CHULA VISTA: Nico’s Gets Cookin’ in Otay Ranch Town Center
Nico’s Steak & Chop House held its grand opening last month at Otay Ranch Town Center.
Jimmy and Kathy DiMatteo own the eatery, which took a year and a half to build. The menu features steaks, seafood and chicken.
, Mike Allen
SANTEE: Simply Stated, Natural Approach Works for Spa
Simply Spa celebrated its one-year anniversary Jan. 12. The business, owned by Caroline Hootman, is located at 278 Town Center Parkway. It’s a full-service day spa that uses all-natural products.
, Heather Chambers
VISTA: Eat, Drink and Learn State of Community
The Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual State of the Community Breakfast 7:30 a.m. Jan. 21 at the Krikorian Premiere Theatres, 25 Main St.
Chamber President Paul O’Neal says the event will feature networking opportunities and presentations by chamber Chairman Steve Harrington of 1st Pacific Bank of California, and Mayor Morris Vance.
, Mike Allen
LA MESA: Mixer Features Tax Talk With a Side of Sushi
Union Bank of California is hosting an after-hours mixer Jan. 21 focused on obtaining credit in difficult times, tax law changes, and the importance of financial planning.
Banbu Sushi Bar & Grill is supplying hors d’oeuvres. The event takes place from 5:45 to 7 p.m. in the bank’s branch at 580 N. Second St.
For more information, call the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce at 619-440-6161.
, Heather Chambers
SAN MARCOS: Construction Delayed as Budget Woes Mount
The state budget crisis has forced Cal State San Marcos to suspend a state-funded construction project for at least three months.
Cal State Chancellor Charles Reed halted work on the $27.5 million, 106,000-square-foot Social and Behavioral Sciences Building recently and told all 23 of the system’s campuses to stop their state-funded construction projects because the state is running out of cash. The state’s deficit is expected to reach $42 billion in the next 18 months.
Gary Cinnamon, CSUSM’s associate vice president for facilities development and management, says Temecula-based Edge Development had begun work on the Social and Behavioral Sciences Building on Dec. 15, after the area was graded in the fall.
, Ned Randolph
ENCINITAS: KSL Resorts Seeks OK for Larger Hotel Project
KSL Resorts, which owns the Hotel del Coronado, wants to expand a proposed luxury condo-hotel project in the northern part of the city.
KSL Resorts holds permits to build on 4.3 acres of oceanfront property. Plans call for 130 hotel units , some to be sold as condos , as well as a restaurant, spa, pool, underground garage and meeting rooms.
The California Coastal Commission approved those plans three years ago. In 2007, KSL bought 3 adjacent acres, and says it is reworking its application to expand the project to 200-250 rooms, two restaurants and retail shops.
KSL says it will resubmit a formal application to the city in mid-2009.
, Ned Randolph
DEL MAR: Davidson Sells More Homes in ’08 Than ’07
Davidson Communities closed escrow on 81 homes in five San Diego County neighborhoods last year.
The builder sold homes in Chula Vista and throughout North County. Davidson closed 61 homes in 2007 to rank sixth on the Business Journal’s list of Residential Home Builders.
, Michelle Mowad
OCEANSIDE: Coastal Living Still Appealing to Many
The San Diego Association of Realtors says existing home sales increased in San Diego County, including all ZIP codes of this city, in 2008.
Single-family detached home sales increased from 1,000 in 2007 to 1,500 in 2008. Single-family attached home sales increased from 600 in ’07 to 700 in ’08.
, Michelle Mowad
RANCHO SANTA FE: Decanter to Pair Food With 4,500 Wines
Decanter Restaurant & Wine Lounge plans to open its doors Jan. 30 in the new Cielo Village on Calle Ambiente. It will specialize in wine and food pairings with 200 wines available by the glass and 4,500 by the bottle.
, Connie Lewis
CARLSBAD: Head Over to Tiger Run For Sundowner Jan. 21
The Chamber of Commerce plans to present a Sundowner networking event at 5 p.m. Jan. 21 at 3146 Tiger Run Court, Suite G-105, in the Palomar Forum Business Park.
No reservations are required. For more information or to donate a raffle prize, call the chamber’s Bev Jorgensen at 760-931-8400.
, Connie Lewis
POWAY: Wal-Mart Looking to Super-Size Another Store
Wal-Mart Stores has applied to the city to expand its store in the 13400 block of Community Road by 33 percent to 198,000 square feet, Community Development Director Bob Manis says.
As a preliminary step to development, the City Council will consider a contractor to draw up an environmental impact report, possibly during its March 3 meeting, Manis says. LSA Associates of Irvine is the front-runner for the work.
The environmental document will take about a year to complete and will ultimately go to the City Council for review, Manis says.
, Brad Graves
SAN DIEGO: Smartbox Thinks Inside The Box, Completes Deal
Virginia-based Smartbox said Jan. 7 that it has acquired a similar moving and storage company, locally based Big Box Storage, for an undisclosed amount.
The deal gives Smartbox a presence in 43 major markets, including New York City, Seattle and Washington, D.C.
Both businesses are ranked in Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500.
, Brad Graves
