The latest contender to reinvent the all-American classic, District 36 in Fountain Valley, has hit the mark by seamlessly stitching traditional and not-so-common diner fare with Vietnamese influences.

Among its roster of inspired items — which include a breakfast burrito with Vietnamese sausage or candied bacon, and a “cha hash bowl” featuring lemongrass sausage, scrambled eggs and a sweet-salty fish sauce — the five-spice chicken fried “steak” stands out as a true star on a menu full of bangers.

ALSO READ: 5 perfect patty melts to please your palate in Orange County

This diner staple swaps tenderized cube steak for a katsu-style breaded chicken cutlet seasoned with five-spice. While often associated with Cantonese cuisine in the U.S., the five-spice blend (known as ngũ vị hương in Vietnamese, typically composed of star anise, cloves, Chinese cinnamon, Sichuan pepper and fennel seed) is also a key ingredient in some Vietnamese dishes, like ga nuong (grilled chicken) and sườn kho ngũ vị hương (braised pork ribs).

The addition of five-spice does wonders to this typically laden dish, infusing it with a welcome warmth and suggestion of sweetness. The golden-brown cutlet is generously smothered in a homemade gravy, then anointed with tangles of house-pickled onions and microgreens.

Gilding the lily, District 36 boosts the dish with a side of crispy tater tots and two eggs (rice substitution is also available). While the meal was indeed a substantial one, it left just enough room for me to enjoy Mama’s crispy rolls, a delightfully shatteringly crisp concoction filled with pork, shrimp and mushrooms, and served with a light yet bright fish sauce (nước chấm) for dipping.

ALSO READ: How the fall of Saigon cultivated a culinary legacy in Orange County — and beyond

Tucked inside a Fountain Valley shopping center boating an array of Asian eateries, District 36 opened its doors in early May. Other notable dishes here include beef and chicken pho, a bun bowl, steak and eggs, pancakes with fruit compote, street grilled rice plate and Vietnamese coffee. Keep it on your radar for a place to get breakfast fare for lunch and dinner!

Also warranting a mention is the decor that nods to diner culture without ever careening into kitsch or parody. You’ll find plenty of vinyl-booth seating, diner-style chairs, teal-colored walls adorned with illustrations of pho and Lucky Strike cigarettes (a common ration for U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War) and white subway tile along the main room’s divider. A prop telephone in the back invites customers to listen to a riddle, the solving of which earns a discount. Instead of ketchup, sriracha bottles sit alongside tins of chopsticks and stainless steel napkin dispensers on every table. (Ketchup also available at request.) All of this, along with the aforementioned chicken dish, helps create a place that feels both deeply familiar and distinctly new.

Hours: Open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Find it: 18912 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley

In a 4-1 vote, the council denied an appeal of the planning commission’s earlier approval of the project, slated for 16800 Magnolia St. Those four councilmembers said they did not see a reason for the planning commission’s decision to be revisited.

“It’s going to be a big change for Fountain Valley,” Councilmember Patrick Harper said. “But with regards to the appeal and the items that were mentioned, I don’t think there’s a basis for appealing.”

Related: Fountain Valley City Council will consider a multi-use housing development plan on former Boomers! site

The planning commission originally approved the housing development on July 11, but the Supporters Alliance for Environmental Responsibility, a non-profit advocacy group that challenges developments believed to violate environmental regulations, initiated an appeal, requesting a new environmental impact report to be conducted on the project.

SAFER argued that there could be unknown environmental consequences not initially considered by the planning commission.

Mayor Ted Bui, the only council member who supported the project’s appeal, expressed similar concerns about the environment and traffic control. He called for the development plan to be sent back to the planning commission for additional hearings and evaluations.

The high-rise housing development at 16800 Magnolia St. is one of many projects aimed at addressing additional housing needs in Fountain Valley. Bui said he believed the plan needed more consideration to ensure it was not rushed through the approval process.

“A project of this magnitude, we need to look at it carefully,” Bui said. “We’re setting precedent for many other projects that are coming down the pipeline.”

In an almost three-hour process, the City Council heard from the housing developers, representatives from SAFER and Fountain Valley residents.

Some residents expressed concerns about increased traffic, parking availability and environmental impacts, including pollution and air quality.

The developers said parking would be restricted to the residential spaces and there would be no significant impacts air and noise quality levels.

The City Council denied the appeal but added a requirement for the development to include in its lease that residents and guests could not park in adjacent commercial parking lots.

Additionally, council members discussed a new traffic light and a barrier to block off a common illegal U-turn on Magnolia Street. While the housing developers expressed support for this, the City Council will have to request the California Department of Transportation to install both the light and the barrier.

“I will ask staff to make sure we do everything that we can to try and provide that to the residents,” Councilmember Glen Grandis said. “It’s the least we can do.”

