Laurent Brazier it the chef and owner of Bistro Papilotte at The OC Mix in Costa Mesa. ///ADDITIONAL INFO: FOOD.beautifulrestos.0114 – shot 121715 – ANA VENEGAS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER Bistro Papilotte is one of Orange County’s most beautiful restaurants at The OC Mix. Laurent Brazier it the chef and owner.

Bistro Papilotte is a beautiful little restaurant at The OC Mix. Laurent Brazier it the chef and owner. ///ADDITIONAL INFO: FOOD.beautifulrestos.0114 – shot 121715 – ANA VENEGAS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER Bistro Papilotte is a beautiful little restaurant at The OC Mix. Laurent Brazier it the chef and owner.

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Mr. Holmes’ baked goods can be found at Portola Coffee Roasters. (Courtesy Portola/Mr. Holmes)

Mr. Holmes’ baked goods can be found at Portola Coffee Roasters. (Courtesy Portola/Mr. Holmes)

Fresh-baked brioche is an inviting preview at Restaurant Marin at SoCo, Costa Mesa. When the Von Bloms open a bakery in Newport Beach, they said they will be able to sell more bakery goods to the public. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER



Chef Noah Blom rests his head on wife Marin’s head for a brief second, then he’s back to work “making everything from scratch right down the to peanut butter,” Marin notes. Restaurant Marin closed last week as it couldn’t muster a large enough dinner crowd to remain sustainable business at SoCo. The couple is relocating it to their new butcher and bakery concept opening next year in Newport Beach.

Blueberry Pancakes at Restaurant Marin.

Marin Howarth Von Blom, right, serves a customer at Restaurant Marin. She is redecorating the space which will become Arc Wood Fired Pizza. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

As 2017 comes to an end and leases are re-negotiated, don’t be surprised if you see more restaurants throwing in the towel as they are forced out by landlords or by financial difficulties.

The latest round of closures include two locations at hipster lifestyle center South Coast Collection, or SoCo, in Costa Mesa: Restaurant Marin and Bistro Papillote.

Here’s the latest on each closure:

Bistro Papillote, a French bistro by Chef Laurent Brazier, is closing at the end of the month.

Brazier opened the French eatery in the former Seventh Tea Bar space in 2015. It had no kitchen so he prepped and baked everything for the bistro at La Cuisine Culinary Arts at South Coast Plaza’s Macy’s Home Store wing.

The restaurant and school, formerly located in Laguna Beach, opened inside Macy’s in 2014. However, he closed the cafe in late 2015 because the Macy’s location lacked foot traffic. “No customers,” he said of Macy’s.

This month Brazier decided to close the cooking school, as well. To keep Bistro Papillote open, he would have to spend thousands of dollars to add a kitchen to the restaurant, where sales have been slow the past year especially during the evening.

“The whole center is down in sales,” Brazier said of SoCo.

Brazier said he was not turning a profit at the bistro, praised by Register restaurant critic Brad A. Johnson for its for its authentic French dishes.

Then, as luck would have it, Brazier was made an offer he couldn’t refuse. He is taking a position as executive chef for Anaheim White House Catering, which recently signed a contract to be the official caterer for Christ Cathedral.

Brazier said he will manage all of the cathedral’s on-site events, including weddings and private parties. He said his culinary team at La Cuisine catering is merging with the White House Catering team.

Representatives for SoCo said they wished the best for Brazier, and look forward “to sharing a new concept to take over the Bistro Papillote space in the near future.”

Bistro Papillote will close permanently after brunch service on Dec. 24.

Restaurant Marin, a year old concept at SoCo, closed two weeks ago.

The owners, Chef Noah and Marín von Blöm, have replaced the modern breakfast diner with a pizza concept. After making several cosmetic changes, Arc Pizza House opened this week serving wood-fired pies.

Restaurant Marin closed because it couldn’t generate enough business for lunch and dinner. It was mostly popular at breakfast, so the von Blöms have decided to relocate a tweaked version of the diner to Arc Butcher & Baker in Newport Beach. CLICK HERE to read the full story.

In Tustin, another tenant has closed at Union Market food hall at The District.

But this time, for a good reason.

Mr. Holmes Bakehouse, which opened earlier this year, temporarily closed its food hall location because it didn’t have enough space to meet demand for its baked pastries.

“After a loving response from the Orange County community, we’ve seen the need for a larger, permanent bakery that will allow our team to increase production and provide our holmies with an endless supply of carb-related obsessions,” the company said in a statement.

Mr. Holmes is known for putting a modern twist on baked goods. One of its most popular pastries is the matcha croissant. Its other locations are in Highland Park, San Francisco and South Korea.

Wasa Sushi at The Market Place in Irvine closed Oct. 31. The Irvine Co. did not provide a reason for the closure. However, a representative for the developer said Wasa will be replaced by Pandor Artisan Bakery next summer.

Famous Dave’s, at 3608 S. Bristol St. in Santa Ana, has closed. A message left on the restaurant’s voicemail invites customers to visit the chain’s next closest location at The Market Place.

A Burger King at 1188 E. Yorba Linda Blvd. in Placentia has closed. It’s unclear why it closed or what will replace it.