A French-inspired bakery opened recently in Brea, offering an array of pastries destined to break all those dieters’ New Year’s resolutions.
Tous les Jours sells some 300 types of pastries, cakes and desserts baked in-store daily.
The bakery’s general manager is Cindy Chang. Hours daily, all week are 7 am to 9 pm
Its official grand opening is Jan. 10 followed by a ribbon cutting Jan. 17.
Tous les Jours, which means every day in French, operates 16 bakeries in Southern California. There are over 138 stores in the US and 1,794 worldwide.
Senior mid-rise launches this year in Irvine
An eight-story senior living community is due to launch construction this year in Irvine, bringing 350 apartments to the community.
The James of Irvine is expected to open in summer 2027 at the corner of Barranca Parkway and Millikan Avenue, according to its owner, P3 Foundation.
The mid-rise tower at 1001 Gates Ave will offer 350 studio, one- and two-bedroom rental units. Residents can opt for independent living, assisted living or memory care. P3 Foundation, a nonprofit, says there is no upfront fee to join The James. Monthly rent pricing was not available from P3 Foundation.
Amenities at the 3-acre community will include outdoor courtyards with barbecue grills, fire pits, seating, a putting green and bocce ball court and gardens.
Harbert South Bay Partners will develop the community; Momentum Senior Living will manage it.
JWA passenger count dips in November
Holiday airline passenger traffic at John Wayne Airport fell 7.3% in November compared to November 2023.
JWA served 882,996 passengers this November compared with 954,228 the previous November, the airport reported.
Commercial aircraft operations were also down, declining 2.1%. Commuter operations, meanwhile, increased 37.1%.
That helped boost aircraft operations to 34,652 takeoffs and landings, a 51.7% year-over-year increase.
The top three airlines in November 2024 based on passenger count were Southwest Airlines (251,696), American Airlines (145,796), and Alaska Airlines (137,976).
On the move
Jesse Payne is the new chief executive officer at Higher Ground Youth & Family Services in Anaheim. Previously, he was vice president of human resources at Omni Duct, an HVAC and refrigeration equipment maker in Buena Park, and before that he was executive director of Valley Inquiry Charter School in Salem, Oregon, according to his LinkedIn page. Higher Ground is a nonprofit that incorporates programs at its clubhouse and creative learning center, where it helps at-risk children with homework and tutoring. Find out more at highergroundoc.org
2024 top stories
Last year brought a host of news across Southern California. Here’s a look back at the most read Business stories written by Samantha Gowen:
Trader Joe’s opened 8 new stores in the region : The Monrovia-based grocery store chain expanded last year, adding eight grocery stores to its Southern California roster. The Inland Empire gained a new store in Murrieta at a former OfficeMax store. Los Angeles County got four new stores, Orange County one and San Diego County two.
Optum laying off hundreds: The healthcare company owned by UnitedHealth Group laid out 525 people in multiple locations, many of them at urgent care facilities in Southern California. The company, in a notice to the state’s Employment Development Department, said it was carrying out layoffs and “departmental closures” at 14 locations including Glendora, Montebello, Covina, Pasadena, Long Beach, Redlands, Highlands, Los Angeles, Beaumont, Irvine, El Segundo, Cerritos and Hayward in Alameda County. The layoffs began Sept. 16 and concludes this month.
63 grocery stores targeted for divestment : Kroger and Albertsons Cos. Last April announced they would divest 579 stores, 63 of them in California, to C&S Wholesale Grocers as part of a proposed $26.4 billion merger. That merger was ultimately blocked in December by a federal judge in Oregon. Albertsons then sued Kroger , saying it didn’t do enough to secure regulatory approval for the $24.6 billion agreement.
Big Lots closing stores in California: The discount retailer said in August it was closing 75 stores in the state. In a 386-page filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the bankrupt company detailed new loan terms with its creditors. By the time the latest 75 stores close, it will operate just 34 locations in California. At least 30 of the closures are in Southern California.
Rubio’s closing restaurants: Rubio’s Coastal Grill The Carlsbad-based chain known for its fish tacos said last June that it was closing 48 restaurants in California, blaming the state’s business climate. “The closings were brought about by the rising cost of doing business in California. While painful, the store closures are a necessary step in our strategic long-term plan to position Rubio’s for success for years to come,” the company said in a statement.
Dollar Tree replaces 99 Cents Only : Recently shuttered 99 Cents Only Stores quickly flipped to another discount banner last year. Dollar Tree was the winning bidder for at least 93 stores across the state, most in Southern California. 99 Cents Only shuttered hundreds of stores nationwide after it filed for bankruptcy.
Costco card readers : Thanks to readers across Southern California, we learned that Costco was installing membership card readers at its entrances. The new entrance policy got off to an awkward start at some stores, prompting swift complaints about lines at the doors, similar to the pandemic days. The company said it was launching the technology to help stem a tide of membership sharing.
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.