The housing plan — submitted by the Holland Partner Group — consists of two seven-story buildings and two seven-story parking structures. There will be 4,460 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor, and 657 residential apartment units. It includes 980 parking spaces throughout the development.

Additionally, the housing development proposed an affordable housing agreement that will secure 78 deed-restricted low-income units.

The site is just off the 405 freeway, taking the place of the former Boomers! location — a family center with arcades, mini-golf, and go-kart racing — which closed in 2020.

With the project’s approval by the City Council, Holland Partner Group can begin its work on the development.

The City Council will take up an appeal on Tuesday, July 15, regarding the project that the planning commission greenlit on July 11.

The development was submitted by the Holland Partner Group in March 2025 and is located at 16800 Magnolia St., just off the 405 freeway. It would take the place of the former Boomers! location — a family center with arcades, mini-golf, and go-kart racing — which closed in 2020.

The proposed plan consists of two seven-story buildings and two seven-story parking structures. There will be 4,460 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor and 657 residential apartment units.

Additionally, the housing development proposed an affordable housing agreement that will secure 78 deed-restricted low-income units.

The City Council considered initiating a council appeal of the planning commission’s approval of the development on June 23. The meeting ended without the council coming to a decision, which allowed the planning commission’s approval to remain intact until the council revisited the appeal.

The appeal being considered at Tuesday’s meeting was initiated by the Supporters Alliance for Environmental Responsibility, a group that challenges development projects believed to violate environmental regulations.

In a letter to the planning commission, SAFER said it “requests that the Planning Commission refrain from taking any action on the Project” and instead produce a study for a project-specific environmental impact report (EIR).

The appeal said there could be significant impacts that were not considered under the plan’s final environmental impact report and that a new EIR is necessary for the plan to be approved.

Principal planner Steven Ayers and his team conducted an analysis of the appeal, which found insufficient explanations for why the planning commission’s approval should be revoked by the City Council. Ayers recommended that the council conduct a public hearing and deny SAFER’s appeal to reaffirm the planning commission’s approval, he wrote in the analysis.

This would once again reinstate the planning commission’s approval of the 16800 Magnolia St. project.

The housing development is part of an effort to provide 4,839 additional residential units to Fountain Valley by 2029, mandated by the state of California’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment. The RHNA follows State Housing Law and quantifies housing needs in cities throughout California.

The 16800 Magnolia St. housing development is one of many plans that the Fountain Valley Planning Commission is considering to reach the number of required housing units.

The commission also recently approved the Euclid and Heil project — a high-density residential development with 626 units — located on a former strawberry field at 16300 Euclid St.

The Fountain Valley City Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. Meetings are held at the Fountain Valley City Hall, located at 10200 Slater Ave.

Starting Saturday, July 12, the registrar is hosting several workshops to hear from Orange County voters on polling and ballot drop box locations, accessibility of polling stations, language access, voting outreach programs and safety procedures.

The workshops — several of which offer other languages, including Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese — run through the rest of the month and into August.

They are an effort to solicit feedback on how the county can update and improve its Election Administration Plan, which governs how the voting process works in Orange County, said Bob Page, the registrar of voters.

Workshops, which can last between one and one and a half hours, will be split into two categories: general public workshops and accessibility language workshops.

General public workshops are opportunities for anyone to provide feedback. Accessibility language workshops — in addition to having translators for various languages — will focus on how polling centers can better accommodate those whose first language is not English.

Rooms will be divided into five sections — voting and ballot drop box locations, accessibility of voting facilities, language assistance and accessibility services, voter education and outreach programs and safety and security of the election process — where attendees can provide verbal or written feedback, said Page.

Attendees can participate in one or all of the categories. There will also be a packet for attendees who would rather write down all of their feedback instead of visiting each station separately.

“We wanted to give them an opportunity to be comfortable providing feedback in the method they want in the areas they want,” said Page.

The Voters Choice Act, a state law that lays out how counties administer an all-mail ballot election system with ballot drop-off locations and vote centers, requires the registrar to hold a public feedback forum after initial changes are made to the election plan. But Page said his office is hosting the series of workshops — before the plan is edited — to give local voters more involvement in the process.

“We don’t want to just do the minimum required,” Page said. “We want to make sure that we’re getting feedback from as many different people as we can.”

Other factors the registrar is considering for updates include federal and state law, data from previous elections, best practices determined by the registrar and the county budget, Page said.

“The community input and feedback is a very important part of any update we make, but that has to be balanced with those other four elements in terms of what is actually in the plan,” Page said.

Aside from the 15 scheduled workshops, the registrar has invited more than 250 organizations to schedule small group meetings. Many of these organizations are involved in voter outreach and the voting process by lending their facilities for polling locations and drop-off boxes, Page said.

The registrar plans to complete the initial feedback process in the first week of August, Page said. The registrar’s office will then compile summaries of the feedback to be published online and create the first draft of the new 2026-2030 EAP.

