Print “You have got to see this first,” said Gary Folgner owner of the Coach House Concert Hall in San Juan Capistrano as he walked into the kitchen at the storied music venue Inside the small but clean industrial kitchen baked potatoes are wrapped in foil ready to go into the oven and the pilot light glows a steady flame ready to ignite the burners at a moments notice “This place puts out 300 dinners,” Folgner said This year the Coach House celebrates 45 years of operation with Folgner at the helm bringing some of the biggest names in music and comedy to the intimate where a red double-decker bus used to sit as a landmark to direct patrons to the slightly hidden club The red bus subsequently became the venue’s logo and at 84 years old Folgner is still involved in the day-to-day operations “The menu is very simple and works really well,” Folgner said With no where else in Orange County for live rock music to play Folgner began booking the bands on his stage at the Coach House thus ushering in a new era of live music for the little steakhouse “I got their whole concert schedule and we never stopped from there,” Folgner said It isn’t easy to find a clear space on any of the walls inside the Coach House Nearly every inch is lined with framed and autographed photos of famous musicians and comedians who have performed there Dana Carvey and Jerry Seinfeld have all been on the Coach House stage “She played here two days before her daughter died and that was the end of her performing,” said Folgner referring to the death of Carrie Fisher in 2016 Owner Gary Folgner admires a picture of himself and Wille Nelson one of the many artist portraits on the walls of the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano (Don Leach/Daily Pilot) At the main entrance Roseanne Barr Debbie Harry and Chris Isaak are scattered among the sea of framed photos The tiny stage once held both Leon Russell Natalie Cole and Peter Frampton are also Coach House alumni Folgner credits the venue’s reputation for good hospitality that keeps big names coming back this is their home for the day,” Folgner said a bass player who toured with Ike and Tina Turner and Etta James He excelled in his role at the Coach House for 15 years then we’ll continue booking,’” said Blake Folgner Gary’s nephew and chief operating officer at the venue with nephew and chief operating officer Blake Folgner chat about the famous artists who have performed on the Coach House stage (Don Leach/Daily Pilot) Talent orders dinner right off the menu and gets comfortable at one of the venue’s many dressing rooms which are themed and located within the labyrinth of the building Signage directing talent to the stage is everywhere since people are easily lost Sometimes there are surprises and acts that aren’t on the bill then actor and musician Johnny Depp strapped on a guitar to join them Blake remembers friends in high school excitedly inviting him to check out a cool new band called The Violent Femmes at a small local venue remembers when guitar legend Buddy Guy played getting even closer to the audience by walking around the dining tables “This has been a place of where you can count on seeing some of your favorite bands,” Starks said Owner Gary Folgner and Doug Starks in the main room of the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano (Don Leach/Daily Pilot) Starks kicked off the anniversary celebration in April as the first performance in the “Coach House Concert Hall Celebratory Concert Series” with his act celebrating the music of Stevie Wonder called “Higher Ground.” A comedian and singer who has toured with the likes of Julio Iglesias Starks has made it on to Folgner’s wall of fame a true testament to how Coach House musicians often become family Long banquet tables go right up to the stage and the coveted seats up front are distributed on a first-come with 300 of those seats reserved for dining patrons although Blake maintains there isn’t a bad seat in the house There are even private rooms upstairs that give you an elevated view of the stage The rooms are also themed; a hippie room with black light posters and beaded curtains and a taco room an homage to the Villa Mexican Restaurant in Dana Point another business Folgner owned at one time you have a waitress that just serves up here,” Blake said “We have eight different rooms and each one holds a different quantity of people.” The intimacy is part of what makes the venue so unique “I went to an 11,000-seat venue and had front-row tickets but the artist is still 100 feet away,” Folgner said The furthest seat from the stage at the Coach House is 40 feet The Coach House is still a steakhouse in some sense with a simple menu of filet mignon and New York strip steak offered There is also a “Catch of the Day” and nostalgic appetizers like mozzarella sticks and potato skins Folgner is adamant that dinners come out fast before the show begins so people can fully enjoy the performance “We don’t want any serving happening during the show,” said Folgner especially the mud pie made in house with a real Oreo cookie crust coffee ice cream and enough whipped cream and chocolate syrup to make a bright red maraschino cherry obligatory There is even talk of bringing the double-decker bus back for the occasion Folgner said he doesn’t plan to alter the Coach House We are going to try to keep the big name entertainment here,” said Folgner For a full concert schedule and tickets visit thecoachhouse.com She most recently worked as a staff writer in Food for the Los Angeles Times She also has several years of experience in the restaurant industry Mosqueda earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Cal State Fullerton Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map The brand was started in 2015 by friends Case Anderson The trio grew up in Southern California and wanted to create a clothing company that reflected their passion for the outdoors while drawing inspiration from the ruggedness of the Old West “We each threw in $250 to print our first run of shirts and one poorly fitting hat,” Anderson recalls we moved into our first warehouse in Costa Mesa—and lived there to make ends meet.”With both its storefront and headquarters now located in San Juan Capistrano Seager offers customers the chance to experience the brand in person at the lodge-style boutique and trinkets and photos that the founders have collected during their travels across the country “Our gear is built for adventure,” Anderson says “but timeless enough to wear out for a nice dinner with friends.” Some of the brand’s more popular items include headwear as well as the Sawpit thermals There’s also a wall dedicated to Seager’s Western hats that are handmade in Texas Keep an eye out for monthly community events such as tintype photography as well as Seager’s spring collection with more releases to follow throughout the season 31888 Paseo Adelanto San Juan Capistrano seagerco.com 2025If you’re ever keeping an eye on new skateparks popping up in Southern California you’ve probably heard some talk about the current build taking place in San Juan Capistrano.  Designed by Grindline and being built by CA Skateparks this park is shaping up to be something special We're talking about some of the best skatepark builders in the game here San Juan Capistrano might be a cozy little coastal town but this skatepark is bound to attract skateboarders from all over southern California and beyond It’s not going to be the biggest park out there by any means 💻 Don't miss another headline from TransWorld SKATEboarding! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more quality skate content hometown heroes and every type of skateboarder in between the fact that CA and Grindline bringing their respected craftsmanship to the build means this place is going to have a little something for everyone I'm less than an hour south and will definitely be skating this place when it's ready!—having another fresh new skatepark in the area means we'll have plenty of excuses for weekend missions By Brian Blakely is a Writer for TransWorld SKATEboarding We first reported on this project in August 2024 pointing out that local public safety concerns need to be considered as well as the growing urgency of actions to limit the damage caused by climate change Compass Energy proposed this storage facility to the San Juan City Council which then refused to allow its Planning Department to undertake the planning process needed to apply Because Compass Energy was not allowed to process this project at the city level it decided to opt in to California Energy Commission (AB 205) program for renewable energy Since then, the CEC’s docket on this issue has logged many letters from residents – many from Laguna Niguel – opposing this project has submitted additional documents requested by the CEC and we expect the commission to decide by the end of February 2025 whether to greenlight this project or not public hearings will be held by the CEC allowing proponents and opponents the opportunity to voice their opinions The opponents’ major concern about an overheated battery leading to a “thermal runaway” is real but it doesn’t recognize that fire management of modern BESS systems has evolved to where any fire can be contained within each battery unit CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) as well as insurance underwriters require the operator of any BESS to meet high fire safety standards and it is adjacent to a transmission line that can carry this energy to businesses and homes potentially obviating the need for fossil fuel burning “peaker plants.” The Sierra Club will participate in public meetings about the Battery Electric Storage System proposed for San Juan Capistrano to provide non-partisan [1] Policy for Siting of Renewable Energy, Transmission, Storage, and related Infrastructure [2] https://cleantechnica.com/2024/12/04/duke-energy-will-replace-a-coal-generating-station-with-battery-storage/ Sierra Club® and "Explore, enjoy and protect the planet"® are registered trademarks of the Sierra Club. © Sierra Club 2025.The Sierra Club Seal is a registered copyright Print The problem with most cooking shows is that after an hour of watching a Brit bake a lovely cake or a contestant miraculously make a meal out of mystery basket ingredients At The Market by the Meat Cellar in San Juan Capistrano founder and meat master Anthony Villegas is doing his version of reality television cooking culinary boutique and steakhouse restaurant hosts a monthly “Meat Master Class” and wine tasting The unique experience allows guests to have their meat and eat it too “Our goal here is to educate and bring our community together,” said Villegas “We really want to strike a blend of community values Sunday supper feels and a little class too.” Chef Anthony Villegas demonstrates frying soft shell crab at a “Meat