RESTAURANT MARKET APPEARS TO BE HUNGRY FOR A CHANGE OLD FAVORITES ARE LEAVING AS NEW NAMES MOVE INTO AREA.

Byline: Nicholas Grudin Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - A restaurant rejuvenation is occurring in Santa Clarita as several old favorites are closing their doors, making way for the new.

Carrow's, Coco's in Valencia, Jen's Cafe, Vie de France, Cafe Melisse, Timtom Burgers, L'Italiano and Shakey's Pizza Parlor are all either gone or on their way out.

And Island's, Cousin's, Buca di Beppo, Pei Wei Asian Diner, Angel's Hotdogs and Hamburgers, Ranch One and a handful of others are here or coming in.

``It's a battle every day to keep your image in front of the customer,'' said Charles Gill, general manager of the Valencia Town Center. ``Like most industry real estate ... it goes through cycles.''

But even Gill admitted that customers of the outgoing restaurants - himself included - are melancholy about the departure of the old favorites.

``I'm a customer of Coco's and of Carrow's, but the reality is that situations change,'' Gill said.

Thomas Gibson, 22, is working construction on the building that used to be Shakey's at Bouquet Canyon Road and Seco Canyon Road. The business will be a dentist's office when Gibson is done with it, a depressing fact for the ex-Saugus High School football player.

``This was our football spot after games,'' Gibson said. ``It was $3.95 for an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet. It was the spot.''

But apparently the restaurant market in Santa Clarita is not so nostalgic.

Timtom Burgers, 23029 Soledad Canyon Road, has developed significant local patronage which is still loyal, but it will be leaving at the end of June nonetheless.

``Our lease ran out in March, and we took it for granted that it was going to be renewed, but our landlord now wants to put a different restaurant here,'' said Ken Hurley, manager at Timtom Burgers.

``We're hopefully going to be relocating without much down time. People are pretty upset - a lot of people have been coming here since it opened nearly 30 years ago,'' Hurley said.

City and business officials attribute the turnover to the normal business cycle, which is more pronounced in the restaurant industry than elsewhere, according to Larry Mankin, chief executive officer of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce.

``It's not just Santa Clarita; it's everywhere,'' Mankin said.

And according to Laura Cherry, spokeswoman for P.F. Chang's China Bistro, which is opening the Pei Wei's Asian Diner, Santa Clarita's market is just the type that her company is looking to tap.

``It's a very vibrant and well-educated community,'' Cherry said. ``There's a great mix - it's the demographic that we like to be in.''

The new Buca di Beppo, which recently opened at the Valencia Town Center, is the Italian chain's most successful opening this year, according to spokesman Justin Micatrotto.

``Already, this restaurant is just jamming,'' Micatrotto said. ``The area is growing so unbelievably rapidly that it lends itself to this. We want to be a part of that neighborhood as it develops.''

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) The Vie de France shut its doors after a brief stay in the Valencia Town Center. ``It's a battle every day to keep your image in front of the customer,'' said Charles Gill, the center's manager.

(2 -- color) Cafe Melisse took over this location from Twin Palms, but then the new cafe also closed.

(3 -- color) The building that housed the former Shakey's Pizza at the corner of Bouquet Canyon and Seco Canyon roads is being turned into a dentist's office.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer