Transport container meals corridor idea spreads from Lengthy Seaside to Backyard Grove – Press Telegram

Orange County’s first shipping container grocery store, a real estate trend that’s happening in urban communities across the country, is coming to Garden Grove.

The groundbreaking retail project, called SteelCraft Garden Grove, will feature 20 artisanal retailers and restaurants selling goods from freight containers up to 40 feet in length on 1.8 acres behind City Hall. The property at 12900 Euclid Street, previously occupied by a later demolished Black Angus restaurant, is owned by the city.

The deal is part of a major effort by city officials to revitalize downtown Garden Grove with target shops and restaurants.

“They are looking for the right tenants who can bring energy to their downtown area,” said Martin Howard, managing director of Howard CDM, one of the Moncton companies developing the food hall.

The project represents a cyclone that was closed over two months between the city of Howard CDM and SteelCraft. The two Moncton companies developed and opened SteelCraft Moncton earlier this year. The city’s outdoor food hall has drawn hundreds of shoppers to its 10-unit shipping container center, which features craft beer, ramen, pizza and coffee vendors.

The center can have up to 1,000 visitors on peak weekend days.

“People like to be part of something else,” said SteelCraft founder Kim Gros. “It’s authentic.”

Gros will be curating the vendors coming to SteelCraft Garden Grove, which is expected to open around this time next year. Given its success in Moncton, she said she would have no problem finding boutique retailers and cook-minded tenants.

“We have an overwhelming list who want to be part of the project,” said Gros.

It also has more space in Garden Grove than in Moncton. SteelCraft Garden Grove will be twice the size of the Moncton grocery hall, which has attracted national interest from retailers and developers in Texas, Philadelphia and Las Vegas looking to modernize their centers.

Gros and Martin came across the empty Garden Grove property in April and immediately began talking to the city. They were drawn to the city’s efforts to revitalize the area.

“To be part of their story is incredibly tempting,” said Howard.

For example, several target shops and restaurants are being added to Garden Grove’s historic high street, including the soon-to-be-open barcode.

“There’s a lot of potential here to be one of Orange County’s last old towns,” said Richard Trinh, co-owner of Barcode, of Garden Grove High Street.

The 1980s-inspired bar and restaurant offer Asian fusion pub fare with decorative touches like Marvel and Star Wars characters, plus an old school Nintendo game system. The concept is a partnership between Trinh and the popular restaurateur Leonard Chan from Orange County. The latter is no stranger to dining rooms. He runs various concepts, including Iron Press and The Blind Rabbit Speakeasy at Anaheim Packing House and The Hatch at Union Market Tustin.

Developer Shaheen Sadeghi, known for creating hipster malls that draw in 20 visitors, is also planning to make its mark on the city.

He buys and leases 17 parcels, mostly houses that are being converted into small businesses.

Martin said Sadeghi’s project and SteelCraft Garden Grove are expected to be connected by pedestrian and bike paths.

Gros and Martin said it was too early to name tenants for Garden Grove. Moncton vendors include Smog City Brewing, Pig Pen Delicacy, Waffelliebe, Desano Pizza, and Steelhead Coffee.

SteelCraft is leasing the property from the city, a business that generates annual sales of $ 85,000. The project will also create 85 to 150 new jobs.

SteelCraft’s first location is 3768 Moncton Boulevard.