Business

In an extraordinary move to help local businesses hit hard by the ongoing pandemic, the Mission Viejo City Council this week approved a $1,000,000 COVID-19 Business Relief Grant Program for qualified struggling small businesses and nonprofits located in our City.

Grants up to $25,000 are available to businesses with 25 or fewer employees (full-time equivalent). Applications will be accepted until available funds are exhausted. 

New businesses continue to open in Mission Viejo and others are coming our way. Here is a summary of the latest business activity:

Retail stores in GreenStreet Mission Viejo, the new commercial center at Marguerite Parkway (south of Avery) continue to open including BurgerIM, La Vie Nail Spa, Seville Classics (a container-type store) and the carwash, with Saffron Mediterranean Grill following soon.

Michaels Craft Store New Location 
The City received an application for Michaels craft store to occupy the old Sports Authority building at 25462 El Paseo in the Mission Viejo Freeway Center. Next to the existing Best Buy store, the old Sports Authority space has been vacant for years. The proposed plans call for remodeling about 28,000 square feet of interior space by adding new partitions to create craft classrooms, lighting changes and minor storefront alterations to match the store’s design. The new Michaels store is slated to open for business in March.

The Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 29 to celebrate the opening of Smart Cups at 25732 Taladro Circle.

Chicken wing fans will rejoice over the opening of Orange County’s first Epic Wings-N-Things in the Mission Viejo Town Center on the corner of Avery and Marguerite Parkways. Known for savory chicken wings and breadsticks, this restaurant chain started in San Diego and has been expanding north with 19 locations in Southern California. For more information, visit https://www.epicwingsnthings.com.

With a new year comes a new chance to better market your business or organization. The City of Mission Viejo’s Sponsorship Program provides dynamic marketing opportunities through many special events throughout the year.

By sponsoring, businesses and organizations become part of popular programs and events that attract thousands of people. Your business or organization will gain great exposure for your goods, services and causes as well as face-to-face time with people from Mission Viejo and well beyond.

Tapas OC restaurant is expected to open its new 6,500-square-foot eatery at the Kaleidoscope center sometime in December.

The restaurant, which used to be in Newport Beach, is known for its authentic Spanish cuisine and live entertainment. Its menu boasts an array of tapas, seafood and Mediterranean salads.

New businesses continue to open in this business-friendly city. Here’s a summary of the latest business activity in town.

Martial Arts
New Brazilian Jiu Jitsu studio Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu opened its doors this past month at 26861 Trabuco Road. The studio’s mission is to help students build confidence, learn practical self-defense skills and compete at their level. Ralph Gracie is now offering classes for all ages Monday through Saturday.  For more information, visit www.ralphgraciemv.com.

The Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Business Expo on Thursday, September 21 from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Saddleback College Life Science Quad at 28000 Marguerite Parkway.  

The event is free for the public and includes complimentary food samples from local eateries. The Business Expo gives restaurants and businesses the opportunity to showcase their fare, goods and services to the community. 

City of Mission Viejo staff will also be on hand with a host of community information.  

Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing Company is expected to open its new Mission Viejo location in mid-September.

The City has been finalizing inspections of the 5,935-square-foot restaurant in the Gateway Center at 24042 Alicia Parkway. The building was revamped to include a new tower element, landscaping and outdoor dining area.

The chain restaurant is known for its Italian food, sports-themed atmosphere and micro-brewed beer. 

In addition to Oggi’s, here’s a sampling of other restaurant news in town: