Orange – Community Blog
Orange County’s job market is tight and getting tighter Comments Off on Orange County’s job market is tight and getting tighter
Orange County job-seekers poured into the market last month in the wake of high school and college graduations, boosting the size of the county’s labor force — but also its unemployment rate.
Joblessness ticked up to 3.8 percent from 3.1 percent in May, a rise that reflected a larger number of people looking for work.
However, while the county saw a seasonal jump of 6,000 net new jobs last month, for a total of 1,594,900, its year-over-year payroll growth stood at a modest 1.2 percent — a rise of 19,000 positions.
“Orange County’s economy has slowed quite a bit,” said Christopher Thornberg, a founder of Beacon Economics, a Southern California research firm. “Last year, the county added 36,000 jobs from June to June, and the year before it was 47,000.”
California is also seeing “a big slowdown,” he added. “In the past, we’ve been able to grow on the job front because there was an excess supply of workers. That is gone. Last year, the state added 150,000 jobs from December to June. This year, we are at 65,000.”
Last month, California actually lost 1,400 jobs while year-over-year payrolls grew 1.6 percent. The state’s jobless rate was 4.7 percent, the same as in May.
The U.S. unemployment rate stood at 4.4 percent in June.
Thornberg and other experts place much of the blame for slowing growth on California’s severe housing shortage. High prices, due to a lack of supply, are discouraging workers from moving to the state and are spurring businesses to expand elsewhere to find employees, they say.
“In Orange County and in California, we are in a tight labor market and it is only getting tighter,” said Genine Wilson, a regional vice president at the staffing firm Kelly Services.
“There are more job openings than there are employees. The challenge for employers is to find qualified talent, given the cost of living. Employers are not paying enough to attract skilled workers to Orange County.”
Mid-tier positions are particularly hard to fill, she added. “It is difficult to relocate someone from Florida, say, where they can live comfortably in a three-bedroom house, as opposed to living in a one-bedroom apartment here.”
Here are year-over-year trends within the county’s major job sectors:
–Professional and business services grew to 300,900, adding 8,200 positions, the most of any category. But more than 90 percent of the jobs were in administrative and support services, including temporary workers.
–Leisure and hospitality, including positions at hotels and restaurants, grew to 218,600, with 3,300 more jobs.
–Healthcare and social services employed 177,000, a loss of 300 jobs.
–Government jobs grew to 164,100, with an increase of 1,200, mostly public school teachers.
–Manufacturing declined to 153,700, with a loss of 1,800 jobs as companies continued to automate and move operations to less expensive labor markets.
–Retail jobs dropped to 148,300, with a loss of 1,400 positions, as the growth of online shopping led to the closing of brick-and-mortar stores.
–Construction grew to 100,700, adding 4,300 jobs, mostly in specialty trades.
–Financial activities grew by 600 jobs to 117,300.
Armed man sought in robbery of a Del Taco in Orange Comments Off on Armed man sought in robbery of a Del Taco in Orange
ORANGE — Police searched Thursday night for a man suspected of robbing a Del Taco of an undisclosed amount of cash, authorities said.
The incident occurred about 9:20 p.m. on July 20 at 1301 E. Katella Ave., Orange Police Department Lt. Jennifer Amat said.
The suspect entered the restaurant, displayed a handgun and demanded money from a cashier, Amat said.
The man fled the restaurant with cash and it is unknown if he left on foot or got into a vehicle, authorities said.
No injuries were reported and a detailed description of the suspect was not available.
Retail-restaurant roundup: In-N-Out Burger adding 2 O.C. locations; Sugar Paper opens in Newport Beach Comments Off on Retail-restaurant roundup: In-N-Out Burger adding 2 O.C. locations; Sugar Paper opens in Newport Beach
Here’s a roundup of restaurant and retail news from across Orange County.
In-N-Out Burger: The beloved burger joint has plans to add two more Orange County locations including one on an empty Santa Ana lot that has triggered some controversy among neighbors.
A flyer protesting an In-N-Out proposed at the corner of 17th Street and Tustin Avenue in Santa Ana has been circulating on Facebook. The flyer, which has been distributed to area residents, said the fast-food project will cause “noise, traffic and odors.” (The flyer also says a Chick-fil-A is planned for the site. But a spokeswoman for Chick-fil-A told the Register this week that the chain does “not currently have any new locations to confirm.”)