“I’ve got a deadline to meet and I’m trying to do my best to give people as much time as possible and as many different formats to provide input,” Page said.

The secretary of state has requested the final draft of the EAP by Dec. 1, although by law it is due 120 days before the June 2026 primary election, which would be in February 2026, Page said.

After the first draft of the EAP is published, there will be a 14-day public review period during which people can provide additional comments on the plan. The registrar’s office has also scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 25 at the Irvine City Hall for in-person feedback.

The registrar will make necessary changes based on feedback received online and at the hearing, Page said. The office will then post a final draft that receives the same 14-day review before final changes are made and the EAP is sent to the secretary of state.

The election plan spanning 2021-2025 is available in 10 languages on the registrar of voters’ website. More information about the workshops or how to submit a feedback form online can also be found on the registrar’s website.

Workshops are scheduled for:

• Saturday, July 12: San Juan Capistrano Community Center (25925 Camino Del Avion), 10-11:30 a.m.

• Monday, July 14: Buena Park Community Center (6688 Beach Blvd.), 6-7 p.m.; Korean language meeting

• Wednesday, July 16: Los Olivos Community Center in Irvine (101 Alfonso), 6-7 p.m.; Farsi interpretation available

• Thursday, July 17: Delhi Center in Santa Ana (505 E. Central Ave.), 6-7 p.m.; Spanish language meeting

• Saturday, July 19: Fountain Valley Recreation Center (16400 Brookhurst St.), 10-11 a.m.; Vietnamese language meeting

• Monday, July 21: South Coast Chinese Cultural Center in Irvine (9 Truman St.), 6-7 p.m.; Chinese language meeting

• Tuesday, July 22: Southwest Senior Center in Santa Ana (2201 W. McFadden Ave.), 6-7:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, July 23: Zoom meeting with ASL interpretation available, 6-7 p.m.

• Thursday, July 24: West Anaheim Youth Center (320 S. Beach Blvd.), 6-7 p.m., Tagalog interpretation available

• Saturday, July 26: Huntington Beach Central Library (7111 Talbert Ave.), 10-11:30 a.m.

• Monday, July 28: Northwood Community Center in Irvine (4531 Bryan Ave.), 6-7 p.m., Japanese interpretation available

• Tuesday, July 29: Norman P. Murray Community Center in Mission Viejo (24932 Veterans Way), 6-7:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, July 30: Buena Park Library (7150 La Palma Ave.), 6-7 p.m.; Hindi interpretation available

• Thursday, July 31: East Anaheim Community Center (8201 E. Santa Ana Canyon Rd.), 6-7 p.m.; Gujarati interpretation available

• Saturday, Aug. 2: Brea Community Center (695 Madison Way), 10-11:30 a.m.

At around 12:57 a.m. on Sunday, June 22, deputies responded to a call regarding a shooting on the 8000 block of Katella Avenue, near Beach Boulevard, outside of 99 Bottles & Cocktails.

Deputies arrived and found 48-year-old Salvador Ramirez of Fountain Valley suffering from a gunshot wound to the head, according to a sheriff’s news release. He was transported to a hospital, but died Monday evening.

The suspect was at large Tuesday. Authorities believe the suspect to be a male who fled the scene on foot early Sunday morning.

The Sheriff’s Department is asking the public for help locating the suspect. Anyone with additional information can call the department at (714) 647-7000. Anonymous tips can be sent to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at ocsheriff.gov/occrimestoppers

Reports of ICE activity came in from across the city, including outside Home Depot locations, at a business park near Warner Avenue and Garnsey Street and at a commercial area around Broadway and Warner, according to the Orange County Rapid Response Network, a mutual aid group that keeps watch for ICE activity in local communities. In Fountain Valley, agents were reported near a car wash and a fast food restaurant off Magnolia Street and near Fountain Valley Regional Hospital. Additional activity was confirmed in Huntington Beach by the network.

According to network coordinator Sandra De Anda, at least a dozen people were detained outside of a Home Depot on Harbor Boulevard, and community dispatchers logged several others being detained throughout the day.

Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento said immigration officials appeared to have targeted day laborers waiting for work. News of the raids sparked protests Monday at several locations in Santa Ana, including outside Santa Ana City Hall and near the Home Depot.

Ricky Dominguez, 36, of Santa Ana, said he went to the protest near the civic center after work because he had been left “speechless” that ICE was seen detaining people in Santa Ana.

“I saw what was going on with ICE and felt I had to be here,” he said. “They’re here in my backyard.”

Throughout the afternoon, the crowd of protesters grew along Santa Ana Boulevard in front of the federal building. At one point, when protesters tried to block a van from leaving a driveway from the federal building, police intervened to push the crowd back and used pepper spray as a deterrent.

