River Street Marketplace, a 60,000-square-foot project that will feature a slew of restaurants and shops in the heart of San Juan Capistrano, is now slated to open in July, developers say.
The project was initially expected to open in January, but issues like extreme rain and additional requirements from county agencies delayed the project, said Dan Almquist, founder and CEO of Almquist Developers, the owners of the marketplace.
“This project is unique in terms of means and methods. It is not your typical build,” Almquist said. “The reality is right now, if you talk to anyone involved in development in Southern California, especially ground development, it is not for the faint of heart.”
According to the most recent plans, 28 retailers and restaurants are expected to occupy a spot in the River Street Marketplace, including Bred Hot Chicken, Free People, McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, Mendocino Farms, Toes on the Nose and Ubuntu Café, to name a few.
The delay in opening has caused some “issues” for tenants over the past few months, Almquist said.
“We are all in the same boat,” Almquist said. “We are all working together to get this thing open. It obviously hasn’t been easy, but this is more of a partnership between us and our tenants to make sure we get this ready.”
Even so, Almquist said he has seen support for the River Street Marketplace from San Juan Capistrano officials and residents.
“The city has been alongside us as issues have come up,” Almquist said. “I think everyone is super excited to see it open and feel like it is going to be a big part of the community.”
Councilmember Howard Hart said he is “confident” that “many skeptics will come to see that it was worth the wait.”
“Like many others, I am eager to see the River Street Marketplace open,” Hart said. “Having tracked its development and seeing the blood, sweat and tears that Mr. Almquist and his team have put into this project, I think it is going to be a special gathering place for our community.”
Built in the Los Rios district of San Juan Capistrano, one of the oldest neighborhoods in California, the River Street Marketplace will feature agrarian architecture broken up across six buildings. The buildings will be erected around a central green area for pedestrians to congregate.
This project has been in discussion since 2016 after Almquist Developers, previously known as Frontier Real Estate Investments, pitched the concept to the City Council after it purchased the property from Ito Nursery, which shuttered in 2021.
The City Council originally approved the project in October 2019, and after addressing residents’ concerns about traffic and noise, developers broke ground in February 2022.
Besides River Street Marketplace, Almquist Developers has been constructing similar developments in Whittier and downtown Fullerton as well. It also will begin construction at the Great Park in Irvine for a new retail space this fall.
Almquist Developers has also assisted in developing and updating other local spots in San Juan Capistrano such as Capistrano Plaza, Mayfield Restaurant and Marketplace, Breezy and Heritage Barbecue.
