Business & Tech
Richie's Real American Diner Coming To Westfield Palm Desert
The restaurant is set to open this fall at the Westfield Palm Desert mall.
Richie’s Real American Diner will open at Westfield Palm Desert this fall, it was announced Thursday.
“It’s going to be a wonderful opportunity for us to be able to debut Richie’s Diner at ,’’ said Sally Myers, vice president of marketing for Richie’s. “I really think that the folks out there are really going to love the diner.”
Myers, who is also a partner in the company with her husband Gary, said the 7,200-square-foot restaurant will have an outdoor patio dining area.
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“There is nothing like Richie’s in Palm Desert. We’re not just another diner. We are a diner bringing back the nostalgia of the 30s and 40s and the traditions of yesteryear,’’ Myers said.
The diner will take the place of the former Marie Calendar's, which closed in December, according to Jenna LeMaster, director of marketing for Westfield.
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"With (Richie's Diner) taking possession, there will be a lot of remodeling going on in that space. They are completely redoing it and making it very Richie’s oriented,'' LeMaster said.
Myers said the location will also have “an authentic wood-smoked barbecue out front,” preparing items like slow-smoked Angus tri-tip, Killer St. Louis Ribs, Baby Back Ribs and half and whole chickens.
The restaurant will also have its own bakery.
“Linda's luscious desserts are made fresh daily at the diner ... fresh is what Richie's is all about,’’ she said.
Myers said the company chose Palm Desert because of the opportunity to work with Westfield.
“We are presently searching for locations throughout the state of California and we're pleased that the Westfield Palm Desert is our new location,’’ she said.
The restaurant, which has locations in Temecula, Murrieta and Rancho Cucamonga, will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, according to Myers.
“When the snow birds are in town, they are going to love coming in, and the younger families are going to know what yesteryear is all about,” Myers said.
Between 80 to 100 people could be hired for the location, she said.
Construction was expected to begin in May, according to Westfield.
A few other shops will be opening this year at the mall, including the woman's boutique Charming Charley, which has an August opening date, LeMaster said.
Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt is set to open at Westfield later this month, she said.
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