Master Class” at the Market by the Meat Cellar in San Juan Capistrano (Sarah Mosqueda) Located at the River Street Marketplace the Market is a one-stop shop for the epicurious with a butcher counter that specializes in hormone and antibiotic-free a cheese counter with a dedicated cheesemonger and a shop full of kitchen treasures quality olive oils and hard to find seasonings On the other side of the 4,000-square-foot space is a full service restaurant and oyster bar the San Juan Capistrano space is the second store for the couple “Everything we sell is Villegas’ family-approved,” Sara said in a statement “So we hope that guests will turn to us when setting the table for their loved ones.” Villegas teaches guest how he uses the various proteins and provisions in the store through an eight-course menu Villegas’ sister and co-owner of Anaheim’s Colony Wine Merchant A butcher block positioned at the front of the room serves as the demo table with a tablet rigged up to project what Villegas is cooking on the screen behind him A packet with dish descriptions and room to take notes is set on each table with pen a way for the more studious guests to remember what they learned Most of the attendees of a recent class were couples on dates “Do we have any vegetarians in the house?” Villegas jokingly asks at the start of the class A study of cheese from The Market by the Meat Cellar’s head cheesemonger in San Juan Capistrano (Sarah Mosqueda) The first course is an expertly curated cheese tasting dubbed “cheese school,” paired with a glass of Huber sparkling rose house-made honeycomb candy and Mimolette-style Gouda Villegas starts heating oil to fry soft shell crab he drops the buttermilk soaked crustacean in the hot pan serving the finished crab as a sandwich on brioche with Meyer lemon aioli servers bring guests their own soft shell crab sandwich fully assembled and ready to eat; a 2022 Sauvignon Blanc is poured to pair with it Villegas takes diners through each course in this manner explaining his favorite way to poach lobster (in blood orange Grand Marnier butter) or where he learned his steaming technique for his Wagyu beef cheek taco (in Mexico where he was born and raised by his restaurateur parents) He also touches on the more exotic cuts of meat the store offers and suggest ways the average home cook might use them A veal cutlet is prepared as bread-crumbed German schnitzel He uses the sous vide technique on Sonoma Valley lamb rack before searing it off with mint Grilled bison strip loin is served with a blackberry veal demi The final course is a chocolate bread pudding with a dollop of vanilla ice cream “This dessert is to live for,” Villegas quips The Villegas family wants guests to feel like they were invited to their house for dinner The casual and intimate setting feels as familiar as watching your favorite cooking show but with the added bonus of the finished dish presented before you after each demonstration It is no wonder guests take classes more than once people end up being friends and they come back to the next “Meat Master Class” with those new friends,” the Anthony Villegas said The “Meat Master Class” at The Market by the Meat Cellar are priced at $250 per person and held monthly. To book a seat, visit themarketbythemeatcellar.com. Sarah Mosqueda covers Orange County food, art and culture for TimesOC. She most recently worked as a staff writer in Food for the Los Angeles Times. She also has several years of experience in the restaurant industry, including as a proprietor. Mosqueda earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Cal State Fullerton. TimesOC Print The little train station in San Juan Capistrano sits right in the heart of town To get from the historic Los Rios Street district to the mission and the rest of town you’ll see children with parents and grandparents young couples walking their dogs and locals and tourists alike It’s a rarity in our fast-paced world to take a few minutes for something so simple as marveling at a train making a stop Located less than 60 miles south of Los Angeles (just an 80-minute ride on Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner) San Juan Capistrano may come across as small and sleepy enough that watching trains is a pastime But its proximity to the ocean — it’s just four miles inland — and its long fascinating history give the city of 34,000 an enthralling named for the Italian saint John of Capistrano is a microcosm for the history of California and much of the West The region was inhabited by the Indigenous Acjachemen people long before Spanish colonizers (led by Catholic priest Junípero Serra) built a mission and began forcing the Acjachemen to convert to Christianity They did so primarily by imposing baptisms beginning in 1776 Some baptized workers and mestizo families connected to the mission sometimes lived nearby in adobe houses one of which (the Ríos house on Los Ríos Street) is still inhabited by descendants of the original builders and it became an agricultural community where large numbers of cattle with California statehood in 1850 and the introduction of the railroad in 1894 There are nearly 100 historical markers around town, denoting the significance of various people and places. One special gem of the area is Los Rios Street, the birthplace of Orange County and the oldest continually inhabited neighborhood in the state. The San Juan Capistrano Historical Society in the Garcia/Pryor