The latest retail and restaurant news for the weekend ending Nov. 26:

Aldi plans next opening

Aldi’s next Orange County store is opening Thursday, Nov. 30 in Santa Ana.

The grand opening celebration kicks off with a ribbon cutting at 8:25 a.m. at 2830 S. Bristol St. Aldi is giving away “golden tickets” to the first 100 shoppers and ALDI reusable eco-friendly shopping bags.

On the same day, Aldi is opening another store at 2121 W. Main Street in Alhambra.

Stores are four to five times smaller than traditional supermarkets and employ roughly one-fourth of the staff. Like other California stores, these two stores will offer more produce and a large assortment of dairy and bakery items.

The two Southern California stores are the 45th and 46th supermarkets to open since Aldi launched its first stores in the West in March 2016. By the end of the year, Aldi plans to have 54 stores open in Southern California.

Other stores are planned for Westminster, Chula Vista, Monrovia, Laguna Woods, La Habra, Glendora, Oxnard and Escondido.

The chain, with its U.S. headquarters in Batavia, Ill., is shoring up forces in untapped markets as it enters a head-on battle with Walmart, Amazon and Lidl. The latter is Aldi’s biggest European foe — a discounter with a similar assortment of inexpensive, private-label goods. It opened its first U.S. stores in Virginia and North Carolina over the summer.

Next year, Aldi said it would open 20-25 stores in Southern California.

Growth in California is part an aggressive $3.4 billion plan for Aldi to grow its nationwide footprint to 2,500 stores by 2022. The chain currently operates about 1,700 stores.

San Francisco retailer and online womens’ boutique Morning Lavender is opening a shop in Old Town Tustin. Morning Lavender was founded three years ago by Kim Le, an Orange County accountant turned wedding photographer and fashion blogger. (Photos courtesy Morning Lavendar)

San Francisco retailer and online womens’ boutique Morning Lavender is opening a shop in Old Town Tustin. Morning Lavender was founded three years ago by Kim Le, an Orange County accountant turned wedding photographer and fashion blogger. (Photos courtesy Morning Lavendar)

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San Francisco retailer and online womens’ boutique Morning Lavender is opening a shop in Old Town Tustin. Morning Lavender was founded three years ago by Kim Le, an Orange County accountant turned wedding photographer and fashion blogger. (Photos courtesy Morning Lavendar)

ThunderKing Coffee Bar, inside SOCIAL Costa Mesa, sells cold brew cocktails (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). Booze infused drinks include The Best Buzz (coconut rum, cold brew, vodka, amaro, salted vanilla and cream) and Coldchata (Cutwater Spirit Horchata, cold brew, house salted vanilla, and turbinado). The menu also features seven non-alcoholic coffee cocktails ($6) made with nitro cold brew. (Photo Courtesy SOCIAL)

ThunderKing Coffee Bar sells craft coffee made with nitro cold brew. (Courtesy Social)



SOCIAL Costa Mesa has partnered with the startup cold brew coffee maker ThunderKing Brewing Co. in Costa Mesa to bring craft coffee to diners. SOCIAL is now open daily at 8 a.m., serving drip coffee, craft coffee, cold brew cocktails and morning grub. (Courtesy Social)

Customers wait outside in anticipation for the grand opening of the Aldi grocery store in Pico Rivera on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. The location is the third Aldi in the area, with stores in Santa Fe Springs and Whittier. Customers and staff celebrated the launch a ribbon-cutting ceremony and gift card giveaways. (Michael Ares for the Whittier Daily News/SCNG)

Eco-friendly bags are offered to customers to shop with at the Aldi grocery store’s grand opening day event in Pico Rivera on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. The location is the third Aldi in the area, with stores in Santa Fe Springs and Whittier. Customers and staff celebrated the launch a ribbon-cutting ceremony and gift card giveaways. (Michael Ares for the Whittier Daily News/SCNG)

