Sue and Gino Borowicz is closing his Avenida Del Mar store Gino’s Jewelers. Photo by Andrea Maben
News and updates on San Clemente’s business community
By Sara Gold
NEW DEVELOPMENTS
Wildflower Florist, a floral shop serving San Clemente for more than 30 years, recently changed ownership. In March, Theresa John and Mariela Disiena purchased Wildflower Florist from former owner Sandra Moran, who had owned the store for about three years.
“Business is great,” John said. “The community has been very welcoming, and we couldn’t have asked for better neighbors.”
The store is located in downtown San Clemente, at 1001 S. El Camino Real near Ralphs.
While Wildflower Florist specializes in designing floral arrangements, John and Disiena hope to expand their business to also include event planning. In addition, customers can now receive $10 off any $40 purchase, until August 10.
For more information, call 949.498.3454 or visit www.wildflowerfloral.com.
Saddleback Memorial Medical Center, which has two hospitals – one in San Clemente and one in Laguna Hills, installed new leaders to its board of directors, beginning July 1. Patrick Donahue, a member of the board since 2009 and finance committee chair since June 2010, replaced Laguna Hills City Manager Bruce Channing as chairman of the board. Also a board member since 2009, Jaci Songstad is now secretary. The finance committee welcomes Richard Wasley, who also serves as medical director of radiology at South Coast Medical Group.
MILESTONES
After working in the jewelry business for 48 years, Gino Borowicz will close Gino’s Jewelers on Avenida Del Mar sometime in August. The store is currently liquidating its inventory, selling jewelry items at a 50 to 70 percent discount.
Borowicz worked at jewelry stores in Minnesota and Corona del Mar for a total of 13 years before coming to San Clemente to purchase Michael’s Jewelers in 1977. Within one year, Borowicz officially had the store’s name changed to Gino’s Jewelers, which it has been ever since.
I like working with my hands and designing things, and I like people,” Borowicz said.
The jeweler has now decided to retire after owning Gino’s Jewelers for more than 35 years. In the years to come, Borowicz hopes to travel with his wife Sue Borowicz to places such as the East Coast, Australia and the Caribbean. He also plans to volunteer in the community and is interested in working with the San Clemente Retired Senior Volunteers Program.
NEW BUSINESS
Jim Benitez and Saundra Gattie opened Coastal Auto Restoration & Performance in June to provide a special niche in automobile service. Located at 924 Calle Negocio, Suite C, Coastal Auto Restoration & Performance offers upgrades and restorations, specializing in vintage, foreign and high-performance cars.
Benitez discovered his fascination with cars as a body man helper at age 13 and has gone on to earn prestigious awards for cars he has built. Gattie, who manages the company’s finances and marketing, has 20 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industry.
As co-owner of Coastal Auto Restoration & Performance, Benitez loves “sharing and being able to complete an innovative and unique approach to the customer’s cars [as well as] being able to use my experience and overcome problems to complete the job in a timely fashion.”
For more information, call 855.811.4031 or visit www.coastal-auto.com.
Borboleta Decors, a custom wood furniture store, held an open house for its new San Clemente showroom July 15. Owners Helena and Richard Martinez, who opened Borboleta Decors in Pasadena in 2009, opened their second showroom at 228 Avenida del Mar, San Clemente in September 2011.
The owners hire carpenters with more than 30 years of experience in order to provide clients with custom-made pieces of any style, size and color. For more information, call 626.578.1152 or visit borboletadecors.com.
Helena and Richard Martinez first met about five years ago, decided to go into business together and were married in August 2010. The couple, who currently live near Pasadena, decided to open their second showroom in San Clemente because they eventually want to move to San Clemente.
“It’s a wonderful community and a beautiful town,” Helena Martinez said.
GIVING BACK
San Clemente’s own Left Coast Brewing Company is organizing a fundraiser for the Semper Fi Fund, an organization that provides assistance to the families of wounded Marines. Left Coast Brewing Company, in collaboration with clothing company Old Guys Rule, is hosting an event at Wind & Sea Restaurant on Thursday, August 9 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Wind & Sea Restaurant will donate $1 to the Semper Fi Fund for every Old Guys Rule Beer purchased at the event. Proceeds from the silent auction and raffle will also go toward the cause; anyone is encouraged to donate items for the auction and raffle beforehand by contacting Don Craig or Robi Craig at 949.492.1988 or email hidden; JavaScript is required. Attendees are asked to RSVP by August 5.
Dentist Dr. Eric Johnson will raise money for the Boys & Girls Club of the South Coast Area by asking kids to participate in a coloring contest during the months of July and August. For every colored coloring sheet that he receives, Johnson will donate $5 to the Boys & Girls Club for a maximum total of $2,500.
Participants can obtain the coloring sheet by either printing it from drericjohnson.com or visiting Johnson’s office at 647 Camino de los Mares, Suite 209. For more information, call 949.493.9311.
Orthodontist Dr. John Redmond is raising money for the Boys & Girls Club by selling colorful braced-lets, wrist wear made from orthodontic material, for $5 each. Redmond, a South Coast Area Boys & Girls Club board member, will donate all of the proceeds to the club.
The braced-lets will be sold at his practice at 181 Avenida Vaquero, Suite C. For more information, call 949.492.2141 or visit www.orthodontist.com or www.bracedlets.com.