home built between 1870 and 1880 (now the O’Neill Museum) keeps much of the town history alive with photos swallow merchandise is available for purchase and swallows are included in the decor in many stores That’s because the migratory bird makes its way from Argentina to San Juan Capistrano every March There’s even a popular song about it written by Leon René “When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano,” which climbed the charts in 1940 and was recorded by Glenn Miller and Elvis The birds’ arrival is celebrated with the annual Swallows Day Parade one of the largest nonmotorized parades in the United States Almquist is working on bringing to town a hotel For as much as San Juan Capistrano’s history is being passed down to new generations (it’s common to see families hovering over historical plaques and pointing out landmarks around town) the boom in development offers a great opportunity to expand the interest here one might visit San Juan Capistrano for the enticing new restaurants and innovative gathering spaces they also might learn something about how California became what it is today Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker last amended by the Board of Directors on May 18 the CEC determined that the application is incomplete and requested additional information to be produced within 270 days  This gives us time to assess the validity of public safety concerns voiced by the project’s opponents the need for electric energy from battery facilities is indisputable and well documented  Battery storage systems are designed to be charged during daylight hours when renewable energy is plentiful and to discharge this energy after the sun goes down With this capacity it is possible to begin closing fossil fuel burning power plants that are currently needed to meet California’s demand for electricity This past hot summer has not resulted in any power outages despite triple-digit heat occurring over many days the agency that manages the flow of electricity across high-voltage long-distance power lines to more than 30 million people cited “the rapidly growing and high-performing battery fleet that allows us to dispatch power captured during the day from solar and enhanced communication and coordination the ISO and our partners in California and the region were able to work through this latest heat event with no power disruptions.” According to the CEC the state projects a need for 52,000 MW of battery storage by 2045 with 10,383 (MW) available now The growth of BESS facilities has been phenomenal in all parts of the state going from 500 MW provided in 2018 to over 13,000 MW planned to come online by the end of this year Many communities allow electric utilities to build such urgently needed battery storage systems and many are in populated areas such as the one proposed by Compass Energy It is this cooperative spirit that has made “California a world leader in energy storage with the largest fleet of batteries that store energy for the electricity grid” (CEC) Here are two BESS projects under construction or in the planning stages: The CEC’s website has a survey showing all installed battery storage capacity and it’s instructive to look at south Orange County which is devoid of any utility installations so far to save future generations from the worst effects of climate change The Sierra Club’s siting committee is expected to consult with Sierra Sage soon and an update on this BESS project will be available by the end of this year La Vaquera debuts at the new River Street Marketplace in deep Orange County One of the most popular restaurant groups from California’s Central Coast wood-fired destination on October 29 in the River Street Marketplace development of San Juan Capistrano previously of the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay and grilled little gem greens with approachable California ingredients to please the suburban crowd Anyone who went to grade school in California will remember the state’s rancho history, where vaqueros (cowboys) and vaqueras (cowgirls) raised cattle and worked the land while it was part of Alta California and New Spain. Through Spanish colonization, the Tongva, Chumash, and other native peoples were subjugated Alta California’s rural ranchero culture remained and the remnants of this period have persisted in places like San Gabriel worked the land of these vast ranchos across California The San Juan Capistrano restaurant captures the heritage of this rustic historic culture amid a family-friendly retail environment replete with fashionable Western-style boutiques like Seager and Tecovas The Doug Washington-designed space features soaring vaulted ceilings and a spacious bar with an accompanying outdoor lounge and fire pit It all makes for a serene vibe of California coastal relaxation Zimmer’s menu sticks to familiar ingredients done right Starters involve a hand-chopped wagyu beef tartare with grilled sourdough and pumpkin seeds or a hamachi crudo with grilled avocado slices A nicely grilled Spanish octopus leg comes with al dente scarlet runner beans and charred onion An 11-foot oak grill spans half of the window-covered kitchen cast iron-baked cornbread with queso Oaxaca and roasted poblano peppers the entrees and sides were polished and executed to a high level Cocktails are also easy on the eyes and palate a pink strawberry pisco sour called La Fresca or an espresso martini called Let’s