Problems plague mall progress

Andrew Edwards

Costa Mesa’s Triangle Square needs tenants, but seemingly arcane

regulations could prevent a restaurant from becoming part of the

mall.

In January, mall operators announced a five-year deal to bring a

Mexican restaurant called Chronic Cantina to the shopping center’s

almost-vacant food court. The deal seemed like a step forward for the

troubled mall.

But the plans have hit a snag.

A major part of the problem is parking, Costa Mesa officials said.

In June, Keith Scheinberg, president of KSDB, Inc., appealed a city

staffer’s decision to deny the restaurant’s permit. KSDB is the

company behind Chronic Cantina and already owns Chronic Tacos in

Newport Beach.

The city’s Planning Commission is scheduled to hear the appeal

today, but city staffers have recommended the commission let the

initial decision stand.

If Chronic Cantina is not allowed to become a part of Triangle

Square, the denial would mark the latest in a series of blows the

mall has suffered this year. Athletic retailer Niketown exited the

mall in January and Virgin Megastore is slated to leave in September.

Scheinberg said he doesn’t want to give up on his plans for a

restaurant because parking rules present an apparent roadblock.

Outside of this issue, he said the restaurant is essentially ready to

go.

“Everything else, we’ve worked around,” Scheinberg said.

Current plans for Chronic Cantina call for the restaurant to

occupy space that used to belong to a pizza parlor. Costa Mesa senior

planner Mel Lee said that under current parking rules, the proposed

restaurant could only have 12 seats and essentially function as a

take-out place. The regulations seem to throw a monkey wrench into

Scheinberg’s idea for a larger sit-down eatery with patio seating.

Scheinberg said he hopes the Planning Commission will agree to

delay his appeal until a new Triangle Square parking study is ready.

Mall spokeswoman Vanessa Showalter said that report could be ready by

late August. Scheinberg is hoping planners can find room for Chronic

Cantina with a new plan.

“It’s just going to take a little city help,” Scheinberg said.

Triangle Square has some wiggle room to find a place for Chronic

Cantina, but setting up a new restaurant could require the mall’s

operators to sacrifice some retail space or change plans for the

mall’s revitalization. Mike Robinson, Costa Mesa’s assistant

development services director, said Triangle Square operators could

make up for the parking shortage by mothballing retail space or

making plans to lease to tenants with low parking requirements like a

furniture store or storage business.

Showalter declined to comment on how the city’s rules could affect

plans for Triangle Square. The mall is managed by Charles Dunn Real

Estate Services, which has outsourced leasing duties to Colliers

Seeley International. Showalter said representatives from both firms

were not available Thursday or Friday to provide details on their

ideas for Triangle Square.

In the past, statements from Triangle Square have indicated plans

to move away from retail to an entertainment-driven focus. If the

mall finds room for Chronic Cantina, any future restaurants or

nightspots would require further sacrifices of retail space, Robinson

said.

“With their parking structure they don’t have the option of

putting more parking in,” Robinson said.

Another issue is Chronic Cantina’s need for an alcohol permit,

Planning Commission Chairman Bill Perkins said. A city document

prepared for the Planning Commission states Costa Mesa police have

concluded safety problems are possible if an alcohol-serving

restaurant moves in near existing nightspots Sutra Lounge and The

Yard House. Parking and alcohol concerns make Perkins unwilling to

give Chronic Cantina a green light.

“To me, it’s a no-brainer,” he said.

In Perkins’ view, Triangle Square needs an entirely new master

plan to outline how mall operators want to balance retail with

entertainment. Currently, he agreed with Robinson that the mall is

stuck with having to sacrifice retail for entertainment.

“Triangle Square’s in a huge bind,” Perkins said.

* ANDREW EDWARDS covers business and the environment. He can be

reached at (714) 966-4624 or by e-mail at [email protected].