Just before 6 p.m., the demonstration had grown to several hundred people and was at times blocking Santa Ana Boulevard and Civic Center Plaza, the former of which was shut down to traffic with barricades in place. The federal building was guarded by law enforcement members in tactical gear, some had patches that said Homeland Security Investigations or Homeland Security Police.

Dylan Carranca, 23, of Fullerton, said he was standing in front of the agents near the federal building when he saw three tear gas canisters get thrown into the crowd standing in the street.

“We were just standing there. I didn’t see anything get thrown by our side and then all of a sudden we saw three get thrown. One on the right, one in the middle and one on the left. I saw one land and I took off running,” Carranca said, whose eyes had turned red from the gas.

Protesters who had spent the afternoon in Santa Ana said police at first were using pepper bullets, but later switched to rubber bullets.

“Every time we move up, we don’t even do anything, they’re just there and tell us to stay. We get close and they keep trying to get us to get back with tear gas and they start shooting rubber bullets,” said Carla, 22, of Santa Ana, who did not want to give her last name. “It’s a cycle.”

Photos: Santa Ana Police declare riot as immigration raids spark day-long protest

Just before 6:30 p.m., someone from the crowd launched an object toward the agents, which triggered another round of tear gas and the crowd to move back.

After 7 p.m. law enforcement declared the gathering a riot and told people they needed to leave and be off the street or they would be arrested.

Police declared an unlawful assembly at around 8:30 p.m. Monday as some protesters continued to hurl fireworks and objects including bottle rockets at local and federal authorities, who responded with tear gas and other crowd-control weapons.

Orange County sheriff’s deputies joined the fray, and authorities began moving the crowd away from the federal courthouse, which was heavily damaged by graffiti and other vandalism.

The exact number of arrests was unclear Monday evening.

“The situation has escalated, and what began as a lawful assembly around the Civic Center Plaza, has escalated into objects being thrown towards officers and other members of the public, posing a risk to public safety, property, and the well-being of our community,” the city of Santa Ana said in a post on X at about 9 p.m.

“In response, federal agents have deployed less-lethal ammunition, including tear gas, pepper balls, and rubber bullets.”

A woman who said she was a nurse volunteering at the scene told City News Service that multiple people were treated for injuries suffered when law enforcement fired rubber bullets at the crowd.

By 11 p.m. things had apparently died down, with authorities pursuing a few stragglers near Main Street.

Across town, around 100 people gathered peacefully at the intersection of Harbor and MacArthur boulevards around 6:30 p.m. to protest the immigration enforcement actions that took place earlier in the day.

“ICE out of OC,” the protesters chanted, as passing cars honked in support. They held signs that read, “We celebrate sanctuary here” and “No one is illegal.”

Carlos Perea, executive director of the Harbor Institute for Immigrant & Economic Justice, said he hadn’t expected day laborers in Orange County to be targeted so soon, following the recent raids in Los Angeles.

Councilmember David Penaloza, who represents the area around the Home Depot on Edinger, condemned the timing and tactics of the enforcement activity.

“These actions are not about public safety,” he said in a statement. “They are about intimidation and sowing fear among some of the most vulnerable and hardest-working members of our community.”

“No city resources have been or will be used to assist ICE agents in any way,” Penaloza added. “However, if any individuals — whether federal agents or peaceful protesters — resort to violence, Santa Ana police will respond to help maintain public safety.”

The Santa Ana Police Department said in a statement that the department “does not and will not participate in immigration enforcement efforts.”

Sarmiento, who previously served as Santa Ana mayor, visited a Home Depot on Edinger Avenue on Monday morning and said he was told at least six people had been detained there.

“Our day laborers, they’re simply looking for work,” he said in a social media video. “These are people who are not criminals, these are people who are trying to feed their families.”

Councilmember Thai Viet Phan called the day’s events “unconstitutional, horrifying and inhumane,” and pointed to the broader pattern of enforcement she said is targeting immigrant families across Southern California.

“Separating families, raiding schools, invading hospitals and ambushing graduation ceremonies do not constitute public safety,” she said in a statement.

Monday’s events in Orange County follow a weekend of coordinated federal raids in the Los Angeles area. At least 44 people were detained across a handful of sites, and protests have quickly escalated across the area, with large crowds gathering at the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in downtown L.A., Paramount and Boyle Heights. Over the weekend, the Trump administration deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles, a move California officials are now challenging in court.

In Orange County, some residents said they feared enforcement activity may intensify as focus shifts south. At the Magnolia Car Wash in Fountain Valley, the assistant manager said he saw federal agents arrive just before 11 a.m. in unmarked Suburbans, two Ford pickups and one Mercedes-Benz, park in the middle of the lot and begin making arrests inside the business.

“I went up to ask if they needed anything and they didn’t answer. Two of them went straight inside,” he said in Spanish for a Facebook livestream. “I said, ‘These are workers! Are you looking for immigrants or criminals?’ I got closer, and as I did, one of them scratched my face with his fingernail.”

