The drive-through coffee expansion continues for Dutch Bros. Coffee in Orange County with the debut of its first north-county store in La Habra.
The Oregon-based chain with the slogan “energy for a better world” is known for its coffee confections, which run high on sugar and caffeine.
The stores do not have a walk-in space. Instead, customers order from a walkup window or drive-throughs. The La Habra store spans 950 square feet on the southwest corner of Lambert Road and Beach Blvd.
Dutch Bros. hires “broistas” at some 998 locations in 18 states. In addition to hot and cold brewed coffee drinks, it sells energy drinks, cocoa, lemonade, soda, smoothies and tea. Food is limited to muffin tops and granola bars.
The coffee chain launched in Orange County in Fountain Valley, where it now has two locations. It has several in Los Angeles and San Diego counties and the Inland Empire.
Address is 2060 W. Lambert Road.
Chinese jeweler opens at Brea Mall
Chow Tai Fook and Gem Hooray, a Hong Kong-based jewelry company, recently opened their first US store at the Brea Mall.
The jewelry store is on the upper level of the mall, between Lush and Chrono Toys.
Chow Tai Fook is nearly 100 years old, opening in 1929 in Guangzhou, China. The company operates thousands of stores in mainland China. It specializes in jewelry in either 18 karat or 24 karat gold.
Prices start in the low-hundreds for gold items. See more of their selection online at gemhooray.com
DAUM Commercial Real Estate Services closed the lease deal on behalf of the mall owner, Simon Property Group.
Hilton takes over Costa Mesa hotel
The Holiday Inn Express in Costa Mesa has a new name and a fresh look.
The Hampton Inn by Hilton Costa Mesa Newport Beach has been renovated, with each of its 62 guest rooms updated. The hotel also got an upgraded fitness center, lobby spaces got an update and breakfast was expanded.
For more information, go to hamptonbyhilton.com/costamesanewportbeach or call 949-631-6000.
Address: 2070 Newport Blvd.
Stratford School opens in Laguna Niguel
Stratford School Laguna Niguel is open and enrolling preschool students starting at 2 years old through fifth grade.
The campus has four preschool classrooms and nine elementary school classrooms, an outdoor playground and play space, plus a multipurpose room that also serves as our music room and library.
Tuition for a 10-month preschool year starts at $16,340, according to the school’s website. Elementary school tuition is $22,800.
For more information, go to stratfordschools.com/schools/southern-california/orange-county/laguna-niguel or call 949-876-7479 or email ln@stratfordschools.com .
Address: 29028 Aloma Ave.
Ickes retires at South County Outreach
Bunni Ickes, a 35-year team member with South County Outreach, has retired from the organization.
Ickes got started with the nonprofit as a volunteer and moved to board member before joining the staff in 2004. She was key to launching and managing the Upscale Resale Thrift Store, which now has two locations, and most recently she was the organization’s community outreach manager .
To honor her dedication, South County Outreach recently opened a fundraising campaign at sco-oc.org/honoring-bunni-ickes .
South County Outreach provides food and services to help end hunger and homelessness in Orange County. For more information, go to sco-oc.org .
On the move
Steve Marquez is the new president at SullivanCurtisMonroe Insurance Services in Irvine. Previously he was with Armstrong/Robitaille Insurance, which became BB&T and then McGriff, where he served as corporate senior vice president. The firm also in recent weeks welcomed Costa Mesa-based Clarke Marine Garvey Insurance Services, which is now affiliated with SCM.
News from last week
Old Towne restaurant closes: Hector’s on the Circle, a Mexican restaurant and bar in Orange’s historic plaza, closed abruptly. The Register’s food writer Brock Keeling reported the business was sold . The eatery took over after Watson’s Soda Fountain & Cafe closed after struggling through its debut. Coming to the former diner, established in that space back in 1899, is the seafood concept Kickin’ Crab.
Ownership changes: The longtime owner and developer of Bella Terra mall in Huntington Beach has sold its 25% interest in the property to its partner, PGIM Real Estate. San Jose-based DJM Capital Partners, which bought the property 20 years ago, declined to share terms of the sale. DJM bought the Huntington Beach Center in the early 2000s and soon launched a revamp of the aging center, which opened in 1966. It demolished many of the smaller buildings and flipped the mall inside-out, creating an exterior-facing experience for shoppers.
CTA moves forward: The Supreme court revived the Corporate Transparency Act , a new law requiring the owners of millions of small businesses to register with an arm of the Treasury Department charged with fighting money laundering and other financial crimes. The CTA had been held up after two judges put the order on hold. Now, owners and part-owners of an estimated 32.6 million small businesses must register personal information with Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN. The information includes photo IDs and home addresses. It’s unclear whether the Trump administration will devote much effort to enforcing the registration requirement.
Broncos and Mavericks recalled: Ford Motor Co. is recalling 272,827 Broncos and Mavericks due to a power problem that can cause vehicles to stop unexpectedly or fail to start. The problem is related to a 12 volt battery made by Camel Battery of China that has “internal manufacturing defects,” including weld failures that can cause open circuits.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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.
