(RSS)
Downtown will go ape over Grilla Bites
Brian Garcia was such a fan of Grilla Bites in Chico that he ate there nearly every time his commute for his work with building developers took him to the Chico area.
In fact, he so liked Grilla Bites’ organic and natural grilled sandwiches, soups and salads that he started bugging Fred Marken, the chain’s owner, to open a Grilla Bites in Redding. Garcia said that Markens had another idea.
“He said to me, ’Why don’t YOU open a Grilla Bites in Redding?’ ”
Actually, the story isn’t quite that simple.
Redding was the place that Garcia and his wife enjoyed visiting so much that they referred to it as their “someday” retirement place.
Someday came knocking sooner than expected. They moved to Redding after Garcia’s wife became ill. When she died last year, Garcia decided that the lifestyle of commuting long distances wasn’t a good option, not with the couple’s 5-year-old daughter to raise.
Suddenly, Grilla Bites wasn’t just an interesting concept for Garcia. It was a way to have a flexible, family-friendly business that allowed him to remain close to his daughter in Redding.
Garcia is now remodeling a space in the far north end of The Mall in downtown Redding, inside Market Street Square for Grilla Bites. His business neighbors include the Village Schoolhouse toy store, Shasta College Health Sciences Center and Fasolini’s Pizza.
I met Garcia inside his empty building last week.
Garcia’s voice echoed around the vast, vacant building as he described what his upcoming Grilla Bites will look like.
“All this will be the dining room,” he said, with a sweep of his arm around the nearly 3,000-square-foot area.
“Back here will be the kitchen, and I know we’ll have one, maybe even two fireplaces. And outside is the patio. It’s almost 800 square feet.”
Excuse me? A real restaurant patio? In downtown Redding? Not just a designated sidewalk sliver?
It’s true. The city of Redding said OK. Here’s the drawing. Notice the trees, planters, tables, chairs and an ornate railing.
This patio is one of Garcia’s favorite parts of his new restaurant.
Garcia can vividly imagine daytime foot traffic from Shasta College students, hospital employees and downtown office workers, but he also imagines people gravitating downtown, especially in the summer, in the evening.
“I can even see people walking from my place after dinner through The Mall to the Cascade Theatre,” he said. “I’ve only been here a year, but I’m excited about what’s happening downtown.”
Local trivia: Garcia’s space, located at the corner of Tehama and Market streets, was the former footprint of the Temple Hotel, a luxury, historical hotel built in the 1800s. It was bulldozed in the mid-’60s.)
Grilla Bites is known for its fresh, organic grilled sandwiches, soups and salads, but the menu is not your basic sandwich shop: Curry Tofu Grilla, Portabella Grilla Burger, Wild Salmon Grilla Burger and the Blue Bacon Burger. Garcia’s Grilla Bites will also sell fresh baked organic and vegan treats, desserts and pastries, and an array of specialy raw juice combinations, fruit smoothies, ”frappes”, organic, fair-trade coffees and teas and, as much as possible, local wines and beers. The Redding Grilla Bites will join six other Grilla Bites (three in Chico, one in Ashland, one in Medford and one in Snohomish, Wash.).
407 views
Can’t wait - I am getting happier every day that I live on the West side of town!
Sounds so perfect for downtown! Best of luck to Mr. Garcia!
This is so cool! I hope these businesses continue to sprout up and that we, the community, will help sustain them. It takes a lot of guts to start a venture like this in these tough economic times. This place sounds like a sure winner.
Mr. Garcia, What a thrill it will be to see you open in downtown Redding. My family and I will be there for the “Grand Opening!” Organic and vegan, a healthy spot for lunch…fantastic! Good Luck and Congratulations on your new venture.
What a delight to watch the downtown mall evolve into a destination once again. I look forward to enjoying the food and that amazing patio when Grilla Bites opens. I would say “Good Luck” but I expect this venture to thrive…looking forward to it!
-a
Too good to be true! I can hardly wait, being an honorary gorilla myself.
OMG! Sorry, I don’t normally post like a 14-year old. But curried tofu, OMG! I’m like so EXCITED. Really, please hurry and get this restaurant opened. My vegetarian heart is skipping beats I’m so happy. Did I say OMG???
Wow Doni you’re back a spreading good news!
We missed you!
Althea
Brian, It sounds like an exciting new venture in the historic downtown Redding area. We wish you alot of success in Grilla Bites.
Thanks be to Doni for breaking the news. We’ll be there for sure.
Brian,
Welcome to Redding. Good luck with Grilla Bites. I look forward to tasting your curry items. Tammy
What a perfect addition to our downtown! Finally, a place dedicated to healthy foods. In addition, I hope Mr. Garcia will buy locally, in season foods from our growers in the Redding area. They have much to offer and so will he.
Way to go Big Bro,
Looking good Brian. Sounds like the people are excited! I will be up there soon to visit. Lots of love from your sis.
PS. KAREN from above, Brian is planning to buy locally.
Cate, that is good news. We have so many wonderful growers in our area and Chico. Each year our Farmer’s Maket gets better with more and more produce items being offered. Last year it stayed open until just before Christmas. Thanks for sharing the information.
Doni just did a cooking class at our kitchen store in Red Bluff, and shared this information with us!! GOOD LUCK Brian……Your menu sounds wonderful, and the drawing’s look wonderful. The outside patio is going to be GREAT! Can’t wait to try it!!
THANKS Doni for spreading the GOOD NEWS!!
Oh, this is truly exciting news! Yummy food and a patio sound like a place I’d like to visit. Welcome, and best of luck to you, Brian.
I look forward to visiting this great sounding place. The food sounds perfect.
Fresh, wholesome and delicious. Redding is lucky to have a creative new business owner willing to give it his all.
CONGRATS, SO PROUD OF YOU GOOD LUCK. HOPE TO MAKE YOUR OPENING
Good show!!! Glad to see a home grown business starting up downtown.
Are you telling me someone finally figured out what will attract people downtown? The patio looks beautiful, and the food sounds great. Best of luck to you.
This looks and sound great! Saw food on web site and it looks fantastically down home and healthy. Can’t wait to go to the resturant and eat and see the sites! Cool patio.