Julep Kitchen + Drink closed last week in Brea, citing its challenging parking lot and high rent at the Village at La Floresta shopping center.
“Our incredible staff — the true soul of Julep — will continue to shine,” the restaurant owners said. “Every team member has been offered a position within our family of restaurants. Stay tuned to discover where your favorite bartender, server, or busser will be next.”
The restaurant at 3325 E. Imperial Hwy. featured classic American fare and comfort food at brunch. Think: short-rib tacos, corn fritters and fried chicken with waffles.
The owners said in social media posts and at their website that it was contacting patrons who booked parties or large reservations, rerouting them to sister restaurants Story Anaheim, Benny & Mary’s Irvine, Fable Brea and Toast Brea.
Cinq à Sept opens in Newport Beach
The ready-to-wear fashion brand Cinq à Sept is open at Fashion Island.
The Newport Beach boutique is the company’s first in California.
Cinq à Sept, a French term for the hours between 5 and 7 p.m. offers its take on “modern classics” in women’s fashion from suits to cocktail attire, denim and daytime separates.
The New York-based fashion line recently launched footwear (fall 2024), and is working on a new handbag collaboration with Scotland-based Strathberry (coming this fall).
The company has other boutiques in New York City and Miami.
The store, which is next to St. John Knits and across from Neiman Marcus, is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Free comedy night Thursday in Anaheim
The nonprofit Radiant Futures, formerly known as the Women’s Transitional Living Center in Fullerton, is co-hosting with the Yay Foundation the first Asian Pacific Islander Comedy Show at the Anaheim Downtown Community Center.
The free event takes place from 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 22, coinciding with Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and MentalHealth Awareness Month.
Comedians headlining the event are Aidan Park, founder of the Yay Foundation, and Helen Hong and Ana Parsons. Amateur comics include Eddy Fuentes, who is the community services supervisor at Radiant Futures, and Jay Ranchh and Edwin Bai.
The YAY Foundation works on making “mental health and other difficult conversations fun, approachable, and exciting.” Radiant Futures helps survivors of domestic violence and trauma, providing crisis help and a 24-hour bilingual helpline at 877-531-5522, among other services.
Anaheim Downtown Community Center: 250 East Center St., Anaheim
Pinwheels for foster children
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) OC’s ninth annual Pinwheel Project takes place at the Bloomingdale’s Courtyard at Fashion Island from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 31.
The nonprofit plants colorful pinwheels across the courtyard lawn, with each one representing a child in the foster care system in Orange County.
Mall patrons can make a $10 donation to sponsor a pinwheel, which goes to support children in the foster care system.
To sponsor a pinwheel, go to casaoc.org/pinwheel
Judicial appointments
Michael Mooney was appointed judge at Orange County Superior Court, filling a vacancy created when Judge Julian W. Bailey retired. Before his appointment, Mooney spent 13 years as a public defender at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office.
On board
Orange County Business Council recently appointed several board members. They include Christopher Arias, executive director of Business Development for MemorialCare; Tyler Holst, senior vice president of Infrastructure Engineering for Rancho Mission Viejo; Jarrod Ingle, regional president and head of Corporate Banking Orange County-Inland Empire for PNC Bank; and Faisal M. Zubairi, partner and Southern California office head of Dorsey & Whitney LLP.
Good works
More than 200 volunteers came together with Think Together for its second annual Spring Kit Build event. The nonprofit for its second year, ditched its usual gala fundraiser and instead assembled 1,500 curriculum kits and book bags for students attending Think Summer, the nonprofit’s summer enrichment program. Sponsors TopGolf, Pioneer Circuits, Pacific Life, BNY, Taylor Nelson Amitrano LLP and PWC raised $200,000 to supply learning materials (lesson plans, materials and hands-on activity kits) for the camp’s summer programs hosted across the state.
Girls Inc. of Orange County raised more than $400,000 at its annual gala held April 26 at Fête the Venue in Costa Mesa. The money will go toward the Santa Ana nonprofit’s programs in STEM, financial literacy, college and career readiness, healthy relationships, body image and advocacy. Since 1954, Girls Inc. of OC has grown from helping 133 girls to more than 9,000 girls each year. Go to girlsinc-oc.org for more information.
Milestones
Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties celebrated its 60th anniversary on May 7 at the organization’s Orange County administrative headquarters in Anaheim. The celebration featured remarks from the outgoing President and Chief Executive Jon Dunn and incoming President and CEO Krista Hollinger, who begins her new role July 1. Last year, PPOSBC said it provided nearly $3 million in health care to patients across Orange and San Bernardino Counties who were unable to pay, and provided over 270,000 medical visits.
Top Workplaces
The Orange County Register has opened nominations for its 18th annual Top Workplaces 2025 survey.
The workplace survey is open to any organization with 35 or more employees in Orange County (public, private, nonprofit, government).
There is no cost to take part in Top Workplaces, and employees, management and people who don’t work at the business can all submit nominations.
For the final categories and winners, companies are broken down from small (50 to 149 total employees), midsize (150 to 499 total employees) and large (500 or more total employees).
To participate, go to ocregister.com/nominate or call 714-442-2768.
The deadline for nominations is June 20.
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.