He said ICE detained six or seven of his coworkers and described the scene as chaotic and aggressive.

“It felt like a kidnapping,” he said. “We’re hardworking people here to work, not to steal from this country.”

Victor Valladares, a local activist and former official with the Orange County Democratic Party, livestreamed from the scene and said he believes at least six people were detained.

“What happened here is unjust. People were just working, and they took six of them,” Valladares said in Spanish.

Tracy La, executive director of VietRISE, said her organization is tracking enforcement across Little Saigon. On Monday morning, La said a Border Patrol agent was seen tackling a Latino man near a bus stop in front of the Song Hy Vietnamese supermarket.

“This blatant act of racial profiling and militarized immigration enforcement aggression against our Latino and migrant neighbors took place down the street from VietRISE’s office,” she said in a statement. “Trump’s overtly racist immigration agenda has no place in Orange County. We condemn these unjust attacks by ICE and Border Patrol that are by and large terrorizing Latino communities.”

Law enforcement agencies in Orange County emphasized that while peaceful protest is protected, any violence or vandalism would be prosecuted.

“The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will always defend the First Amendment rights of those who peacefully protest, but criminal activity such as vandalism, destruction of property and assaults will not be tolerated,” Sheriff Don Barnes said in a statement.

District Attorney Todd Spitzer also said his office is monitoring the situation.

“Any evidence of criminal activity, including failure to obey lawful orders to disperse, will be investigated and thoroughly reviewed,” he said in a statement.

Santa Ana Councilmember Phil Bacerra urged protesters to avoid giving federal officials a reason to escalate enforcement.

“Exercise your constitutional right to express yourself peacefully. Do not engage in illegal activity,” he said in a statement. “Vandalism, looting and assaulting law enforcement are neither peaceful nor legal. Show your love for Santa Ana by not giving the federal government any excuse to send the National Guard to the Golden City.”

The total number of people detained in Orange County on Monday has not yet been confirmed. The Orange County Rapid Response Network’s De Anda said her team is still in the process of confirming a number.

City News Service contributed to this report.

Texas-based JPI and partner Heitman in Chicago are building the wraparound complex on 3.34 acres at 10231 Slater Ave. at the intersection with San Mateo. The community will be just across from Fountain Valley City Hall and the police department.

In a nod to housing laws, Slater Ave will also include 33 low-income affordable units, about 12% of the total apartments.

The street-facing side of the property will feature a 7,300-square-foot restaurant space, 1,600 square feet reserved for retail and 15,000 square feet saved for amenities such as two pools, co-working lounges, wellness spaces and open-air gathering spaces.

Work is expected to take up to two years with the apartments opening in 2027, according to JPI.

An interest list for the Slater Ave Apartments should be available about 90-120 days before occupancy opens, according to JPI.

City government this week is also considering two more apartment developments.

The planning commission on June 11 will hear about Magnolia Fountain Valley, a 657-housing complex in two mid-rise buildings sandwiched between Magnolia Street, Warner Avenue, flanking the 405 freeway. The complex would feature a parking structure, retail space, and a public dog park. The developer Holland Partner Group says 78 units will be set aside for income-restricted tenants.

Euclid + Heil will sit just west of Mile Square Park between Warner and Edinger Avenues.

Proposed by Shopoff Realty Investments and Lennar Homes, the community would include 304 market-rate apartment units, 83 affordable units for seniors, 36 two-story for-sale triplexes and 183 three-story for-sale townhomes.

The planning commission meeting takes place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 11 at Fountain Valley City Hall (10200 Slater Ave.).

Costa Mesa plaza sells for nearly $26M

Westport Plaza & Square in Costa Mesa sold in recent weeks to Asana Partners for $25.7 million.

The 39,334-square-foot shopping center at 369 East 17th St. is home to several local businesses including Plums Café & Catering, Fleur De Lys, Crumbl Cookies, Common Thread, House of Yogurt, Massimos Pizza, Laser Away.

CBRE represented the seller, Newport Beach-based Space Investment Partners, and the buyer.

The shopping center was completed in 1975 and renovated in 2002 and 2018. CBRE said Westport Plaza & Square has a long-term ground lease through 2079.

Nursing college expands with new Santa Ana lease

The nursing school CNI College is expanding, leasing 20,839 square feet from Drawbridge Realty at Pacific Center in Santa Ana.

The new lease at 1610 East St. Andrew Place puts CNI’s footprint at the office campus to nearly 73,000 square feet.

The college offers a range of accredited nursing and health sciences programs.

Pacific Center spans 390,600 square feet in two buildings. Drawbridge, based in San Francisco, says Pacific Center now has 30,000 square feet of office space available. The firm is adding a two-story lobby to that available suite.

R.D. Olson launches Murrieta apartment ‘village’

Irvine-based R.D. Olson Construction recently launched construction on a new apartment “village” in Murrieta.

