Village Theater Closes - "The Cave" set to open in June 2013

The Cave is lodging owner Dave Stone's newest venture in the Village. Stone bought the property (and the vacant lot next door) and has been remodeling the interior since February. The Cave will be a theater seating performance stage venue with a dance floor and VIP booths near the beer and wine bar. Seating capacity is around 350 and according to www.eventful.com there will be plenty going on starting this summer.

Stone just recently opened the Wine Room at his Wolf Creek Resort in March of 2013 to the excitement of wine and jazz fans who visit, live or have second homes here in Big Bear Lake. Village merchants are glad to have the space filled and to have another venue for visitors to enjoy and frequent the Village more often.  The Wolf Creek Resort's Wine and Jazz Lounge is an upscale experience with live music, wine, beer and appetizers on Friday, Saturday and Sundays.


The Wine Room at Wolf Creek Resort

 On June 21, 2013 The Cave will host the 14th Anniversary of the Big Bear Lake Cowboy Gathering, Doors open at 6:00 PM, entertainment starts at 7:00. For more about the gathering you can check out the Cowboy Gathering website.

2012 Brings New Event to Big Bear Lake's Village Shopping District - Village Winterfest - Feb. 3-5, 2012

Will the new "Battle of the Sexes" 3 day event mean more battle between the City of Big Bear Lake and the Village Merchants or is this a new chapter for Big Bear Lake and Events held in the Bartlett Public Parking Lot on Bartlett Rd in the Village? Attracting new large scale events that will attract new and more visitors to the Village is a priority for the Big Bear Lake Improvement Agency and the IA Board which is comprised of the City of Big Bear Lake City Council Members.


Since 2006 our marketplace has been decimated by not only our own devices and vision but also by the great recession still on-going. Becoming more relevant in our regional marketplace and developing a new generation of visitors has been identified as job one if we are going to be able to rebuild our retail marketplace, create new opportunities for the remaining existing businesses and then create new opportunities for marketplace growth, new good paying jobs and competing the the Southern California regional destination getaway and leisure travel market.

The new Winterfest in the Village is touted as a Fashion, Music and Sports event and is most definitely geared toward the 18-25 year age demographic and is sponsored by the Big Bear Mountain Ski Resorts and the Big Bear Lake Resort Association.

There has been much conversation lately and an Ad-Hoc City Council Committee has been formed to consider City Policy Changes regarding Events in the Village and on the appropriateness of some Village Events and how maybe some events that don’t attract a demographic that can and is likley to support Village Merchants as well as Restaurants and Bars may be better suited for and be located at either the PAC, CityParks, Convention Center or the Ski Resorts. I will go out on a limb and say now that this is one of those events that cannot contribute to the betterment of revenues for the Village Merchants.

More on the XOS Productions Winterfest Event from Examiner.com Arts and Entertainment contributor Misty Schwartz.

From the XOS website:

Winterfest in the Village will consist of two consecutive days. Daytime festivities will include local and non-local vendors, entertainment, food, and family oriented interactive activities.

XOS Battle of the Sexes Festival also includes a male vs. female snowboarding contest at Bear Mountain and on the snow winter fashion show February 4-5th.

XOS Battle of the Sexes Big Bear Winterfest 2012 kicks off the evening of February 3rd inside a structured tent featuring headlining male and female DJ concert and winter fashion show.

"Battle of the Sexes Big Bear Lake - XOS Productions"

The Retail Landscape Spring Outlook 2011

The good news for local merchants is that reports have the larger economy improving. Locally, the 330 looks like it will be open for travel by the 4th of July instead of late in the fall as scheduled. Merchants are still closing their stores for good at a rate that is, I'm sure, unprecedented.

I am actually looking for more retail closures in Big Bear Lake prior to the summer season which really doesn't start in earnest until the 4th of July.

Open for Business

Sugarpine Bake Shop is opening a second location in the Village on Village Dr. next to Shirt Shanty. It's the former Village Cookie Shop. Opening looks like maybe Memorial Day. Good luck guys!


Cowboy Fancy, the new venture by long time Village Business operator Paul Ortuno. Like the name says, western ware and his horsemanship training is on the menu. The new store is on Village Dr. next to Hunter Hall's. Opening is looking like early July. Best of luck to the Ortuno's!