Were excited about opening our newest store in South Orange County, said Gelsons President & CEO Rob McDougall. We have customized this store specifically for the Rancho Mission Viejo area and look forward to serving the local community. (Courtesy Gelson’s)

Avocado toast is one of the many breakfast items found at ThunderKing Coffee Bar, located inside SOCIAL Costa Mesa bar and restaurant. (Courtesy SOCIAL)



ThunderKing Coffee Bar, located inside SOCIAL Costa Mesa bar and restaurant, is a partnership between two companies. The owner of ThunderKing Brewing is partnering with the owners of SOCIAL Costa Mesa to sell craft coffee drinks. (Courtesy SOCIAL)

ThunderKing Coffee Bar, located inside SOCIAL Costa Mesa bar and restaurant, has a separate lounge area next door for coffee drinkers to hangout and relax. (Courtesy SOCIAL)

ThunderKing Coffee Bar, located inside SOCIAL Costa Mesa, has a lounge and social area for customers. (Courtesy SOCIAL)

The adjacent lounge area next to ThunderKing Coffee Bar is called Second Home Workspace (Courtesy SOCIAL)

Elote scramble at ThunderKing Coffee Bar, located inside SOCIAL Costa Mesa. (Courtesy SOCIAL)



ThunderKing Coffee is based in Costa Mesa. (Courtesy Social)

Sendero Marketplace is celebrating its grand opening next weekend. Stores and businesses open at the center include: Gelson’s Markets, Starbucks and Rite Aid. (Courtesy WESTAR ASSOCIATES)

Sendero Marketplace is celebrating its grand opening next weekend. Stores and businesses open at the center include: Gelson’s Markets, Starbucks and Rite Aid. (Courtesy WESTAR ASSOCIATES)

Sendero Marketplace is celebrating its grand opening next weekend. Stores and businesses open at the center include: Gelson’s Markets, Starbucks and Rite Aid. (Courtesy WESTAR ASSOCIATES)

Sendero Marketplace is celebrating its grand opening next weekend. Stores and businesses open at the center include: Gelson’s Markets, Starbucks and Rite Aid. (Courtesy WESTAR ASSOCIATES)



Sendero Marketplace is celebrating its grand opening next weekend. Stores and businesses open at the center include: Gelson’s Markets, Starbucks and Rite Aid. (Courtesy WESTAR ASSOCIATES)

Sendero Marketplace is celebrating its grand opening next weekend. Stores and businesses open at the center include: Gelson’s Markets, Starbucks and Rite Aid. (Courtesy WESTAR ASSOCIATES)

Craft Coffee cocktails

If you enjoy craft cocktails and a good cup of Joe, stop by SOCIAL Costa Mesa’s newest caffeine-inspired venture.

The restaurant and craft cocktail bar in Costa Mesa is open for breakfast. The owners have partnered with the startup cold brew coffee maker ThunderKing Brewing Co. in Costa Mesa to bring craft coffee to a new level.

SOCIAL is now open daily at 8 a.m., serving drip coffee, craft coffee, cold brew cocktails and morning grub. ThunderKing Coffee Bar is inside the restaurant. However, SOCIAL has taken over the former smoke shop next door and converted it into a lounge. Second Home Workspace, outfitted with free WiFi, is decorated like a living room with sofas and comfortable seating for customers to relax, said co-owner Raquel Dorsey.

Customers order food and drinks at the restaurant and can stay there or hang out in the Second Home lounge for a more laid-back experience.

With specialty coffee shops popping up everywhere, Dorsey said ThunderKing differentiates itself with its cold brew cocktails (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) developed in partnership with ThunderKing founder Dean Tompkins. Booze-infused drinks include The Best Buzz (coconut rum, cold brew, vodka, amaro, salted vanilla and cream) and Coldchata (Cutwater Spirit Horchata, cold brew, house salted vanilla, and turbinado).

