The Trough Sandwich Kitchen & Maldon’s Bistro Become Latest Eateries to Make Debut at Award-Winning Eighteen Main & Centerview in Irvine

EMMES Realty Services of California LLC and Oaktree Transform Business District into Premiere Dining Destination

IRVINE, CALIF., May 10, 2023 -- Office parks and traditional business districts aren’t usually the first place that comes to mind for destination dining. However, forward-thinking restaurants are beginning to take root in these newly vamped areas to fulfill a growing appetite for more eateries and nightlife, and in turn, breathing new life and culture into these office communities.

One of them is The Trough, which celebrates its grand opening this month at Eighteen Main, a new curated restaurant pad in Irvine owned by EMMES Realty Services, LLC (‘EMMES’) and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (‘Oaktree’).

The Trough joins Goldfinch, Izakaya Osen, KIT Coffee, SOL Mexican Cocina, Maldon’s Bistro and award-winning Porch & Swing, at Centerview.

The Trough, known for its fresh specialty sandwiches, bowls, and breakfast burritos, is The Blind Pig Restaurant Group’s fifth eatery in Orange County. The Trough will have a quick, casual breakfast, lunch, and dinner concept at Eighteen Main for those on-the-go, while still having a sit-down component with a small bar serving wine, mimosas, and local craft beers on tap. The Trough at Eighteen Main will also have a secret menu that becomes visible on its website for those who sign up to be a VIP, as well as a number of seasonal specials throughout the year, including a favorite - Thanksgiving sandwich with turkey, tater tots and cranberry sauce.

“I’m excited for The Trough to expand our reach and bring this amazing product to a new audience,” said Tony Monaco, owner of The Blind Pig Restaurant Group, which includes a popular speak-easy style restaurant and bar in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., as well as a location in Yorba Linda and Anaheim. “The large office complex (Centerview) is a great spot for our concept. Specializing in both breakfast and lunch, we have a chance to catch office tenants on their way into work or on lunch break. EMMES has put together an amazing group of complementary restaurant concepts. They have a little bit of everything, and all the options are high-end and well executed. On top of that, they’ve stayed diligent in the buildouts to make sure the interiors are all very beautiful, from the restaurants all the way up to the offices.”

Monaco said EMMES also helped make the buildout process of the new Trough restaurant at Eighteen Main go smoothly, further adding to the attractiveness of the location.

“I was pleasantly surprised by how invested in the success of our concept EMMES has been,” he said. “From getting us beautiful vinyl window covers during construction, to marketing us within the building, and coordinating soft openings to help with training, they really went above and beyond in that aspect. They also helped us throughout the construction process in any way we needed in a timely fashion to help our construction go as smoothly as it could.”

Eighteen Main – recently named Retail Project of the Year by NAIOP SoCal, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association – includes a total of 17,000 square feet of premier restaurant space and will be 100% occupied once EMMES fills the final restaurant space. The last available location, which includes 4,128 square feet, features an outdoor patio that takes advantage of the perfect Orange County weather.

Eighteen Main is part of Centerview, an award-winning office center also owned by EMMES and Oaktree that is situated in the 48-acre Irvine Concourse, a master planned, 10-building business destination totaling more than 2.5 million square feet of office space and two hotels, Equinox and a plethora of restaurants. The property is in the heart of Irvine’s Airport Area, Orange County’s Central Business District, offering excellent visibility and immediate access to the I-405 freeway, easy connection to the 55 and 73 freeways, and just minutes from regional transportation hub, John Wayne Airport.

While once a traditional office complex with minimal dining options, EMMES has successfully brought world-class restaurant amenities to Centerview. These eateries have become such a hit that the owners of the award-winning Porch & Swing at Centerview decided to open a second restaurant there called Maldon’s Bistro, which also celebrated its grand opening this month.

Maldon's is a casual French/American bistro that has a chef-driven breakfast and lunch menu that also includes a wide variety of gluten-free items, created and led by Chef Alan Sanz of Porch & Swing. The bistro will also offer a curated selection of locally made products available for retail and for grab and go.

“It seemed like a no brainer to open our next concept here, especially with the great relationship we've forged with EMMES,” said Andrew Parish, Proprietor of Maldon’s. “It's something we appreciate, and it isn't easy to find when looking at other locations. We also value the relationships we've made with (Centerview) tenants who are here and have frequented our concept at Porch & Swing. It's a great community here that we treasure. All this coupled with the growing residential community just outside Centerview and the growing audience within the business park just can't be beat.”

EMMES believes that Eighteen Main and Centerview will become an epicenter for tenants and locals alike, including an adjacent Embassy Suites Hotel and new luxury apartments and residential units.

“We are thrilled to welcome The Trough and Maldon’s Bistro to our curated mix of dining options at Eighteen Main and Centerview,” said Justin Nguyen, vice president, asset management, EMMES Realty Services of California, LLC. “EMMES has helped redefine the office park experience and has opened a whole new world of exciting opportunities for restaurants, tenants, and the community-at-large. We have been successful in attracting businesses and employees to Centerview with our award-winning and convenient amenities.”

About EMMES

EMMES Realty Services of California LLC is a member of The EMMES Group of Companies. Founded in 1992, with offices in New York and California, The EMMES Group of Companies and its affiliates are engaged in principal real estate investments, capital management and real estate services. For more information, visit www.emmesco.com.

About Oaktree

Oaktree is a leader among global investment managers specializing in alternative investments, with $172 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2023. The firm emphasizes an opportunistic, value-oriented and risk-controlled approach to investments in credit, private equity, real assets and listed equities. The firm has over 1,100 employees and offices in 20 cities worldwide. For additional information, please visit Oaktree’s website at http://www.oaktreecapital.com/.

Return to: 2023 News Releases