The comfort food restaurant Bushfire Kitchen is opening its first Orange County location in Mission Viejo later this year.
The Carlsbad-based restaurant chain features dishes such as grass-fed steaks, chicken curry, burgers and signature empanadas. Entrée prices range from $11-$22. Diners can expect a selection of craft beer, wine and sangria, too.
“After years of persistent requests from our loyal guests, we are excited to open our first Orange County location and bring our healthy comfort food to the incredible community of Mission Viejo,” said Oliver Barwin, CEO of Bushfire Kitchen.
The restaurant, with room for 80 guests inside and on a generous outdoor patio, is set to open in mid-2024 on Alicia Parkway in the Alicia Landing retail center.
The south Orange County eatery marks the family-owned group’s seventh location. The first Bushfire Kitchen opened in Temecula in 2012. Other locations include Rancho Cucamonga, Eastvale, Menifee, Carlsbad and Del Mar.
David’s Bridal celebrates bigger store in Brea
David’s Bridal has reopened in Brea in a bigger store after shuttering its previous location in the city.
The bridal shop closed in late November last year and has been in “soft open” mode since December. The store at 2500 E Imperial Highway, Suite 140 (near Trader Joe’s) will celebrate its grand reopening from 6-8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 25.
The 8,568-square-foot store has an inventory of at least 500 gowns plus accessories and alteration specialists at hand.
David’s Bridal reps tell us the store also stocks 300 occasion style dresses and 1,500 bridesmaids options in myriad colors.
Sambazon bowls, juices now available at JWA
The frozen treat maker Sambazon has opened at John Wayne Airport.
The chain, founded in San Clemente in 2000, sells açaí-based bowls, juices and smoothies.
Travelers can find the kiosk at Terminal B near Gate 10. Hours are 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.
The JWA location is operated by the Bambuza Hospitality Group.
Luxury senior community opens in Laguna Niguel
Watermark Laguna Niguel, a senior retirement community with assisted living and memory care, celebrated its debut last week.
The community, developed by Tucson-based Watermark Retirement Communities and Alliance Residential Co., features luxury amenities, wellness programs and a high-end dining venue called Seasons.
For further information, go to tinyurl.com/mrx6sw55.
Job fair is Feb. 16 at Saddleback High
The Orange County Job Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Feb. 16 at Saddleback High School.
Organizers say there will be at least 80 Orange County employers there to meet and interview candidates.
Address: 2802 S Flower St., Santa Ana.
The job fair is a partnership between Saddleback Church, the Santa Ana Unified School District, the city of Santa Ana and its work center.
Tech Coast Angels rebrands as it expands
Irvine-based Tech Coast Angels has changed its name to TCA Venture Group.
Founded 28 years ago as an angel investor group, TCA has “outgrown the conventional associations” of its former name.
The group says that although technology remains a fundamental aspect of most of its investments, its network has deepened into different industries and geographies beyond Southern California’s “Tech Coast.” Half of its investments, it said, are now outside the region.
On the move
Greg Zimmer is being promoted to chief executive officer at Irvine-based Alliant Insurance Services, effective April 1. He is succeeding the firm’s longtime leader Tom Corbett, who is shifting to executive chairman. Corbett joined Alliant in 1977 and served as Alliant’s CEO for more than 30 years. Zimmer joined Alliant in 1998 as chief financial officer and was named president in 2007.
Adam Craig is the new CEO of Irvine-based GoDocs, a commercial lending document platform. Previously, he was president at Segmint, an analytics company for financial institutions.
Megan Day is the new director of development at Casa Youth Shelter in Los Alamitos. She has nine years of experience in the nonprofit sector, having previous roles at Alzheimer’s Orange County, including associate vice president of community engagement.
Orangewood Foundation appointed Tiffany Mitchell as its new chief program officer. Before joining Orangewood, she served as the executive vice president and chief operating officer at Lutheran Social Services of Southern California.
Also at Orangewood Foundation, Leila Entezam and Tedd Barr recently joined the nonprofit’s board of directors. Entezam has 20 years of experience in psychology, human behavior and leadership development. Barr has 18 years of experience in the advertising industry and leads Converze Media Group as the managing partner.
Attorney Ryan J. Egan has been promoted to partner at Hart Kienle Pentecost, a law firm in Santa Ana. The firm also hired Anna G. Kudla as its newest attorney.
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 sgowen@scng.com. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.
