Business: Major renovation planned for Ladera shopping center Business: Major renovation planned for Ladera shopping center (September 14, 2005)

** Two new restaurants are planned.

By Marjorie Mader

Almanac Staff Writer

Ladera Country Shopper will receive a $2 million facelift, updating the ranch style center that opened 48 years ago this month along Alpine Road.

"The original design fit perfectly for the times, but now needs updating and renovation," said Eric Willis of Willis & Co., project manager and one of the investors.

The renovation will be done in three phases and will continue through March 2006, according to the new ownership group known as 3130 Alpine LLC. The center will remain open during the remodeling and construction.

While the owners will retain the center's basic style, Mr. Willis promises some changes for the better -- improved access and traffic circulation, more parking, an addition to Bianchini's Market, two new restaurants and two plazas.

The building that housed the former Iberia restaurant will be demolished and rebuilt as space for offices or a medical building, he said. The wooden fence will come down and the area in front of the building will become a plaza for public use.

Mike Wallau, who grew up in Portola Valley, will open his third Mike's Cafe in the space at the center that previously housed the hardware store.

"I'm rolling ahead full bore," said Mr. Wallau, who launched his neighborhood restaurant on Middlefield Road in Palo Alto, then opened another Mike's in 2004 on Middlefield Road in Menlo Park. Mike's will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Three Amigos, a popular restaurant on Highway 1 south of Half Moon Bay, will open at the Ladera center in space formerly occupied by John's Liquors. Having a Mexican restaurant in the Ladera center was on everyone's list, said Mr. Willis, who said he conducted an informal survey.

Work began this month on redoing the shopping center's parking areas to provide 30 more parking spaces, reduce congestion and improve access.

Two new entrances to the center will be developed from Alpine Road. One will be across from Washington Mutual Bank, and the other will be between Bianchini's Market and the Chevron station. The area behind the market will be reconstructed to allow two-way traffic and a dedicated loading area for the market.
DEMOLITION PARTY

A demolition party will be held Saturday, September 24, from noon to 2 p.m. to kick off the Ladera center's remodel. For $5 a whack, one can wield a sledgehammer to help demolish the Iberia restaurant building. Proceeds will go to the Ladera Community Association for beautification of the islands at La Mesa and Las Cuesta drives.

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