Ride such as glasses of Monte Xanic Sauvignon Blanc from Valle de Guadalupe or Thatcher Winery Cabernet Franc from Paso Robles Acme Hospitality founder and managing partner Sherry Villanueva was on-site this past weekend, shaking hands and familiarizing herself with the San Juan Capistrano crowd. The immediate area tends to have chain restaurants, but smaller operators like Heritage Barbecue are putting the small Orange County town on the bigger Southern California map already planning to open its casual pizzeria Lucky Penny in the development should find a dining crowd eager for concepts like La Vaquera La Vaquera is open from Sunday to Thursday There’s a small afternoon menu from 2 to 4 p.m served daily and brunch from Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m 2025 at 10:36 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A woman in her 50s was found dead in a San Juan Capistrano home Saturday and a man was arrested on suspicion of the act (Renee Schiavone/Patch)SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO CA — A woman in her 50s was found dead in a San Juan Capistrano home Saturday and a man was arrested on suspicion of the act Orange County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched at around 6:30 p.m to the 32000 block of Valle Road in San Juan Capistrano regarding an assault a woman in her 50s was discovered at the scene with several stab wounds Deputies pronounced the victim dead at the scene though police reported that she was a relative of the suspect was arrested and booked into the Orange County Jail on suspicion of murder No further information was immediately available Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2025 at 2:07 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}One person died when a motorcycle crashed into a tree in San Juan Capistrano Thursday afternoon CA — One person died when a motorcycle crashed into a tree in San Juan Capistrano Thursday afternoon on Camino Capistrano near San Juan Creek Road the crash involved a motorcycle and a tree and left one person dead The right turn lane of the nearby Interstate 5 Freeway was shut down while authorities assess the scene TrendingLos AngelesAThe retail cowboyCan Dan Almquist make shopping soulful AAABy Kari HamanakaApr 2 7:00 AMListen to this article00:001xGravel crunches beneath car tires from the first turn into River Street Marketplace’s parking lot as the scent of barbecue wafts into the common areas of San Juan Capistrano’s newest retail center which is located in California’s oldest neighborhood River Street Marketplace is Dan Almquist’s latest retail center and his most ambitious yet which has a portfolio of about 750,000 square feet and growing gritted its teeth through a decade to get the $70 million The payoff: the chance to define a new segment of retail — call it specialty on steroids — and to join a stage starring prominent retail developers like Don Bren of the Irvine Company and Caruso’s Rick Caruso and smaller neighborhood strips — have long dominated Orange County’s retail landscape though there are also trophy indoor shopping malls such as Irvine Company’s Fashion Island and the Segerstroms’ South Coast Plaza still a relative unknown despite his rapid ascension in Southern California retail development “I really want our projects to have a soul,” Almquist said The gravel in River Street Marketplace’s parking lot is an auditory reference to the sound of rolling wagon wheels aims to evoke the late 18th century when the Los Rios Historic District was just beginning to take shape here with its first adobe structures and Mission San Juan Capistrano wants you to close your eyes for a moment before you shop to imagine a farmer with a barn living next door to River Street “It’s creating this narrative,” Almquist said “You’re not trying to fool people into thinking this is historic,’ but it does come across when there’s a common thread that you weave into these projects.” The businesses don’t sell field hoes or adobe bricks Almquist has a philosophy about tenants: He signs one-third nationals nationals like Free People and Mendocino Farms co-exist with Seager a surf and Western-inspired brand that has its first-ever store here There’s organic food retailer Fermentation Farm and the Rodeo-branded public market-meets-food hall that’s become the stamp of an Almquist project Almquist’s development pipeline is moving fast his product could simply add to the state’s aging inventory of bloated malls and uninspiring power centers Almquist’s next beat will be the Canopy at Great Park in Irvine like River Street but bigger: It’s 91,000 square feet on the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station now a 1,300-acre park with sports facilities an arts complex  and events space that anchor a master-planned community Groundbreaking is scheduled for this quarter restaurant-driven space (with a 200-stall parking structure) planned for downtown Fullerton on Harbor Boulevard next to the Fox Theatre Almquist is adding a Rodeo 72 public market this month to an already bustling neighborhood center bringing the combined retail there to over 151,000 square feet built on a portion of what was a 19th-century reform school for boys.) the company has roughly 25,000 square feet of completed projects outside of River Street He isn’t done: There are plans for two mixed-use developments spanning nearly 150,000 combined square feet in addition to