But, In-N-Out is definitely in play.
Carl Arena, vice president of development for Irvine-based In-N-Out, said the Santa Ana restaurant is still in the early phase of development.
“We do hope to open a restaurant there in the future. That said, it is still very early in the development application process,” he said.
He did not comment on the flyer, which was posted on a community Facebook forum targeting Orange residents. Most of the commentators said they didn’t have a problem with the new development. In fact, many rejoiced at the ability to order a Double Double closer to home.
“My husband and I are pretty stoked for this,” wrote one woman who said she lives nearby.
The busy corner, near the (55) freeway, is a few miles south of Orange. A gas station, a Starbucks with a drive-through and a Claim Jumper, occupy the other three corners.
Other locals said any development is long overdue as the blighted lot has been empty for years. “It will be great for that intersection. The area has been idle for years,” one person wrote.
If approved, and after construction begins, Arena said it will take at least four to five months to build.
“There is still quite a bit of work to be done before we can even set a time to begin construction. Because it is still so early in the process, it would be premature to comment on a timeline or if we will even achieve a development approval,” he said.
Arena said the chain will open its next Orange County restaurant in early 2018 in La Habra.
At nearly 4,000-square-feet, the restaurant will take up two lots at 1761 W. Whittier Blvd. It will have a patio and drive-through lane that can accommodate 17 vehicles.
The 325-unit chain, founded in Baldwin Park in 1948, operates 25 restaurants in Orange County. All restaurants are company owned.
Sugar Paper Los Angeles: The stationery store opened a location at Lido Marina Village Sunday, July 16. The first 50 visitors will receive a $25 gift card to use at the location.
It is the stationery store’s second brick and mortar location. Its other store is in Brentwood.
“This feels like a natural next step for the brand as I grew up in Orange County and spent many summers sailing in Newport Harbor. The ambiance of Lido Marina Village aligns perfectly with the Sugar Paper customer. We couldn’t be more thrilled to introduce Newport Beach to our brand,” brand co-founder Chelsea Shukov said in a statement.
She founded the brand with Jamie Grobecker in 2003.
The Newport Beach store will have the full line of Sugar Paper goods including stationery albums. It will also have an in-store monogramming station.
It is the first time the brand is offering same-day monogramming. Monogramming will be $15 per item.
The Lido Marina Village store is located at 3431 Via Oporto, Suite 105.
Lido Marina Village has been revitalized in the past year, adding a number of luxe brands and restaurants.
It was first developed in 1971 as a shopping village with water views. It was restored by DJM Capital Partners, the developer behind Pacific City in Huntington Beach.
Recent openings include restaurant Lido Bottle Works, gift store Yolk and home design store Bixby & Ball.
With the opening of Sugar Paper, 32 stores and restaurants have opened. The center is now roughly 95 percent leased.
The Habit Burger Grill: The burger restaurant is opening a new restaurant in Mission Viejo off the 5 freeway at Crown Valley, near the Shops at Mission Viejo. The Habit said the restaurant will open in 2018.
Oggi’s Pizza Express: The location at the Village at Orange has closed. The fast casual restaurant was the San Clemente-based pizza chain’s attempt to jump into the fray of build-your-own pizza chains. Oggi’s operates mostly full-service pizza and sports bars. But it developed the build-your-own pizza concept a few years ago in San Diego to compete with trendy new brands such as Pieology and Blaze Pizza.
When the Orange location was being built a few years ago, Oggi’s told the Register that the concept is not replacing the company’s sit-down sports bars, frequented primarily by diners ages 25 to 54. The new division instead keeps costs down with less staff while casting a wider net that reaches a younger generation.
Oggi’s did not immediately return a request for comment on the closure in Orange.
1888 Center: The nonprofit cultural center focused on the arts in Orange County is opening in Old Towne Orange Thursday, July 27.
The center will have a performance space, bookstore, art exhibits and café serving Contra Coffee & Tea drinks. Contra sells nitro cold brew coffee and teas.
The weekly Orange Home Grown Farmers and Artisans Market will open a second office in 1888 for possibly hosting pop-up farmers’ market events.
“It’s a nonprofit dedicated to building community. We’re anchored in storytelling of the past, present and future,” founder Kevin Staniec said. “Our goal is to engage and provide opportunities for people to be creative.”
