As you may have heard, all of the TAPS Brewery and Fish House restaurants recently closed, including the beautiful red brick Brea Taps at Imperial Highway and Brea Boulevard.
Early reports from owner Joe Manzella quoted him as stating they would absolutely reopen.
The Brea Taps has also been listed for bankruptcy sale through CBRE, a commercial/investment real estate company.
I learned from the CBRE agent for the property that they have shown the Taps property. Can you imagine if they put an Open House sign by it? That would be the dream of the looky-loos, and all the rest of us.
It would be interesting to check it out from a prospective buyer’s point of view.
It is a 16,727-square-foot building and patio, built in 1999. The building is beautiful inside and out and at an absolutely primo location.
It can be yours for a mere $7.5 million.
Hopefully it will be turned over quickly by another quality restaurant owner and not sit vacant for years.
But the loss of Taps is not the only restaurant change on Brea Boulevard in the Downtown. While the Copper Blues signs are lit up each night, that restaurant is long gone.
The Copper Blues website says “Permanently Closed,” unlike Taps’ website that says “We’re Open!”
The Copper Blues space, however, isn’t expected to say vacant for long. I heard rumors there may be a new restaurant with another spot in north Orange County that is interested.
Jason Killebrew, Brea’s Community Development Director said via email the city is yet to receive a tenant improvement submittal for the conversion of Copper Blues to a new eatery.
Killibrew also said the Boiling Crab is looking into moving into the balance of the old Improv building and has applied for a conditional use permit to sell alcohol. “It will be considered by the Planning Commission,” said Killebrew, “ in one of their September or October hearings.”
It is interesting the Boiling Crab is planning on opening in Brea Downtown while Fiery Crab is opening in the former Islands Restaurant next to Lazy Dog. Red Lobster also serves crab dishes. It looks as if crab dishes are the newest trend in seafood dining.
Big changes are coming to McCallans Public House in Brea Downtown.
Remember when there was a gym in that curved retail space next to McCallans? That location has had several different businesses in and out of it over the years, but it is now part of McCallans, and will soon open as the Nine Social Wine and Martini Bar.
McCallans also has its popular TTASpeakeasy for members only. The speakeasy welcomes cigar smokers, and TTA stands for “Tap That Ash.” Who would have guessed? Not me.
Check out several Brea restaurants and much more at Brea Fest from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 11, in Brea’s Civic and Cultural Center. Free admission; food/drink tickets $4 each. See you there!
Terri Daxon is a freelance writer and the owner of Daxon Marketing Communications. She gives her perspective on Brea issues twice a month. Contact her at daxoncomm@gmail.com.
