Promenade On Forest Grand Opening Restarts Laguna Beach Economy

LAGUNA BEACH, CA —After a grand opening on Monday, city officials, business and restaurant owners kickstarted summer. About 100 people were on hand to witness the ribbon-cutting, in what councilman Mayor Bob Whalen said were "more people than he'd seen together in three or four months!"

Residents started to weigh in on the Promenade on Forest, outdoor dining experience in Laguna Beach

After businesses closed down in Laguna Beach in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic, the impact on the community had a ripple effect. Faced with high rents and an inability to earn an income, the city council and economic recovery team made fast work of getting restaurants open to the general public.

This week, Christobel and John Selecky told Patch about their dining experience at the Forest on Promenade.

"We out to eat on Forest Promenade for the first time last night," Selecky told Patch. "We love the changes as did everyone else we saw."

The couple felt the murals on the street were "a nice touch, and the dining platforms are attractively built."

As for whether people were following the social distance rules?

"The distancing and dining outside at 230 Forest was great," Selecky said. "The only problem was that most of the people walking around did not wear masks and wouldn’t listen to the Security Guard asking them to cover up. Maybe a Policeman should cover that beat?"

Regardless, the pair will return, he says, adding, that they "hope it improves business downtown and will be continued a long time."

With summer here this weekend, the council looked for restaurant owners to expand to outdoor dining.

This is an outdoor experience is what has been missing from Laguna Beach, commenters on Patch said.

The economic recovery team, including Kemp, hopes that people will "think Laguna Beach first" when it comes to shopping and dining out.

City councilmember Sue Kempf spoke on behalf of the May 12 approved plan that premiered on June 15. The design is a European, outdoor style, closed to vehicle traffic, and scattered with artworks by local artists in Laguna Beach fashion.

Street paintings line Forest Avenue, and redwood barricades created the outdoor dining space at the many restaurants that line Forest Avenue.

"When you come down here, wear your masks, be an example, but have a place to sit and eat and enjoy yourself in a very difficult time," Kempf said.

After the approval, the team got to work creating the space. The plethora of innovative ideas shows with the on-trend, open-air promenade, including string lights and a design footprint that is inviting and will help maintain distance between shoppers and diners.

Sanitizing plans are in effect, according to the council, to help diners feel safe amid the coronavirus pandemic.

After another outdoor dining project failed in 2018, restaurant owners are more hopeful about a resurgence of diners and shoppers at the open-air pedestrian plaza.

All are encouraged to come on down, wear your masks, and take part in some outdoor social distancing.

Will you go out to eat at the Promenade on Forest? What do you think of the changes? Send your outdoor dining and shopping tips to Ashley.Ludwig@Patch.com.