Biz News: Volunteers are sought to help revamp Costa Mesa restaurant for Food Network show

The Food Network show “Restaurant: Impossible” is looking for volunteers to help next week with a production at a Costa Mesa restaurant.

Filomena’s Italian Kitchen at 2400 Newport Blvd. is being featured on the program, in which host Robert Irvine tries to reinvigorate restaurants quickly with $10,000. The show is looking for contractors, electricians, plumbers, upholsterers and painters, as well as others who can paint, craft, remodel, clean and decorate.

Volunteers, who will receive meals, must be 18 or older. Shifts are scheduled for noon to 7 p.m. or 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday and 2:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday.

To volunteer, email rivolunteer@levitylive.com by noon Sunday, with “1404 VOL request” in the subject line. Provide a preferred work time, plus full name, email address, cellphone number and skill set.

Filomena’s grand reopening is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday. Diners can attend by emailing rivolunteer@levitylive.com by noon Sunday and providing the above information and the names of the people in their party. Put “1404 reopen reservations” in the subject line.

The Filomena episode is scheduled to air this spring.

PIMCO co-founder Bill Gross to retire

Bill Gross, co-founder of Newport Beach-based Pacific Investment Management Co., or PIMCO, will retire effective March 1, according to a news release.

Gross, a well-known bond and fixed-income investor, co-founded PIMCO in 1971 and left in 2014 for Janus Henderson Investors, which has an office in Newport Beach.

Gross said he will concentrate on his charitable foundation during his retirement.

“I’ve had a wonderful ride for over 40 years in my career, trying at all times to put client interests first while inventing and reinventing active bond management along the way,” Gross said in a statement. “So many friends and associates at my two firms to thank — nothing is possible without a team working together with a common interest. I’ve been fortunate to have had that.”

City of Hope to expand to Newport Beach

City of Hope, a Duarte-based hospital and clinical research center known for cancer care, is expanding to Newport Beach with a new facility at 1601 Avocado Ave., according to a news release.

The facility is expected to open by the end of this year. It will offer various medical services, including oncology and subspecialists.

City of Hope also is planning to open a major center in Irvine.

“This undertaking is a response to the call of our patients, families and supporters to bring City of Hope’s innovative discoveries and specialized therapies closer to their homes,” Annette Walker, president of City of Hope Orange County, said in a statement. “Orange County patients will also benefit from City of Hope’s designation by the National Cancer Institute as one of just 49 comprehensive cancer centers in the country.”

New restaurants on tap for Costa Mesa

Two new restaurants are coming to Costa Mesa’s South Coast Metro area.

Outpost Kitchen is expected to open this summer at 3420 Bristol St. The Australian beach cafe-inspired restaurant has another location across town at 1792 Monrovia Ave.

The second location will be much bigger than the original, seating about 160, the Orange County Register reported.

Yellow Vase, a cafe and bakery chain that also offers floral services, announced it is opening this month at South Coast Plaza. The chain’s other locations are throughout the South Bay.

Yellow Vase in Costa Mesa will offer table service in a 3,800-square-foot spot in the mall’s Saks Fifth Avenue wing.

Pacific Life to donate $7 million this year

The Newport Beach-based Pacific Life Foundation announced that it is giving $7 million in charitable contributions this year.

The money will go toward organizations in Orange County as well as Omaha, Neb., and Lynchburg, Va., according to a news release.

Pacific Life also is giving a $2-million grant to UC Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business to help a youth financial literacy program.