Status Update: Ugg opens holiday popup at South Coast Plaza

As Southern California swelters amid an October heatwave, a favorite “boots and sweater” footwear retailer has opened a temporary store at South Coast Plaza.

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Ugg, the sheepskin bootmaker founded in Santa Monica, opened Oct. 1 at the Carousel Court. It will be there selling its popular boots, apparel and accessories through Jan. 3.

The sheepskin boots are synonymous with California’s cooler months. But it’s not uncommon to see locals in Ugg boots while at the same time wearing shorts and T-shirts. Consider it a bit of defiance for a region known for its mild, beachy climes.

Ugg was created in Santa Monica in the late 1970s by Australian-born surfer Brian Smith. The company was acquired by Decker Brands in 1995.

Address: 333 Bristol St, Suite 2031 (Level 1)

Shawarma House expands to Orange

Shawarma House has expanded to Orange, opening in recent days at 3023 E. Chapman Ave.

The restaurant menu features beef and chicken kabobs, chicken and beef shawarma, seafood plates, wraps, grilled kofta, hummus, loaded fries and more.

The concept of shawarma might be familiar, even if you’ve never eaten it.

The dish is made by stacking and skewering seasoned meat to a metal rod in an upside-down cone shape that’s slowly roasted. The cook uses a long knife to shave the meat from the spit. The Greeks use a similar vertical spit for their famous gyro meat, and likewise for the Mexican dish tacos al pastor.

The family-owned Shawarma House took the place of a shuttered Pizza Hut and is next door to Lee Animal Hospital. The company also has a location in Garden Grove at 12531 S. Harbor Blvd.

Also coming to that section of Chapman Avenue is 7 Leaves. The tea shop known for its cold concoctions is taking the place of the closed Walgreens Pharmacy at 3237 E Chapman Ave.

Adopt a family this holiday season

Miracles for Kids is seeking a bit of holiday cheer from the community to support more than 450 families caring for critically-ill children.

The annual Adopt-a-Family program will send gifts to each person of the family, removing some of the financial and physical barriers during an often harried and expensive time of year.

“For families caring for a critically-ill child, the holidays can bring additional financial and emotional pressure at an already overwhelming time,” said Autumn Strier, co-founder and CEO of Miracles for Kids. “Adopt-a-Family gives our community a very personal way to step in and bring some joy to families who are focused on their child’s health. Every family that is adopted is reminded that they are not facing this journey alone.”

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Participants — businesses, organizations or individuals — are matched with a Miracles family, and a profile is provided to help contributors find the best gifts for each person.

Gifts should be delivered by Friday, Dec. 4 to the MFK office at 17848 Sky Park Circle, Suite C, in Irvine.

Community members also can donate seasonal items like generic holiday wrapping paper, gift tape, gift bags in various sizes, bows, apparel boxes and gift tag stickers.

Founded in 2004, Miracles for Kids supports families with critically-ill children, providing financial assistance, housing, basic necessities, wellness services and long-term stability.

For more information on the holiday program, go to MiraclesForKids.org.

On the move

Teresa Conk is expanding her role at Hoag, adding president of Hoag Clinic to her list of responsibilities. She also is Hoag’s chief clinical institutes officer, overseeing its cancer, heart and vascular, women’s, neurosciences, digestive health and spine institutes. Hoag Clinic is a medical foundation that brings together the medical groups that employ physicians across the company’s healthcare system. Before joining Hoag in 2018, Conk was chief strategy officer and associate vice chancellor at UCI Health.

Raju Datla is the new chief financial officer at MobileX in Irvine. He most recently was CFO of RedCloud Holdings, where he led finance, capital markets and the financial aspect of the company’s global expansion. His broader experience, which reaches back 25 years, includes senior finance and strategy roles across telecom, digital infrastructure, and data centers. At MobileX, Datla will work with founder and CEO Peter Adderton and the leadership team on the company’s business plan. MobileX is a customizable mobile carrier. Adderton also founded Boost Mobile and Digital Turbine.

Good works

The fifth annual H.E.R. Summit by Hoag on Sept. 16 held at VEA Newport Beach brought together more than 450 women and health advocates for a day of conversations about women’s health. The event recognized $546,000 raised to support the Women’s Hospital and Women’s Outpatient Pavilion at the newly expanded Hoag Hospital Irvine Sun Family Campus, which opened to the public Sept. 19.

Last week’s headline-makers

Cafe debuts at grocery store: Mercado González has opened a cafe with a twist inside its Costa Mesa market. Casa Libre features coffee grown in Mexico. It opened Sept. 24, according to food reporter Brock Keeling. “Mexico is literally our neighbor, and its coffee deserves a place in the spotlight,” said Jeremy Creighton, Casa Libre cofounder. Address: 2300 Harbor Blvd.

Kickin’ Crab fined by state: The Garden Grove-based restaurant chain was penalized $120,000 by state regulators for misleading at least 16 franchisee investors in California. Pat Maio reported last week that the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation ordered Kickin’ Crab to cease wrongful acts, pay penalties and complete remedial training on state franchise law. Regulators said the company sold at least 16 franchises to small business investors in the state without providing important documents containing details about fees, royalties and litigation history.

Change coming to Cypress: Walt Disney Corp. in late September bought the longtime Cypress headquarters of Yamaha Motor Corp. for $115 million. Yamaha, which makes ATVs, boat engines and personal watercraft, has been slowly decamping from its 47-year-old campus at 6555 Katella Ave. as it restructures in Kennesaw, Georgia. Yamaha will lease back the property through 2028, according to the brokerage Avison Young. Disney will use the campus for “back of the house” purposes such as storage.

Status Update is compiled and written by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items and high-resolution photos to [email protected]. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.

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