The Orange County Business Expectations Index (OCBX) for the current quarter fell to 52.2% from 85.9% in the previous three-month period, according to California State University, Fullerton, economists led by Anil Puri. A reading of above 50 indicates a belief in future growth in the economy. “This is the sharpest Read More
The Shops at Mission Viejo will undergo a multimillion-dollar expansion that will add 50,000 square feet of retail and dining space to the shopping center. Real estate investment trust Simon, the owner of The Shops, plans to include an “outdoor village” focused on open-air experiences from outdoor dining terraces Read More
The City of Costa Mesa announced that local poet and University of California Irvine instructor Danielle Hanson has been named the first Poet Laureate in the City’s history. “I am honored and excited to have been selected for this role, and I look forward to working together with a vibrant Read More
The intriguing story behind who will take control of the 92-acre Ziggurat facility—one of the largest pieces of prime real estate in South County—took a strange turn last week. The winning bidders, Jeff Pintar of San Juan Capistrano-based Pintar Investment Co. and Cameron Hildreth of Signal Hill-based Hilco Development Services, Read More
To the inexperienced eye, Orange County may not seem like a hotbed for natural foods. Yet over 125 Orange County-based firms exhibited at the 2025 Natural Products Expo West convention in March, an event that attracted 64,000 attendees this year. Fast growing companies with trending brands like Good Culture, Orgain and Read More
Yet another Newport Beach building could be demolished for an apartment building. The city is considering turning a two-story Chase Bank at 1470 Jamboree Road into an eight-floor mixed-use project with 120 apartments and 11,600 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, according to public documents. The property, located across the Read More
Former Newport Beach Mayor Noah Blom hasn’t given up the restaurateur itch, with a long-awaited spot now moving ahead in his hometown, along Coast Highway. Plans for ARC Carne & Cantina this month were filed with the city. The new concept, located at 2902 W. Coast Highway, “brings together classic Read More
Two projects slated to bring more housing in Brea, including a development at the former Mercury Insurance property, will soon be considered by the city’s council members. Members of the Brea Planning Commission were in favor of a proposal calling for the demolition of the former Mercury Insurance office building Read More
After Charlie Zhang accepted his Business Journal award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship on March 20, he told the crowd, “God bless America.” It was a statement that combines two factors that Zhang believes helped him achieve success: the United States and God. Zhang grew up in Shanghai, where his family Read More
Luxury jeweler Lugano has become the star unit since it was acquired in 2021 by parent company Compass Diversified. The high-end Newport Beach retailer reported 2024 sales jumped 53% to $471 million; its sales have more than doubled in the past two years. Its operating income last year climbed 83% Read More
