No Gloom in the Village

What a gloomy picture Bruce Horovitz has painted of South Coast Plaza Village (Aug. 14) as it “struggles” across the street from South Coast Plaza.

As proprietor of the Good Earth Restaurant and the Good Earth Annex, both in South Coast Plaza Village, I can say that things have never been better. In the last three months, we’ve seen our business increase by 20%. And that includes our recently opened Annex, which occupies the former site of Meyerhof’s restaurant, curiously characterized by Horovitz as “a popular outdoor cafe,” but now closed.

Our good health is not due simply to tourist dollars. The whole South Coast Metro area is seeing significant growth. The Performing Arts Center, of course, will bring more customers, as Horovitz points out. But it is naive to think that the tenants of the Village look upon the Center as a death row inmate about to be executed hears the ringing of the phone with the governor’s reprieve.

Look around, Mr. Horovitz. Please notice all the new office buildings and hotels going up. Like it or not, this influx of new economic activity is good for business, and will continue to be good for business.

And, finally, no, Mr. Horovitz, we’re not envious of the “more glitzy projects at South Coast Plaza.” We’re happy to be ourselves and offer our pleasant, tree-shaded Village to the residents and to those who work in this area as a quiet retreat from all the hustle and bustle around us.

And as the photo of the ugly pile of rubble that accompanied the story illustrates, we’ll always have plenty of parking.

OLGA HUNT

Costa Mesa