Biz News: Fuel cell company plans to make renewable biofuel at closed Newport landfill

FuelCell Energy Inc., a Connecticut-based fuel cell solutions company, has entered an agreement with Orange County officials to make renewable biofuel at the closed Coyote Canyon landfill in Newport Beach.

FuelCell said in a news release that it will install systems that will produce renewable electricity and hydrogen for the Los Angeles market in late 2020.

The county-owned Coyote Canyon landfill, at 20661 Newport Coast Drive, operated from 1963 to 1990.

Former President Clinton to speak at H.B. safety summit

Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to be among the speakers at the seventh annual World Patient Safety, Science & Technology Summit on Jan. 18-19 in Huntington Beach.

The event, at the Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa, is presented by the Patient Safety Movement Foundation with the American Society of Anesthesiologists and European Society of Anaesthesiology, according to a news release.

Clinton and others, including patient advocates, government officials, hospital chief executives and technology leaders, will “present solutions to eliminating preventable patient deaths in hospitals,” according to the release.

Newport apartments sell for $30.5 million

A block of Newport Beach apartments has sold for $30.5 million, according to a news release.

The Dove Heights Apartment Homes development contains 66 units in the Dover Shores neighborhood, off Bedford and Buckingham lanes.

The buyer was Waterford Residential, a subsidiary of Waterford Property Co. The seller was a local investor.

Waterford plans to renovate the apartments’ interiors and exteriors.

David’s Bridal to host reopening viewing

David’s Bridal in Costa Mesa will have a reopening viewing from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, the Orange County Register reported.

The store at Metro Pointe had been affected by the company’s bankruptcy filing in November, the Register reported. The company has said all its gown orders would be fulfilled.

Sleep company Cereset to hold grand opening in Costa Mesa

Cereset Costa Mesa — a sleep wellness company — will celebrate its grand opening in the Metro Pointe Business Center with an open house Jan. 19.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 950 South Coast Drive, Suite 120, and will include tours, food, giveaways and demonstrations.

For more information or to register to attend, visit eventbrite.com and search for “Cereset Costa Mesa.”

PIMCO acquires municipal bond management firm

Newport Beach-based Pacific Investment Management Co., or PIMCO, has acquired Gurtin Municipal Bond Management, which serves clients with high net worth, according to a news release.

The combined business manages $38 billion in municipal bond assets, PIMCO stated.

Gurtin will maintain its Solana Beach and Chicago offices.

Italian leather goods boutique opens at South Coast Plaza; Crabtree closes

Furla, an Italian leather goods maker established in 1927, has opened a boutique at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.

The location sells women’s and men’s leather items, as well as shoes, sunglasses and scarves.

In other news, Crabtree & Evelyn in South Coast Plaza’s Crate and Barrel Wing off Bear Street has closed. Crabtree sold lotions and perfumes but is shifting to online sales only.

Thai restaurant opens in Costa Mesa

Kanok Thai Bistro opened recently in the Costa Mesa Square center anchored by Target.

The restaurant, at 1450 Baker St., offers Thai curry, noodle and rice staples as well as deep-fried trout and pompano.

Laguna camping gear store closes

Poler, a Laguna Beach outdoor apparel and camping equipment store, has closed amid the Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing of its Portland, Ore.-based parent company.

The store, at 1370 S. Coast Hwy., opened in 2016.

Tickets.com and Newport company start partnership

Costa Mesa-based Tickets.com and Protecht, a Newport Beach-based company that describes itself as building better experiences for patrons of live events, have formed a strategic partnership intended to help consumers obtain refunds for event tickets they bought but can’t use, according to a news release.

One result of the partnership is Tickets.com users being offered Protecht’s “FanShield,” which offers patrons protection for their purchases against unforeseen circumstances.

Newport firm acquires Colorado apartment property

Newport Beach-based Buchanan Street Partners recently bought a 328-unit apartment community in Colorado Springs, Colo., for $72.5 million.

Creekside at Palmer Park was first developed in 2003. Buchanan is planning to renovate the apartments and common areas.