The court-appointed receiver for Gina Champion-Cain's American National Investments announced today that it will place The Patio on Lamont, Surf Rider restaurants in La Mesa and Ocean Beach and Saska’s under the operational guidance of San Diego's Cohn Restaurant Group effective September 30. All other concepts, except for The Patio Marketplace, will shutter.
"We understand this is a challenging situation, but we believe The Patio on Lamont, Surf Rider (OB and La Mesa) and Saska’s are great restaurants that guests will continue to enjoy into the future," said Cohn Restaurant Group Founder and President David Cohn. We look forward to working with the teams at each location so they can continue to provide great food, ambiance and hospitality.”
We announced yesterday that The Patio Group has already closed several subsidiary concepts, including Himmelberg's in the East Village, Surf Rider Pizza Crown Point, Love Surf retail, and Andrea's Truffles. Additionally, the Patio on Goldfinch and Fireside by the Patio will remain open and look forward to serving their loyal patrons through San Diego Restaurant Week, which runs through this Sunday, September 29. Due to unforeseen circumstances surrounding the withholding of certain funds from the receivership estate, all retail and free-standing restaurant locations except for the ones under the operational guidance of the Cohn Restaurant Group will be closing on or around September 30, including Swell Coffee locations, Bao Beach, Surf Rider Pizza Mission Beach, and The Patio Express branches.
The Patio Marketplaces, which we announced last week were continuing expansion plans, will still be managed by The Patio Marketplace, LP into the foreseeable future but will not be opening new locations in La Jolla and Los Angeles as previously reported. The Patio Marketplace, LP will also continue to serve as property manager of La Casa del Zorro Resort & Spa in Borrego Springs, CA, which is not affected by the ongoing U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission litigation.
This past August, the founder of San Diego-based The Patio Group, Gina Champion-Cain, was civilly charged by the United States Federal Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for allegedly operating a "multi-year, $300 million scheme that defrauded approximately 50 retail investors." The complaint alleges Champion-Cain's ANI Development raised hundreds of millions of dollars from investors to make short-term, high-interest loans to parties seeking to acquire California liquor licenses, but the SEC states that the investment opportunities were a complete sham and investor funds were actually funneled to a company controlled by Champion-Cain. The government obtained a consented-to asset freeze against ANI Development LLC and its principal, and receiver Krista Freitag of E3 Advisors has been court-appointed to oversee and manage personal and business assets of Champion-Cain, including her many restaurants.
Over the past 39 years, David and Lesley Cohn and their family have brought dining to a new level as the premier hospitality collective in Southern California. Beginning with one small diner in 1981, Cohn Restaurant Group now owns and operates 27 restaurants with locations in San Diego, Long Beach and Maui. Venues include 333 Pacific, Blue Point Coastal Cuisine, BO-beau kitchen + bar (Ocean Beach), BO-beau kitchen + caché (Hillcrest), BO-beau kitchen + garden (La Mesa), BO-beau kitchen + roof tap (Long Beach), Coaster Saloon, Coasterra, Coin Haus, Corvette Diner, Draft Republic (La Jolla + Carlsbad), Del’s Hideout, Gaslamp Strip Club, Indigo Grill, Island Prime, C Level Lounge, SEA180 Coastal Tavern, Tacos Libertad, Tea Pavilion, The Prado at Balboa Park, Vin de Syrah, Vintana wine + dine, ZIGZAG Pizza Pie, The Melting Pot Gaslamp, Castaway Café and The Plantation House.
For more information about Cohn Restaurant Group, visit dinecrg.com.
The Patio Marketplaces, which we announced last week were continuing expansion plans, will still be managed by The Patio Marketplace, LP into the foreseeable future but will not be opening new locations in La Jolla and Los Angeles as previously reported. The Patio Marketplace, LP will also continue to serve as property manager of La Casa del Zorro Resort & Spa in Borrego Springs, CA, which is not affected by the ongoing U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission litigation.
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| The Patio Group founder Gina Champion-Cain |
Over the past 39 years, David and Lesley Cohn and their family have brought dining to a new level as the premier hospitality collective in Southern California. Beginning with one small diner in 1981, Cohn Restaurant Group now owns and operates 27 restaurants with locations in San Diego, Long Beach and Maui. Venues include 333 Pacific, Blue Point Coastal Cuisine, BO-beau kitchen + bar (Ocean Beach), BO-beau kitchen + caché (Hillcrest), BO-beau kitchen + garden (La Mesa), BO-beau kitchen + roof tap (Long Beach), Coaster Saloon, Coasterra, Coin Haus, Corvette Diner, Draft Republic (La Jolla + Carlsbad), Del’s Hideout, Gaslamp Strip Club, Indigo Grill, Island Prime, C Level Lounge, SEA180 Coastal Tavern, Tacos Libertad, Tea Pavilion, The Prado at Balboa Park, Vin de Syrah, Vintana wine + dine, ZIGZAG Pizza Pie, The Melting Pot Gaslamp, Castaway Café and The Plantation House.
For more information about Cohn Restaurant Group, visit dinecrg.com.