The $80 million Vintage Farms will include 330 apartments across 11 buildings with 15 standalone garages on a 15-acre site.

The five-phase project will start with the first two apartment buildings and two garages, plus the amenities, such as the clubhouse, pool, jacuzzi, barbecue areas and walkways. From there, the next four phases will build out two more apartment buildings and two to four garage structures.

The village will come with two different types of structures for the 11 apartment buildings. The first of nine will span 40,320 square feet and house 30 apartments. The remaining two buildings will be slightly larger, at 43,200 square feet each, also with 30 apartments each.

Floor plans will range from studios up to three-bedroom apartments. Each standalone garage will be next to the buildings, so tenants will be close to their vehicles. Each garage can fit seven to 16 cars with a combined 332 parking spaces in all.

The development will take 18 months, concluding in late 2026, according to R.D. Olson.

On the move

Charlie Farmer has joined BKM Capital Partners in Newport Beach as director of Acquisitions & Dispositions where he will lead sourcing, underwriting and execution of investments in high-growth markets across the Central and Southeastern U.S. Previously, Farmer held senior investment roles at TA Realty, Swift Real Estate Partners and Buchanan Street Partners.

The real estate roundup is compiled from news releases and written by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items and high-resolution photos via email to  sgowen@scng.com . Please allow at least a week for publication. All items are subject to editing for clarity and length.

June 1 — Concert in Aliso Viejo: Songs & Stories of Hope: A Free Family Concert, featuring Mostly Kosher and JAC Trio, brings Klezmer music to life, blending centuries-old Jewish folk traditions with a modern flair. Pre-concert activities start at 10 a.m., with performances beginning at 11. This show Presented as part of the Violins of Hope Project. Great for kids. Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo. Free tickets required. Get them at philharmonicsociety.org/concerts-tickets/calendar-of-events/songs-stories-of-hope

June 6, 13 — Movies in Brea: Come watch “Despicle Me 4” (2024) on June 6 or “Charlie’s Angels” (2000) on June 13 at Carbon Canyon Regional Park. Pre-movie entertainment starts at 6 p.m. and screenings begin at sunset. Free admission and parking. Bring picnic stuff. 4442 Carbon Canyon Road, Brea. ocparks.com

June 7 — Studio Saturdays in Ontario:. Make your own Neon Thunderbird in a guided pop art workshop at the Ontario Museum of History and Art. Materials provided. Advance sign-up is recommended. Noon to 3 p.m. 225 South Euclid Ave., Ontario. 909-395-2510. ontariomuseum.org/visit/

June 13 — Bad Art Night, Riverside: There are no judgments or restraints on what you can create at Bad Art Night in the La Sierra Library’s community room. Unleash your inner artist with all the art supplies you could imagine and create something amazing, no matter how it turns out. This is an adult event. Register in advance with Joseph Garcia at 951-826-2461 or JAGarcia@riversideca.gov. 3:30 p.m. 4600 La Sierra Ave., Riverside. riversideca.gov/library/hours-locations/la-sierra-library

June 14 — Piano and flute concert, Woodland Hills: Pianist Sonia Lee and flutist Pija Hocevar will perform at the Platt Library. 1 p.m. 23600 Victory Blvd., Woodland Hills. 818-340-9386. plattlibrary.org/piano-flute-concert-june-14-1pm

June 14, 21 and 28 — Grand Park Performances, Los Angeles: Free concerts return to downtown L.A. for the summer. Veteran SoCal band Ozomatli plays a 30th anniversary show on June 14 with Healing Gems and Anthony Valadez. “John Coltrane: A Love Supreme at 60,” with Isaiah Collier, Surya Botofasina, Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation, and Jeremy Sole is June 21. “California Love: An Orchestral Celebration of Dr. Dre,” conducted by Sly5thAve, with DJ Jedi and Monalisa arrives June 28. Concerts are 6-10 p.m. California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles  grandperformances.org

June 17 — South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes Estates: This lovely botanical garden spread over 87 acres is free on the third Tuesday of every month. Check out 2,500 plant species, rose, fern and Japanese gardens and more. Make reservations online. It’s open daily 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Estates. 424-452-0920. southcoastbotanicgarden.org.

