Ace Hardware is opening at Mercado Del Rancho in Rancho Santa Margarita, replacing a shuttered Rite Aid at the shopping center.
The Westlake Ace hardware company signed a lease with property owner Westwood Financial, which bought the retail center in 2007, and more recently updated it. It expects Ace, in a 23,714-square-foot space, to be open by fall.
The 68,085-square-feet Mercado Del Rancho is anchored by Ralphs and also includes Starbucks, Little Caesars, Taco Bell, Verizon, Club Pilates, Pure Barre, the Blind Pig, as well as Belo Hair Salon, Carmelita’s Kitchen, Yamame, Il Sole, Ding Tea, and KD’s Donuts.
Address: 31441 Santa Margarita Parkway.
In other south Orange County news last week, Jonathan Lansner shared news that Costco has applied to build a warehouse store in the Foothill Ranch community of Lake Forest. The new build would replace the shuttered movie theater at Foothill Ranch Towne Center. As it stands, the Costco would not have a gas station but would include a tire center.
Rescue mission needs canned, packaged food
Do you have spare cans of tuna, chicken, fruit and vegetables to give to needy residents?
The Orange County Rescue Mission is “urgently” seeking donations of canned and packaged food for homeless people and families. The call for donations, the nonprofit says, comes after Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed banning homeless encampments and expanding shelter access across California.
“With more people expected to turn to shelters and transitional living communities like OCRM in the coming months, we must be ready,” said Bryan Crain, the nonprofit’s president. “Canned and packaged foods are a lifeline for our residents. Every donation helps us provide nourishment, stability, and dignity to those working to rebuild their lives.”
With low inventory and expectations of rising shelter intakes, OCRM is looking to boost its pantry at the Village of Hope campus and other facilities.
Their list of requests includes canned tuna and meat, fruit, vegetables, spaghetti and sauces, beans, soup, peanut butter, rice, cereal, snack bars, pasta and instant noodles.
Donations can be dropped off at Village of Hope at 1 Hope Drive in Tustin. They can also be shipped their directly (using that same address) from online merchants. The donation warehouse is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
More information can be found at rescuemission.org/items. Email questions to info@rescuemission.org.
Porsche show is June 21 in Dana Point
The 53rd White Glove Concours and Porsche show takes place Saturday, June 21 at Sea Terrace Park in Dana Point.
The car show, presented by the Porsche Club of America, Orange Coast Region, is free and starts at 10 a.m.
Pre-registration is sold out — a first for the club — but Porsche owners can pay to enter the event June 21.
Organizers expect more than 250 Porsches of all types to participate. Some 50 cars will be judged in various divisions.
Sea Terrace Park is at Pacific Coast Highway and Niguel Road in Dana Point.
Bulky item, shred event in Orange
There’s still time to do some spring purging, and the city of Orange is ready to help.
Residents can dump their bulky items, get sensitive documents shredded and finally toss that ancient computer from 2002 at a CR&R event from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Saturday June 14 at the City Public Works Yard on West Struck Avenue.
You must show proof of city residency at the dump event. Acceptable “waste” includes two banker boxes per car (18 inches long by 14 inches wide and 11 inches high). E-waste includes computers (laptops and towers), computer monitors, laptops, tablets, televisions (larger CRT and flatscreen) video game consoles and printers/scanners and copiers. Stereos and radios also will be accepted.
Bulky items include furniture, mattresses, chairs, washers and dryers and excess green waste.
Fine print: No commercial or self-haulers allowed. Proof of residency includes a photo ID with Orange address and/or a utility bill.
Address: 637 W. Struck Ave.
Golden Spoon coming to FV
On the move
Jeegisha Panchal is the newly appointed chief financial officer at Orange County United Way. The Cal State Fullerton grad and certified public accountant previously was director of Global Client Services at Grant Thornton LLP.
Attorneys Lauren N. Horgan and Daniel Hitzfield recently joined Cummins & White LLP, a Newport Beach-based law firm specializing in litigation, insurance, labor and employment, estate & tax, corporate transactions, IP and real estate. Horgan joins the firm as an associate attorney focusing on intellectual property law. Hitzfield will focus on real estate, finance and corporate transactions.
Christian Peo at KPMG in Orange County was appointed vice chair of the Audit committee for the audit, tax and advisory firm.
Good works
Orange County United Way raised $570,000 at its 22nd annual Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast held May 20 at the Hyatt Regency Irvine. The money raised will go toward OC United Way’s SparkPoint OC center at Paul Revere Elementary in Anaheim; help human trafficking survivors with financial literacy, among other services designed for struggling women and their families.
Milestones
Five Costa Mesa High School students recently were named the winners an annual student video contest hosted by Mesa Water District.
Their submissions focused on the district and “why is it safe to drink Mesa Water straight from the tap” and “what does it mean to you that Mesa Water is 100% local.”
The filmmakers won cash prizes, and their work was presented at a recent board meeting. The winners are: India Howerton and Graydon Sage, first place and $1,000 prize; Alejandro Sanchez, second place and $750; Logan Bell and Diego Perez, third place and $500.
Mesa Water also gave a $500 Amazon gift card for classroom supplies to the instructor of the third-place winners – Sarah Portwood, drama teacher at Costa Mesa High School.
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.