Restaurants & Bars
El Cerrito Restaurateur Expands To Walnut Creek
Coronavirus closures? Some people look at trying times and see opportunity.
EL CERRITO, CA — At a time when many restaurant owners are concerned about the future, El Cerrito owner/chef Lito Saldana of Los Moles is expanding to Walnut Creek.
Saldana also has restaurants in San Rafael, and Emeryville.
Tuesday night,Walnut Creek City Council members approved pursuing a 10-year lease, with two five-year options, for Los Moles to occupy the ground floor of the city-owned South Locust Parking Garage.
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"We know this is a challenge," Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Wilk said about spending the money. "Sometimes it is (about) biting the bullet. But let's invest in our community ... and support these businesses."
The retail space located at 1352 Locust St. It was last occupied by Tender Greens, a restaurant that closed in June 2018.
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Saldana has won awards for his modern Mexican cuisine, and is known in particular for his sauces.
Base rent for Los Moles would be $15,937.50 per month, increasing 10 percent every five years.
In response to the challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city and Los Moles negotiated a 20 percent rent reduction each month that Los Moles' gross sales are less than $200,000 for the first two years of the lease.
The city has agreed to provide an eventual $438,000 in tenant improvement allowance and funding repairs for the space's grease trap.
"I think we would be completely short-sighted not to be investing in economic recovery," Councilwoman Cindy Silva said.
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