June 20 — Concert at Redlands Bowl: Jazz vocalist Nicole Henry and the Festival Orchestra will present a concert celebrating the legacy of Whitney Houston and other great pop divas on the opening night of the summer season. Bench and lawn seating, first come first served. Picnics are encouraged as are children, but no dogs. 8 p.m.  Redlands Bowl, 25 Grant St., Redlands. redlandsbowl.org/nicole-henry

June 20 and 27 — Movies in Fullerton: Watch “Inside Out 2” (2024) on June 20 or “Hercules” (1997) at Ted Craig Regional Park. Free admission and parking. Bring picnic stuff. Pre-show entertainment starts at 6 p.m.; screenings at sunset. 3300 State College Blvd., Fullerton. ocparks.com

June 24-27 — Band concerts in Long Beach: The Long Beach Municipal Band kicks off its summer season in the parks with “Wild, Wild West” featuring vocalist Crystal Lewis. Concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. Shows are at Whaley Park North on June 24, Los Cerritos Park on June 25, Conductor Larry Curtis Concert Park at Marine Stadium on June 26 and El Dorado Park West on June 27. Bring chairs and a picnic. longbeach.gov/park/recreation-programs/programs-and-classes/municipal-band/

June 28 — Bird Walk, Huntington Beach: Learn about a variety of birds from the birding experts during the Amigos de Bolsa Chica Bird Walk. 8:30 a.m. Meet in the south parking lot at the Bolsa Chica Reserve, on Pacific Coast Highway halfway between Warner and Seapoint, across from the entrance to Bolsa Chica State Beach. The Bolsa Chica provides feeding and nesting habitat for thousands of birds and is considered one of the prime birding sites in Southern California. 18000 Pacific Coast Highway. Huntington Beach. amigosdebolsachica.org/bolsa-chica

Editor’s Note: This is a monthly feature on notable regional parks in Orange County, which is rich with places to get outside and have fun with the family and explore nature.

Look at a 1940s aerial photo of what is now called Mile Square Regional Park, and you’ll see a concrete airfield shaped like a triangle.

The United States Navy had purchased a square mile of agricultural land in the early years of World War II and built the airfield. It was used as a military training field, along with the El Toro and Santa Ana Marine Corps air stations, until 1970.

Flash forward, and the view from above today shows a square mile of lush greenery, a nature center, two lakes, a sports park, an archery range, a fitness trail and golf courses. The concrete runways are nowhere to be seen.

In 1970, the first 85-acre phase of the county park opened in Fountain Valley, turning the concrete into an amenity for residents.

The now 607-acre park has seen celebrations, fundraising walks, festivals and protests. A bronze statue pays homage to President Ronald Reagan, who announced his re-election campaign at the park in 1984. In 1991, the Doobie Brothers performed a free outdoor concert to 35,000 fans.

Day to day, Mile Square Park envelopes people from many walks of life who come together for similar purposes: exercise, tranquility and fun.

On a recent Saturday, Sean and Alexia Mobasser kissed on a little wooden bridge leading to the Palm Island Gazebo. Freshly married that day, the newlyweds did a dance dip as wedding photographer Caroline Ho captured the moment.

Ho, with Serendipity the Venue, knows the scenic shooting spots. In the last six months, she has photographed about 40 clients at the park because of its picturesque landscape, she said.

Mid-week, Steve Lee strolled through his favorite park and interacted with squirrels.

“To say (Mile Square Park) is nice is an understatement,” he said. There are parks nearer to Lee’s Santa Ana home, but he doesn’t mind driving a little farther to find stress-relieving serenity.

“Some people go to Disneyland. Some people go to Knott’s Berry Farm,” he said. “I come here.”

Get outside

Location: Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley is bordered by Edinger Avenue to the north, Warner Avenue to the south, Brookhurst Street to the west and Euclid Street to the east.

Amenities:

• Archery range: Only large groups are required to make a reservation, and may require a permit. The range is closed for maintenance every Thursday from 7 to 11 a.m.

• Badminton and table tennis: Available to the public free of charge from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekends at Freedom Hall on a first come, first served basis. Equipment is available to loan for free.

• Barbeques

• Sports fields: Reservations are required and may require a permit.

• Basketball and racquetball courts

• Bicycling/bike trails: Bike Rental: Come explore the 640-acre Mile Square Regional Park on a bike!

• Wheel Fun Rentals offers a variety of bicycles for rent. There are two bike rental locations, the north location (closest to Edinger Avenue) is open year round, while the south location (closest to Warner Avenue) is open February and October.  Information: wheelfunrentals.com/warner

• Boat rental: Swan Boat rentals are per-person and $11 an hour for adults and $6 an hour for children You can find the swan boats at the north lake. Information: wheelfunrentals.com/edinger

• Camping: A one-night stay overnight camping facility is available to reserve for organized youth groups. Camp Sycamore is designed as a “first camping experience” for children ages 6 and 12. Reservations must be made at the park office.

• Family picnic area

• Fishing: a fishing license is required for persons 16 years and older

• Fitness/par course

• Golf courses

• Nature area: 15 acres, open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Playground/tot lot

• Volleyball Court

Contact the park office 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Information: ocparks.com/parks-trails/mile-square-regional-park

The restaurant — located in the Macy’s wing adjacent to the main retail center — left a note on its website thanking its guests “for the memories.”

“While this chapter comes to an end, our passion for great food and community continues at Toast Kitchen & Bakery,” the restaurant’s goodbye states.