The menu also features seven non-alcoholic coffee cocktails ($6) made with nitro cold brew. One of the most popular drinks, so far, since opening several weeks ago is the Salted Caramel or Vanilla lattes made with cashew milk.

The breakfast menu, available from 8 a.m. to noon, features a breakfast sandwich on a potato bun, chilaquiles, eggs Benedict with pulled pork, two different breakfast burritos, elote (roasted corn) scramble, chicken & waffles and a wagyu breakfast burger. Address: 512 W. 19th Street, Costa Mesa.

Battle of the skate rinks

The District shopping center in Tustin has installed a temporary ice rink over the holidays.

The 5,000-square-foot District Freeze ice rink opens on Black Friday (Nov. 24). Prices for 90-minute sessions are $19 for adults and children; $16 if you bring your own ice skates. This is the first year the 10-year-old shopping center, managed by Vestar, is operating an ice rink.

The Tustin rink, about 8 miles from the skating rink at Irvine Spectrum Center, is open through Jan. 15, 2018. The Irvine Spectrum skating rink, which is about 3,300-square-feet, is open through Jan. 7. Tickets in Irvine are $20 for adults and children. Sessions also are 90 minutes.

The District Freeze ice rink is at the valet area near JT Schmid’s. Hours are Monday through Thursday 1-8:30 p.m.; Friday 1-10:30 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

New drive-in

A new Sonic Drive-in opened Nov. 20 in Huntington Beach.

This is the eighth location in Southern California operated by Mission Viejo-based franchisee Coast to Coast Commercial. The restaurant is at 17811 Beach Blvd. Coast to Coast operates other locations in Mission Viejo, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Duarte, Hemet and Pomona. The company is opening other Sonics in Beaumont, San Jacinto, and Rialto.

New Gelson’s, center in South County

Sendero Marketplace, a new shopping center in Rancho Mission Viejo, is celebrating its grand opening Dec. 2.

The grand opening activities include a photo booth, a giant Jenga game, live music, samples from Gelson’s, beauty demonstrations by Rite Aid, a buy-one-get-one-free deal at Nekter Juice Bar and a goodie bag from Ben White Orthodontics. The stores and businesses open at the center include: Starbucks, Rancho MMC, Sendero Animal Hospital, Chase Bank, The UPS Store, Sendero Nails & Lashes, Rite Aid, Unique Accents, Sendero Dental Studio, The Powder Room, Nekter Juice Bar, Sport Clips, Mission Hospital Wellness Corner, MemorialCare Medical Group.

Tenants coming soon: Gelson’s Market, Chevron, The Cleaner’s & Tailoring, Ben White Orthodontics, Sunrise Martial Arts, and In-N-Out-Burger.

Gelson’s, a key anchor, opens Thursday, Nov. 30. It features a cold-pressed juice bar from East Coast brand Liquiteria. The Rancho Mission Viejo store also offers several new concepts including Gelson’s Kitchen (a walk-up food stand where shoppers can order custom-made breakfast items such as omelets and meal bowls with Mediterranean-inspired ingredients), a Wolfgang Puck pizza food stand, a charcuterie station and a tapas bar. The Gelson’s breakfast bar is expected to open later.

The Sendero Marketplace celebration is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 2 at 30721 Gateway Place in Rancho Mission Viejo.

Boutique apparel in Tustin

San Francisco retailer and online women’s boutique Morning Lavender is opening a shop in Old Town Tustin. Morning Lavender was founded three years ago by Kim Le, an accountant turned wedding photographer and fashion blogger.

Le’s collection of clothes are designed to ensure that a woman looks and feels feminine, according to the company’s website. After selling the curated selection of clothes online, Le opened a shop in San Francisco on Union Street. Le is from Orange County and plans to open a second shop at 330 El Camino Real, in a building formerly owned by the Kelly family of Tustin.

The front of the store will be retail, and the back of the store will be a tea house, according to building owner Ejm Properties. The retail shop is slated to open early December; the tea shop could open by mid-January.