebrated inclusivity, empowerment and connection through sports, Westcliff said.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County’s third annual Walk to Feed OC raised $222,834. The walk took place March 15 at Tanaka Farms with nearly 1,000 community members participating, according to the food bank. Second Harvest in its last fiscal year distributed food through 286 partners at 394 sites, serving an average of 442,000 people each month. “This event raises awareness and funds that are critical for our community. Together, we can ensure that our community members have reliable access to nutritious food,” said Claudia Bonilla Keller, CEO of Second Harvest.
Status Update is compiled and written by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items and high-resolution photos to sgowen@scng.com. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.