The restaurant opened in 2022, a creation of chef John Park and Wahoo’s Fish Taco co-founder Ed Lee. The pair touted a giving table at the restaurant where proceeds went to local causes. Park and Lee also vowed to hire veterans, formerly unhoused people, foster youth and victims of abuse. Lee also owns Toast Kitchen Bakery in Costa Mesa, and Park previously owned Fill Bakeshop.

Readers let us know that in addition to the restaurant closure, the stationary shop Paper Source next door also is closing.

We reached out to representatives at South Coast Plaza for a comment on what’s coming next for that space.

Goodwill drop off opens at OC Fairgrounds

Goodwill of Orange County recently opened a donation center at the Costa Mesa Farmers Market.

The drop location is at the Orange County Fairgrounds at 88 Fair Drive, Lot D. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursdays.

“Donations are the lifeblood of our organization; they provide the fuel for our mission work to connect people with meaningful career opportunities,” said Nicole Suydam, president and CEO of the nonprofit.

The Costa Mesa Farmers Market Donation Center is Goodwill OC’s 27th donation outpost in the community, and another step toward its bold goal to double impact and footprint in Orange County.

Costa Mesa will soon get a new Goodwill store. The organization said it will open a shop in May on Harbor Boulevard in a former ACE Hardware.

Tustin vet hospital pivots to 24/7 care

Advanced Veterinary Specialty Group Internal Medicine & Urgent Care recently expanded its services to 24/7 emergency and critical care.

The Tustin’s hospital’s mouthful of a name also shrunk a bit to AVSG Internal Medicine & Emergency/Critical Care.

The urgent care facility at 2965 Edinger Ave. cares for ill or injured dogs and cats throughout the Orange County, “any time of the day or night.”

The hospital, which features a dozen veterinarians of various specialties, is managed by April Summers, a board-certified veterinary specialist in emergency medicine and critical care.

AVSG also offers internal medicine appoints from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For more information, call 949-653-9300 or go to avsgemergencyvet.com

Costco expands gas pumping hours

Costco in recent weeks expanded its hours to pump the big-box retailer’s cheap gas.

The members-only gas stations are now open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday. On the weekends, the pump times are 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday and 7:30 p.m. on Sundays. Previously, pumps closed at 8:30 p.m. on weekdays.

The media-shy company announced the change on its Instagram account, where a lot of fans offered their thumbs-up. A few still took their chance to chide Costco for replacing their beloved churros with chocolate chip cookies.

Costco’s gas is usually priced lower than traditional gas stations. Its ability to buy in bulk and sell great quantities of gas daily mean it can sell all grades at lower prices.

New stores

VooDoo Barbershop opens this week 9119 Garfield Ave. in Fountain Valley. A ribbon-cutting takes place at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 28.

New ventures

Kris Reddaway, a wealth adviser based in Newport Beach, and his team have joined Citizens Financial Group Inc. While at Merrill Lynch Private Wealth Management, Reddaway and his team managed roughly $900 million in client assets. Citizens Private Wealth offers financial planning, investment management, deposits and lending, estate and trust planning and more.

On board

Nishtha Mohendra recently was named vice chair of the Continuum of Care board of directors governed by the county and chair of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, operating under Orange County United Way. Mohendra is the chief program officer at Families Forward, an Irvine-based nonprofit working to keep families from becoming homeless.

Project Youth OC recently named its 2025 board officers. They include President Wesley K. Polischuk, attorney at Robinson Calcagnie Inc., President-elect Anthony C. Modarelli III, a personal injury litigator, Treasurer Miguel P. Prietto, Jr., a transactional attorney, and Kristin L. Gomez, a lawyer and senior group manager of Regulatory Strategy and Eco-mobility at Hyundai Motor North America.

Good works

Foundation for Jewish Camp recently received $5 million from the Samueli Foundation. The money will go toward increasing the number of Orange County children participating in Jewish camp programs. The four-year grant will back the organization’s One Happy Camper program, middle-income access grants, and need-based scholarships.

The first Newport Beach Celebrity Classic held at Newport Beach County Club raised $200,000 for Southern California fire relief efforts. All proceeds from the event will go to Steadfast LA and the Newport Beach Fire Department Foundation, which are providing resources for first responders, fire recovery efforts and relief to those affected by the January wildfires. The Celebrity Classic was created in partnership with the Hoag Classic, Newport Beach Country Club, and Athletes First to provide a day of competitive golf, charity and fun.

Correction

Pasta Sisters operates one ghost kitchen in Costa Mesa and two restaurants in Los Angeles County. Because of a reporter’s error, the dine-in classification for the LA-based Pasta Sisters’ restaurants was incorrect in last week’s Status Update column.

Editor’s note: This post was updated to correct the owner of Toast Kitchen Bakery in Costa Mesa.

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.