New Costa Mesa restaurant builds ‘positive energy’ by helping charities even before it opens

A new dining, drinking and entertainment establishment in Costa Mesa has helped raise $100,000 in the past three weeks for local charities — and it hasn’t opened yet.

On Friday night, the Country Club at 330 E. 17th St. hosted a Team Nuclear Movember fundraiser with more than 300 guests. Men supporting the cause grow mustaches throughout November to inspire donations to help fight prostate and testicular cancer.

It was one of multiple recent charitable events at the venue.

The Country Club is scheduled to open to the public Dec. 5 for customers 21 and older.

“We want to open with positive energy,” said co-owner Mario Marovic. “It’s good karma to give back to the community, and giving is infectious. Even some of our staff donated all of their tips to one of our charities.”

The Country Club will offer upscale casual dining with a chef-driven menu of traditional American cuisine including locally sourced produce, Marovic said.

The only reminder of the Pierce Street Annex tavern that once sat on the property is the A-frame roof.

The interior is reminiscent of an old-school gentlemen’s athletic club. Marovic and partner Andrew Gabriel scoured flea markets and antique stores across the country, buying trophies and sports memorabilia to decorate the restaurant.

“I can tell you where every single piece comes from,” Gabriel said.

SUSAN HOFFMAN is a contributor to Times Community News.