The franchisees behind a popular Kolache Factory in Tustin are expanding to Huntington Beach.
Ted and Kathy Skaff, who opened their first kolache franchise in Tustin eight years ago, will operate the Surf City bakery, too.
“We feel good about opening a new location right now. Our Tustin store has proven to be pandemic proof as we are mainly a grab-and-go model,” said Ted Skaff. “We are fortunate to have a good staff in place in Tustin, and some team members have gladly accepted positions to open Huntington Beach, so we haven’t had any staffing issues.”
The bakery, part of a national chain, specializes in savory and sweet Czech-inspired pastry filled with fruits, meats and cheese. Also on the menu: Katz Coffee, hot chocolate, croissants and muffins.
The Huntington Beach bakery is the 59th Kolache Factory for the Katy, Texas-based franchise.
Address: at 6502 Bolsa Ave.
New CEO for Second Harvest Food Bank
Claudia Bonilla Keller at Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County has been promoted to chief executive officer, effective Jan. 1.
In July, the food bank’s previous CEO, Harald Herrmann, left the organization, returning to the restaurant industry.
Bonilla Keller has served as the nonprofit’s chief mission officer since January 2020. Bilingual and the daughter of immigrants, she becomes the food bank’s second female CEO to hold the leadership position.
Previously, she was with LA Promise Fund, American Heart Association and St. John.
Second Harvest was founded in 1983 and employs 77 team members. The nonprofit reported it distributed nearly 60 million pounds of food through its partner network and served more than 489,000 people per month on average in its fiscal year 2021.
Gaming studio opens in Fullerton
Nerd Street Gamers, the national esports company, opened a Localhost gaming and esports center at 1134 S Harbor Blvd. in Fullerton on Saturday, Dec. 11.
The Fullerton location will offer professional-level gaming computers and the latest consoles plus high-performance gaming accessories.
Visitors will have the choice to play on 58 PCs, four consoles, and four “polycades” or wall-mounted arcade consoles.
The Fullerton gaming studio is the third for California. The company also operates in Oceanside and Bakersfield.
Address: 1134 S Harbor Blvd.
Name change for adult centers
Alzheimer’s Orange County has renamed its two adult day service centers in Laguna Woods near Laguna Woods Village and Garden Grove.
The organization said the name changes were made to “better reflect the goal to promote healthy living for older adults and others.”
Previously Acacia Adult Day Services and South County Adult Day Services Center, the facilities are now Healthy Aging Center: Acacia and Healthy Aging Center: Laguna Woods.
New car wash in RSM
H2GO Car Wash, a local, family-owned chain, has opened its fifth location and first in south Orange County in Rancho Santa Margarita.
The car washes, the company says, use water conservation methods and “earth-friendly” chemicals in their full-service washes.
The company has locations in Westminster, Huntington Beach and Cypress.
RSM address: 28622 Oso Parkway
M&As for Windjammer
Newport Beach-based Windjammer Capital Investors’ portfolio company, Hilco Vision, has acquired Belgium and Netherlands-based Simovision BV in November. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Simovision is a distributor of ophthalmic products. It was established in 2002 and will continue to be based out of its headquarters in Belgium.
Windjammer also has acquired Paragon Energy Solutions in partnership with Paragon management. Terms of that transaction also were not disclosed. Paragon is an independent provider of parts and services for existing utility nuclear power generation facilities, and small modular nuclear reactor technologies.
Aussie Pet Mobile acquired by HFC
Irvine-based Home Franchise Concepts has acquired Aliso Viejo-based Aussie Pet Mobile.
Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
Aussie Pet Mobile operates across the U.S. with a network of 74 franchises and 354 grooming vans.
The company’s president, Leon Feuerberg, who started as a franchisee in 2006, will continue leading day-to-day operations and report to HFC President Scott Barrett.
The brand acquisition is the second for Home Franchise Concepts this year. In September, the company acquired Two Maids and Mop.
Other HFC brands include Budget Blinds, Tailored Living, Concrete Craft. AdvantaClean, Kitchen Tune-Up and Bath Tune-Up, and Two Maids and Mop, which collectively encompass more than 2,100 franchise territories in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Turkey Trot raises
Orange County Rescue Mission’s annual Turkey Trot OC 5K raised enough money to provide 50,596 meals to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
Naked Zebra and nine other local businesses helped raise money for meals, including Arthur J. Gallagher, Brakke-Schafnitz, Cox Digital, EPIC Agency, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Goe Forsythe & Hodges, Rich Elixirs, Tustin Community Bank and Union Bank.
For more information, go to rescuemission.org/items
Good works
Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County raised $128,000 at its 38th annual “No Lunch” Lunch fundraiser to provide food to Orange County residents in need.
Orange County Hispanic Education Endowment Fund raised $100,000 at its 28th “Somos HEEF” Celebration. The fundraiser supports a scholarship program for Hispanic/Latino youth in Orange County. At this year’s celebration, the organization said scholarships totaling more than $270,000 were awarded to 90 first-generation college-bound students. This year’s event sponsors included: National University, SVA Architects, Edison International, Cal State Fullerton, UC Irvine, SoCal Gas Company, Chevron, and Northgate Gonzalez Markets. Scholarship sponsors included: Edison International and Union Bank.
Status Update is compiled from press releases by contributing writer Karen Levin and edited by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items and high-resolution photos to [email protected]. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.