Club Bombay has posted it's ABC notice in the window. Another bar in the Village between the Himalayan Restaurant and the new AV Nightclub. Can you say moratorium?


AV Nightclub opened on May 2, 2011 in the former Pub on Village Dr. It is blue inside.


Le Dolce Vita says they are opening soon. On Village Dr across from Stillwells/Northwoods Resort. Beer and Wine on sale at a public place.



Space Available


Starbucks Coffee is closing its Village Store on May 20, 2011. My source at Starbucks says it is due to general low store revenues. This same store survived the closing of 600 under performing stores in 2008. This was "my" Starbucks. Who knew three Starbucks in Big Bear would be too many?

Simply Irresistible on Village Dr has vacated and the space is for lease.


Children's Closet has vacated and the space on Village Dr. is for lease.


Village Theater South on Village Dr. is for sale (real estate only) approx 9000 sq ft. older building. The listing is asking under 1 million. Contact Tom Benson at Sothebys.


Several new 'cubes' will be available soon in the Christmas Mart on Pine Knot. Maybe 3 will have frontage on the courtyard. All spaces have lots of natural light and share new common restrooms. Stop by and take a look. Contact Monty at the Christmas Mart.

Another Village Shop Fades to Black

The Home Décor shop Simply Irresistible has shut down operations and vacated the space on Village Dr. in the Village. The owner had opened almost 2 years ago in the same space of the former Wildwood Gallery, a long time Village fine art and gift store.

Club Bombay to Open next to the Himalayan Restaurant in the Village

From the ABC website:

License Number: 510119
Primary Owner: CURTIS, ROBERT EDWARD
ABC Office of Application: 07 - RIVERSIDE
Business Name
Doing Business As: CLUB BOMBAY
Business Address
Address: 672 PINEKNOTT AVE STE 1 Census Tract: 0112.02
City: BIG BEAR LAKE County: SAN BERNARDINO
State: CA Zip Code: 92315
Licensee Information
Licensee: CURTIS, ROBERT EDWARD
License Types
1) License Type: 48 - ON-SALE GENERAL PUBLIC PREMISES
License Type Status: PEND
Status Date: 20-APR-2011 Term: 12 Month(s)
Original Issue Date: Expiration Date:
Master: Y Duplicate: 0 Fee Code: P0
License Type was Transferred On: FROM: 47-423591
Current Disciplinary Action
. . . No Active Disciplinary Action found . . .
Disciplinary History
. . . No Disciplinary History found . . .
Hold Information
Hold Date: 29-MAR-2011 Type: FRANCHISE TAX HOLD
Hold Date: 20-APR-2011 Type: FORM 220
Escrow
Escrow: BUSINESS TITLE ESCROW INC, 25152 SPRINGFIELD CT #285 VALENCIA,CALIFORNIA 91355

Children's Closet Closes Village Dr. Store

The latest casualty of the greater economic downturn or 2009-2011 is the Children's Closet. Long time Village Clothing and gift store on Village Dr., the business was listed for sale most of 2010 with no buyers coming forward. This will add to the commercial space available inventory in the Village putting even more downward pressure on rents.

Recently Village Dr. businesses have asked the Improvement Agency to please do something for West Village Dr. when considering improvements for the Village.

Le Dolce Vita to open on West Village Dr.

From the ABC Website:


License Number: 508549
Primary Owner: LE DOLCE VITA LLC
ABC Office of Application: 07 - RIVERSIDE
Business Name
Doing Business As: LE DOLCE VITA
Business Address
Address: 40645 VILLAGE DR Census Tract:
City: BIG BEAR LAKE County: SAN BERNARDINO
State: CA Zip Code: 92315
Licensee Information
Licensee: LE DOLCE VITA LLC
Company Officer Information
Officer: BIANCHI, BRYAN (MEMBER)
Officer: LEON, CAROL LINDA (MEMBER)
Officer: LEON, JAY HOWARD (MEMBER)
Officer: WHYTEBIANCHI, VALERIE ANN (MEMBER)
Officer: LEON, JAY HOWARD (PRESIDENT)
Officer: WHYTEBIANCHI, VALERIE ANN (SECRETARY/ASST SEC)
Officer: BIANCHI, BRYAN (VICE PRESIDENT)