P.F. Chang’s might move in

Laura Sturza

A City Council vote to approve valet parking outside the Media City

Center Mall has cleared the way for a popular eatery to open up shop.

P.F.. Chang’s China Bistro is expected to sign a lease next month

to open a restaurant near the Magnolia Boulevard entrance to the

mall, said Jim O’Neil, senior vice president for Crown Realty &

Development Inc., which owns the mall.

The lease, O’Neill said, was contingent on the council approving

plans for valet parking. Provided a lease is signed, the restaurant

is expected to open in the spring of 2004.

The valet parking project, which will be paid for by the mall, is

slated to break ground by the end of the year at the intersection of

Magnolia Boulevard and San Fernando Boulevard.

“If we can get people conveniently into the mall [and this]

restaurant ... I don’t think that’s going to have a negative impact

on the carrying capacity of the street,” Councilman Dave Golonski

said.

Forecasts by traffic engineers show that reducing the lanes from

three to two will be sufficient for future traffic, Public Works

Director Bruce Feng said.