the 72-room French Hotel that will include the preservation and reuse of two historic adobe buildings It was never intentional to own and develop this much within the city But he holds on to a strong desire “to do things right.” purchased the future River Street site in 1959 from the Oyharzabal family who were some of San Juan Capistrano’s original Basque settlers After being interned in Manzanar during World War II the Itos wanted to settle into a community and get business going again They turned their property into the community’s long-standing plant nursery and eventually their son Doug Ito and his wife Sheree Ito They spent a year interviewing and researching buyers before landing on Almquist they faced pushback in town over the sale to a developer “The final decision was not solely about money,” Sheree and Doug Ito wrote in a 2017 letter to the editor of the local Capistrano Dispatch newspaper we could leave a positive legacy for the Ito family.”  Naysayers didn’t think River Street Marketplace made sense for a city known mostly for its mission and the annual celebration to mark the return of the swallows from Argentina back to San Juan Capistrano and retail at that time was a lot more conventional,” Almquist said of buying the land for River Street “The first three brokers that we interviewed to take the assignment didn’t want to do it They thought San Juan was just a sleepy little market.” Luxury residential broker Phillip Caruso (no relation to Rick Caruso) at Christie’s International Real Estate Southern California grew up in Orange County and sells real estate there Everything else is a “mass mall concept,” he said — “mid-rise buildings with underground parking in busy centers with a few anchor tenants “The only places to go [in the past] that offered an outdoor retail feeling were Laguna Beach or downtown San Clemente its neighbors to the north in Los Angeles would say — too homogenous But River Street isn’t the first sign of change brought unique and hip to Costa Mesa in the ’90s DJM’s redevelopment of Lido Marina Village beckoned upscale retailers and restaurants to Newport Beach in 2016 developers behind the Post Montecito and Platform in Culver City also believe retail’s future is in the suburbs and are looking in Laguna Beach and Newport Beach for future projects The more attention Almquist projects attract particularly in Orange County where the Irvine Company is synonymous across asset classes with its meticulous master planned communities and uniform wayfinding signage Rick Caruso’s retail projects such as the Grove and Americana at Brand have long held court as the primer on how to do premium specialty retail But where Irvine and Caruso projects are controlled environments who was dressed in Wranglers and a cream-colored button-down from Poncho Outdoors during a recent visit to his company’s headquarters SIGN UP“We all owe Donald Bren a debt of gratitude in how he’s developed the Irvine Ranch,” Almquist said “I would never want to have a contrast of us and the Irvine Company from the standpoint that I have the utmost respect for what they’ve done.” He will allow that Almquist’s methods are different “I think what we’re doing are these really referential projects,” he said Development wasn’t an intentional career path for Almquist He worked in sales after graduating from the University of California San Diego and then got his MBA from the University of Southern California Development offered Almquist something tangible for the “fruits of my labor,” he said he got the dynamics of the markets he went on to develop originally began as Frontier Real Estate Investments and cut its teeth on single-tenant net lease retail deals was also getting his hands in other businesses He was one of the first franchisees of Dunkin’ Donuts when the chain expanded to Southern California in 2013 with Frontier striking a development deal for 18 locations in central Orange County and L Almquist Vice President of Development Tom Carpenter yet he’s involved with what some might say are minute details on how things look or feel,” Carpenter said “We’re notorious for making changes to projects while we’re building or designing them.” joined Almquist to help find sites 12 years ago and watched the company’s transformation “We were going out and buying hard corners to do banks drugstores and then over time we started to do 2- to 3-acre sites and then that evolved into 10-acre sites,” Carpenter said “[Dan] didn’t want to be like a lot of other developers trying to tie up corners and lease to tenants,” Carpenter said “He wanted to create these cool spaces and go after real estate that’s special — irreplaceable sites.” Almquist already had the site for what would become Rodeo 39 Almquist’s 41,000-square-foot public market when he went to the International Council of Shopping Centers’ annual conference in 2018 with Carpenter They already had two markets back out of a deal when they scheduled a meeting with an interested discount grocer at the retail conference But Almquist and Carpenter left the meeting unsatisfied — this wasn’t what they wanted They decided to DIY the food anchor tenant They clocked time in nearby Little Saigon to understand the community its large Vietnamese population and what the younger demographic might want They came up with the Rodeo concept: a hall of small vendors adorned with colorful murals The 30-or-so occupants are non-credit tenants selling everything