Marisa Vallbona, (858) 467-7990 or Natasha Martinez, (619) 421-0127

With the addition of multi-million dollar homes to the EastLake landscape, the demand for fine dining restaurants in the area has escalated.

“We’ve always had a demand for fine dining in this area,” said Bill Ostrem, president and CEO of The EastLake Company, “but now that we have some homes selling beyond $1 million, restaurateurs are starting to notice that there truly is a market for upscale restaurants here.”

To show restaurateurs just how serious EastLake and The City of Chula Vista are about adding fine dining to the area, they hosted a tour of a proposed Restaurant Row overlooking the Otay Lakes. The tour attracted more than 10 quality restaurants, represented by their CEOs, CFOs and other senior-level management who attended to learn about the opportunity, the area and its residents.

“The location is spectacular,” added Ostrem. “For years, our homebuyers and residents have been asking for more upscale places to meet and dine. We have some family restaurants here, but residents need and want a place to go for special occasions without having to leave the area. This new Restaurant Row would give them what they’ve been requesting, with a great view and atmosphere. The market is here and the demand is here.”

Tim Glover, principal at Olympic View Elementary School, told tour attendees that one of the biggest topics of conversation among parents at any school gathering is what restaurant is coming to the community. He’s says it’s one of the amenities most needed and most talked about. “If you build it, they will come.”

At its build out in 2004, EastLake will have a total of 8,500 homes. With more than 12,000 people already calling the community home, the demand for dining will only go up. Add to that the world-class companies – like Hitachi North America’s headquarters, DNP and Leviton – that have recently moved to The EastLake Business Center and all their executives who will need a variety of restaurants for business meetings and entertaining.

“They have the income and they have the interest. And they are just waiting,” said Steve Padilla, Mayor of The City of Chula Vista. “Investment here is wise and has tremendous potential.”

The proposed Restaurant Row will include five restaurants ranging from 3,500 to 8,000 square feet built along a rim on vacant land across from the U.S. Olympic Training Center and overlooking the Otay Lakes. Adjacent will be a hotel and conference center, and a public park will be connected to it by a walking trail.

Michael LaBarre, principal of Fehlman LaBarre Architecture and Planning, who designed the EastLake Village Marketplace slated for completion this fall, will be the architect for the project. At the tour, he described Restaurant Row as maximizing use of outdoor patio space with an internal area that will include fountains and fireplaces for people to enjoy while waiting for their tables to be ready. “We’ll include cohesive landscape plans, but with each restaurant expressing its individual architectural style,” explained Labarre. “The site is raised above the street to maximize the views, and to emphasize the view opportunity in each of the buildings.”