Staniec said that he wanted to have a cultural center for the nonprofit to help with its focus on “life-long learning.”
“The heart of what we do is our programs. We will have many events and programs. Some will be free and open to the community, others will have a ticket price. All will be recorded for podcasts so people around the world have access,” he added.
The center will have two walls dedicated to contemporary and historical exhibitions.
Staniec is working with partners to take the center to other parts of Orange County as well.
To celebrate its opening, the center has a handful of events planned.
On Thursday, July 27 at 7 p.m. there will be a free reception for the Literary Destinations exhibit by artist Chantal deFelice.
Friday, July 28 at 7 p.m. there will be a music series with live performances and discussions with local music groups. Tickets cost $10.
Saturday, July 29 at 1 p.m. there will be a history exhibition created by a partnership with the Orange Public Library & History Center and the Orange Community Historical Society. The event is free.
Sunday, July 30 at 7 p.m. there will be a podcast recording of The How The Why with Samantha Dunn, the executive editor of Coast Magazine, a publication of SCNG. Tickets are $10.
The center is at 115 North Orange St., in the Elks Lodge building. It is taking over a former shoe store.
Staniec said he chose the location for its history. In the early 1900s it was home to a printing press, he said.
1888, which is the year Orange was incorporated, currently has 10 employees. Staniec said more will be added once the center opens.
6 urgent care centers in Orange County file for bankruptcy Comments Off on 6 urgent care centers in Orange County file for bankruptcy
by Hannah Madans • Orange, Real Estate News • Tags: Business, Huntington Beach, The OC Register, Top Stories OCR on August 3, 2017
Six urgent care facilities owned by Dr. Robert C. Amster have filed for bankruptcy, according to court documents.
The bankruptcies, filed Wednesday, Aug. 2, include Cypress Urgent Care; Hoag Urgent Care – Anaheim Hills; Hoag Urgent Care – Huntington Harbour; Hoag Urgent Care – Orange; Hoag Urgent Care –Tustin; and Laguna Dana Urgent Care.
Four of the six facilities are leased from Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian but are not run by the hospital, according to Amster’s lawyer.
“Six entities, none of which are owned, operated or have common interests or control by Hoag have commenced Chapter 11 proceedings,” Hoag spokeswoman Nina Robinson said.
Amster is the founder of Your Neighborhood Urgent Care, which has 10 urgent care centers in Southern California, according to its website. The other four include two in San Diego and La Mesa and Chula Vista.
Amster’s attorney Ashley M. McDow said only the six centers in Orange County were filing for bankruptcy. Hoag, she said, was the landlord for four of the centers and “someone we have equipment deals with.”
The urgent cares have amassed $1 million to $10 million in liabilities, according to the filings.
The Orange center closed in 2016; the other five will remain open and patient care will not be interrupted, she added.
“Dr. Amster will still be providing service. Our intention is to reorganize and stay open during the bankruptcy, patient care should be uninterrupted,” McDow said.
McDow does not expect any of the existing centers to close as a result of the bankruptcy. “It is primarily to restructure our affairs with the landlord and the bank,” she said of the decision to file for Chapter 11.
Adam D. Stein-Sapir, a portfolio manager at Pioneer Funding Group, said it is beneficial for centers to continue their operations during bankruptcy.
“Everybody realizes that the value of the businesses is maximized by the business staying in operation and serving patients and generating revenue,” Stein-Sapir said. “Turning the lights off and stopping operations would be a value destructive option.”
None of the Hoag-owned urgent care facilities in Aliso Viejo, Irvine (Los Olivos, San Canyon, Woodbridge, Woodbury), Huntington Beach and Newport Beach are part of the bankruptcy proceedings.
Stein-Sapir said changing reimbursement rates have led other healthcare groups to file for bankruptcy.
“These hospitals take a lot of government care and patients. When reimbursement rates change, it can have a significant impact on the hospital and its operations. There have been a lot of hospital bankruptcies recently and that’s one of the reasons,” he said.
Recent hospital bankruptcies include Gardens Regional Hospital and Medical Center in Hawaiian Gardens. It closed Feb. 1 after filing for Chapter 11 in 2016.
McDow said while reimbursement rate changes are a problem she has seen in other bankruptcy cases, the six Amster bankruptcies are more about reorganizing to remain open.