from fresh donuts and pho; there’s a vintage retailer and tattoo parlor Almquist had to figure out food delivery operations to stay afloat — and to make sure their vendors did with the lunch rush spilling out into the outdoor patio “It’s been an attraction for everybody in Orange County because we were the only game in town to have that conceptual center,” said Stanton Mayor Dave Shawver — a 55-year resident and 37-year City Council member “It really inspired people to come in and shop and dine in Stanton with State Route 39 running through it and seven surrounding cities its main attraction was the Adventure City theme park which sits in the shadow of Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park and Disneyland in Anaheim two upscale apartment communities have gone up Bonanni Development completed the 300-unit VRV in 2023 and the 321-unit Cloud House this year “We’re the little engine that always thought it could,” Shawver said A lot of developers want to engage in “placemaking,” to turn a brand new structure into a real place where people go Almquist seems to do this better than most but a lot of developers are in it for their own personal gain,” Shawver said His word is his bond and I admire him for that.” Stanton had given Almquist a $2.3 million loan in the form of a sales tax revenue credit and Almquist paid it back five years early there is a bronze statue by the artist Bradford J It’s called “Binding Contract.” He has a second the more he confronts questions of what’s next and whether the successes of Rodeo 39 or River Street Marketplace can be replicated again and again Almquist shies away from numbers on the size of his real estate portfolio as a gauge of success or a way to forecast the future “I don’t want to be the biggest guy,” he said “I just want to do really good projects.”  2025 at 2:17 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A 25-year-old man was charged Tuesday with stabbing his mother to death in San Juan Capistrano CA — A 25-year-old man was charged Tuesday with stabbing his mother to death in San Juan Capistrano Joseph Jimenez-Hernandez was charged with murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon The suspect is accused of killing his 56-year-old mother Luz Griselda Hernandez-Jimenez on Saturday the Orange County Sheriff's Department reported Deputies were dispatched at about 6:30 p.m Saturday to the 32000 block of Valle Road in response to a report of an assault The victim was pronounced dead at the scene RELATED: Woman In Her 50s Found Stabbed To Death In San Juan Capistrano: Police 2025 at 4:15 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The motorcycle and rider were both found 30 feet down a ravine (Renee Schiavone/Patch)SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO CA — A motorcyclist was killed Saturday when the vehicle went off Ortega Highway (74) in Rancho Mission Viejo The crash was reported to the California Highway Patrol at 2:16 p.m Saturday and occurred on the eastbound side of Ortega Highway east of Sierra Pasture Road The motorcycle and rider were both found 30 feet down a ravine shutting down Ortega Highway in the area of the crash.The lanes were reopened at 5:45 p.m 2025 at 9:59 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Orange County Fire Authority Courtesy Photo)SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO CA — Orange County Fire Authority firefighters were hard at work early Friday morning after a man and woman were reported trapped in fast-moving water in San Juan Capistrano Friday to San Juan Creek in response to reports of people trapped in the water firefighters found two people clinging to trees and bushes to keep from being swept away on bridges and from helicopters with swiftwater rescue crews pre-positioned during the rain event Video showed the rescue rafts being lowered into the water and a helicopter lifting one of the people to safety It was unclear what the people were doing in the creek Botanical garden dome in Dusseldorf | Yusuf Evli The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano will celebrate the grand opening of its highly anticipated Peace Dome with a weekend-long event starting Thursday, March 6 and ending on Sunday, March 9. Designed as a hub for environmental education, cultural gatherings and wellness activities, the Peace Dome reflects the center’s commitment to sustainability and community connection with a free screening of the films “Unbroken Ground” and “Groundswell,” followed by a conversation with professional surfer and activist Chris Malloy Attendees are encouraged to enjoy offerings from the on-site Campesino Café and fresh produce from the surrounding farm before the films members of The Ecology Center can attend a community table dinner featuring organic farmer Carla Mally and chef Clark Staub highlighting the center’s farm-to-table mission followed by a free yoga session and meditation hour A kids’ yoga class and tea ceremony will take place later in the morning with a sound bath providing a relaxing close to the wellness activities The evening will conclude with a musical performance by Adam MacDougall and Isaiah Mitchell Sunday will feature another free yoga and meditation session starting at 9 a.m. The weekend will conclude with the first annual hoedown featuring a performance by the band Grateful Shred “Our holistic approach integrates the incubation of the next generation of agricultural and educational leaders with the creation of a vibrant community resource and gathering place to inspire all,” said The Ecology Center in their mission statement This opening weekend will help set the foundation for future endeavors For signup information for the wellness events or ticket information and prices for concerts and the community dinner, visit The Ecology Center website CA — A man has been arrested in connection withthe stabbing death of a woman in San Juan Capistrano Saturday regarding an assault inthe 32000 block of Valle Road located a woman in her 50s suffering frommultiple stab wounds Arriving paramedics pronounced the woman dead at the scene Based upon interviews conducted by investigators at the scene 2024 at 12:58 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A new ice cream eatery is coming to Orange County CA — A new ice cream eatery is coming to Orange County Santa Barbara's McConnell's Fine Ice Cream is opening its first Orange County location on Thursday 21 at the River Street Marketplace in San Juan Capistrano the scoop shop was founded 70 years ago and makes all of its traditional ice cream from scratch using three main ingredients: cream To learn more about the opening, visit The Orange County Register. Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The Market by The Meat Cellar the second restaurant concept founded by husband-and-wife team Anthony and Sara Villegas has officially opened its doors at San Juan Capistrano’s new River Street Marketplace This full-service steakhouse offers a family-driven alongside a butcher counter and epicurean retail space within the 60,000-square-foot community hub The hybrid restaurant and butcher shop model of The Meat Cellar was introduced in 2016 in Claremont as a way for the family to share their passion for nourishing food and fostering fellowship within the community The Market by The Meat Cellar in San Juan Capistrano continues this mission building upon the service and skills developed at the original location while introducing new facets to the menu and a curated retail shopping experience “We envisioned The Market as a place for people to learn from each other and leave inspired – whether they’re taking home a new cooking gadget recreating a favorite dish from our menu with help from our butcher or simply creating memories with loved ones around a table in the restaurant,” says Sara Villegas “These moments brought our team joy throughout the building process so we hope that warmth resonates with our guests who we consider part of our family.” The 4,000-square-foot establishment sets the scene with a robust butcher counter and retail area framing the entry illuminated by massive windows that showcase the curated products the retail section features bright farmhouse-style shelves and tables which follows the format of the original location but regularly carries a substantially expanded list of cheese humanely raised surf and turf options available for purchase in-store or over the phone chef-driven dishes from the scratch kitchen are served for lunch and dinner daily Standout mains include the Fancy Burger made with 8 oz and arugula on brioche; cherrywood-smoked Sapphire Salmon dressed with celery root purée and apple slaw; and the Rockies Half Chicken roasted and adorned with seasonal root vegetable puree and fingerling potatoes.  Classic steakhouse sides featuring specialty creations like the Cynar Julep with cynar or the Barrel Aged Mezcal Negroni with agave and chocolate Guests may also order steaks and chops straight from the butcher counter which are prepared in-house with the special ‘TMC’ blend seasoning and finished with signature bone marrow butter Cuts such as Japanese Kagoshima Wagyu Ribeye and Prime Dry Aged New York are hand-cut to order and priced by the pound For those seeking a true meat-lover experience The Market offers two unique Butcher Boards featuring a selection of 4 oz prime cuts cooked to preference offering a similar home-style essence with high-quality proteins boasting a variety of sandwiches served with hand-cut fries along with a lunch edition of the small plates and shareables menus The soon-to-launch brunch experience features indulgent entrées like Eggs Benedict Crème Brûlée French Toast which can be paired with shareable small plates and such as Curds & Whey a house-made lemon curd and ricotta cheese served with griddled rustic toast; Dungeness Crab Louie Cups and organic avocado served inside gem lettuce with house Louie dressing; and the house-made Scarlett Beet Hummus plate A “Little Tikes” menu will also be available during brunch hours “Our goal for this location was to create a true home away from home—and seeing it all come together we are confident that’s what it is,” says Anthony “It’s a dream come true to finally welcome guests into our new space and to foster unforgettable dining experiences for the San Juan Capistrano community!” ABOUT THE MARKET BY THE MEAT CELLAR:  Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter and receive important industry updates Food & Beverage Magazine is the leading online magazine resource for the food and beverage industry with signature celebrity features and an over twenty year long valuable reputation F&B Magazine has the eyes of the industry’s top professionals that are in search of the latest and greatest Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter and recieve important industry updates.