Last week the City Council unanimously authorized the city manager to execute a lease agreement with the new owners of with Original Antonio’s Pizzeria.
The vote was 4-0.
City Manager David Maistros said the city met with the new owners, Cinde and Mike Cassidy about extending the footprint of the new lease.
“It is really just limited to that area along the walk or along the wall in front of their business and we met with them, met with Cinde last week and I think we’re all on the same page as far as what their needs are it’s not going to extend around the corner, it’s not going to extend in front of any other business,” Maistros said.
He said they were in compliance with the original lease.
Cinde Cassidy (a past council member) came up to the podium.
“You could have just brought it for the audience,” said Councilmember Michael Ponce.
“I could have brought it for staff,” Cassidy said.
She said they appreciated the city helping them moving this along so quickly.
Cassidy said the official name of the business is Original Antonio’s Pizzeria. She confirmed that the “and deli” part of the name is going away.
Background
“In January 2016, Original Antonio’s Pizzeria and Deli, located at 114 Sumner, entered into a lease agreement with the City of Avalon. The lease agreement outlined a space comprised of approximately 37 square feet of the public right of way that buttresses against the building,” according to the staff report prepared by Management Analyst Devin Hart.
“As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated public health orders restricting indoor dining, the City allowed Original Antonio’s to modify the space they occupied,” Hart wrote.
“The modification increased the area for customers to order take out at the window as well as increased the overall footprint for outdoor dining to accommodate more tables,” Hart wrote.
“While the original 2016 lease allowed for only two (2), two (2) person tables abutting the building, the space used since 2020 encompassed that space as well as an additional approximate 182.15 square feet allowing for one (1) large 8 to 10 person table, and five (5) two (2) or more person spaces,” Hart wrote.
The council approved a new lease agreement on Aug. 17, 2021, but the agreement was never executed, according to Hart’s report.
“Original Antonio’s ceased operations under its ownership structure on February 25, 2024. On February 29, 2024, after confirming the business had ceased operations, the City terminated the 2016 lease agreement,” Hart wrote.
“Original Antonio’s has been purchased by CMMC Investments, Inc. The new proprietors contacted the City on February 29, 2024 to request the City consider a new lease agreement for the outdoor dining space,” Hart wrote.
“The proprietors request to use an approximate 100 square foot area extending only directly in front of the business along the pubic bench and a smaller 11.5 square foot space on the southern wall of the building,” Hart wrote.
Staff recommended that the council authorize the new agreement.
“The lease rate shall be for non-exclusive use and the lease rate will reflect the CPI adjusted rate of $1.54 per square foot- $154.00 due each month,” Hart wrote.
As reported last week, Councilmember Yesenia De La Rosa was absent.
