WHAT’S NEW - Riverside Press-Enterprise

WHAT’S NEW

Trader Joe’s is coming to Yucaipa, part of a relatively new retail center at 31545 Yucaipa Blvd. courtesy of Trader Joe’s

Europa Village Wineries & Resort in Temecula was awarded the Golden State Winery of the Year by the California State Fair. Seen here is the ballroom in the resort’s Italian village called Vienza. courtesy of Europa Village Wineries & Resort

24 Hour Fitness is celebrating a renovation at its super-sport club at the Renaissance Marketplace in Rialto. Upgrades include new cardio and strength equipment, massage chairs, a refreshed turf training area and better lighting and finishes throughout the club. courtesy of 24 Hour Fitness

A new Starbucks drive-thru at 2050 E. Alessandro Blvd. in Riverside recently sold in an all-cash deal for $2.85 million. courtesy of Hanley Investment Group

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Trader Joe’s coming to new Yucaipa center

Yucaipa is getting a Trader Joe’s, part of a relatively new retail center at 31545 Yucaipa Blvd.

The Monrovia-based Trader Joe’s has the store location listed as “coming soon” on its website.

The grocery store (No. 268 for the chain) is under construction. The company will not divulge opening details, only advising shoppers to keep an eye on its website for updates.

Trader Joe’s has a strong presence in the Inland Empire with a dozen or more store locations scatters from Chino Hills to Temecula to Redlands and Calimesa.

The company offers a variety of store-branded food and household goods, many of which rise to the level of fan favorite touted in Trader Joe’s annual customer choice awards.

The quirky grocery store founded in 1967 by Joe Coulombe has been in expansion mode, opening at least eight stores in Southern California in the past year. Tuesday, a store opening in Tarzana and two more are coming, one in Sherman Oaks and another in Northridge.

Also new to Yucaipa, a Raising Cane’s opened Tuesday at 32933 Yucaipa Blvd., across from Yucaipa High School.

Winery of the Year goes to Europa

Europa Village Wineries & Resort in Temecula was awarded the Golden State Winery of the Year by the California State Fair.

Europa earned the distinction with 32 wines scoring 90-plus points in the competition, which has been held since 1854.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized as the California Winery of the Year and to bring this prestigious award back to Southern California Wine Country,” said Steve VanHouten, Europa’s chief executive. “Our unwavering commitment to quality and our dedication to providing memorable experiences for our guests are at the heart of everything we do. This award is a testament to those efforts and to our outstanding team of Villagers who make Europa Village a truly special place for our guests to enjoy our award-winning wines.”

Settlement emails rattle some recipients

More than 1 million Southern California residents are getting a small settlement after a gas price manipulation lawsuit was resolved by the state attorney general and the companies involved.

Residents who filed for a claim late last year should expect a paper check or an email with instructions on how to get the settlement money.

Some recipients have been surprised and suspicious when the email asked them to connect to their Venmo or Zelle accounts.

The Attorney General’s Office on Friday said that the emails are legitimate, with a nearly $22 settlement going to claimants.

“We have been able to confirm that claimants were given a choice of how they’d like to receive their payments in this case, either check or electronic transfer, which did include the option to use Venmo,” the AG’s office said in an email Friday. “Starting late April, over a million Californians who filed valid claims before the claims submission deadline started receiving payments for $21.65.”

The money comes from a $50 million gas price manipulation settlement negotiated by the state with the Dutch company Vitol, SK Energy Americas and its parent SK Trading International in South Korea.

Attorney General Rob Bonta’s lawsuit claimed the companies conspired to raise gas prices after the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance went offline after a February 2015 explosion. In the May 2020 complaint, Bonta said the companies “took advantage of the market disruption … to engage in a scheme to drive up gas prices for their own profit.”

The money is going only to those who bought gas in Southern California between Feb. 20, 2015, and Nov. 10, 2015, and subsequently filed a claim late last year.

Rialto 24 Hour Fitness gets a face-lift

24 Hour Fitness is celebrating a renovation at its super-sport club at the Renaissance Marketplace in Rialto.

The club face-lift included expanded training zones, upgraded equipment and new amenities.

Those upgrades include new cardio and strength equipment, massage chairs, a refreshed turf training area and better lighting and finishes throughout the club.

The address is 1335 W. Renaissance Parkway and phone number is 909-320-5289.

riverside Starbucks site sells for $2.85M

A new Starbucks drive-thru in Riverside recently traded hands for $2.85 million, according to Hanley Investment Group.

Hanley represented the seller, Atman Kadakia of Greens Group, a private developer in Irvine. The buyer, who was not identified, was represented by Voit Real Estate Services in Irvine.

“We generated multiple qualified offers and procured an all-cash Southern California-based 1031 exchange buyer who closed at 98% of the list price,” said Eric Wohl, an executive vice president at Hanley.

Built last year, the 928-square-foot Starbucks building sits on nearly an acre at 2050 E. Alessandro Blvd.

Free business portal opens in SB County

San Bernardino County has launched an online business hub for entrepreneurs, hosting free online resources to help them grow local businesses.

BizHUUB can be found at myhuub.com/selectsbcounty.

According to the county, the site includes:

Free business tips and guidance from local experts.

A 24/7 booking portal to hire experts.

The information and resources are provided at no cost to small business owners and entrepreneurs in San Bernardino County.

San Bernardino County Economic Development Director Derek Armstrong said the county is looking to make access to information easier for residents.

“We hear about the constant challenges business owners face. It can be overwhelming,” he said.

On the move

Tim Young is the new chief commercial officer at Bradshaw Home, a housewares company in Rancho Cucamonga that owns the Casabella, GoodCook and Evercare brands. Young joined Bradshaw Home in 2011 and most recently was senior vice president of Trade Marketing. Before that he was SVP of Sales and general manager for Evercare.

Correction

Grocery Outlet opened May 8 in Highland. Last week’s “What’s new” roundup included the wrong address and city for the discount grocery supermarket.

The business briefs are compiled and edited by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items to sgowen@scng.com. High-resolution images can also be submitted. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.