A Landmark Leaves, While a Music Store Opens

A fond farewell to a favorite and a warm hello to a new business this week in Laguna Niguel Biz Briefs.

Goodbye Old Friend

After 40 years, the Jolly Roger Restaurant has closed it doors at Dana Point Harbor, a landmark for many.

According to Steve Moyer, president and CEO of Aloha Restaurants, Inc., the company that owns the eatery, the company's board of directors decided not to renew when the lease came up for renewal. 

Why? Because the county of Orange, who owns the building, required: “major renovations, upgrades and code compliance additions we simply can't afford with our modest, family-priced menu." 

Built in 1972, the Jolly Roger would need between $800,000 and $1 million in upgrades to satisfy the county requirements, said Moyer, whose company also owns the Jolly Roger in Oceanside, Buster’s Beach House in San Diego (Seaport Village), and Monterey Bay Canners in Oceanside and Hawaii. 

“The building just needs a lot of work and needs to meet ADA standards including redoing the restrooms, and even adding an elevator, “ he said.  “It also needs updated plumbing, a modern grease interceptor, and new kitchen equipment. It’s just cost-prohibitive for us at this point and we don't think it's possible to recover that big of an investment and make a return.” 

Moyer said his company didn’t want to take the chance of renewing the lease, which offered a short term of only 10 years. 

“We are a modestly-priced restaurant and in this uncertain economic climate where many restaurants aren’t making it, we just didn’t think it was a good idea,” he said. “Unfortunately, the lease term was just too short for amortizing such a large investment.” 

While he is sad to see the iconic restaurant close, he is grateful for all the years of loyalty from customers, the city of Dana Point, the County of Orange, and the overall community.  

“The Dana Point Jolly Roger is an institution to all of us who work here and who have eaten here,” Moyer said. “Our past year has been great, and sales have been clearly up over prior year. It’s a difficult decision to close it, but it’s time.”

He said he is trying to relocate many of the 40+ employees to Oceanside. In fact, long time General Manager, Randy Boswell, will be one of them. Boswell has worked for the company owning Jolly Roger, for 29 years, and has been at the Dana Point location for 5 years.

 “I started as a busboy and moved my way up,” he said. “This is definitely a landmark, and I am sad to see it go, we all are. I love the place and will miss the gorgeous location, and so many of the customers. I hope they will make the drive to see us in Oceanside.” 

As of late Tuesday, according to Vintage Marina Management Co., who manages the property for the county, the property has not been leased.

Additionally, representatives for the county could not be reached for comment. 

Music, Music

Tim Gill has recently opened Tim's OC Music at 28971 Golden Lantern, Suite A106, next door to Patsy's.

It's been a long time dream for Gill, as his family has been in the music business for years.

"My family has been in business since 1979 when my dad opened up his first music store in the Bay area," he said. "I starting working in the shop when I was 13. My dad opened up OC Music in Rancho Santa Margarita in May 2010. I have wanted to open up my own store for years and in August, I was finally able to."

The store specializes in school band rentals for clarinet, flute, sax, trumpet, trombone, violin and viola. It also offers music lessons for piano, guitar, bass, drums, voice, band and orchestra instruments. 

"We have several brand new studios at our location where we teach the private lessons. We carry Ibanez guitars and Yamaha band instruments, and all the accessories you need for your instrument," Gill said.