A string of new businesses will soon punctuate the ongoing expansion and opening of the Aptos Village and the nearby Rancho Del Mar Center.
On the southernmost shoulder of the Aptos Village a new branch of the popular Betty Burgers could be open by the second half of February, weather providing.
Situated in the former Vapor Laundromat on Trout Gulch Road, just off of Soquel Drive, the single-story space is now undergoing interior work and is being outfitted with furnishings and electrical. Most exterior work is done, except for signage and detail work. The eatery marks the fourth location for Betty Burgers, said owner Laurie Negro. She said she had been searching for a spot to open in Aptos for over a decade.
Negro said the new location will feature the same menu as her other stores, on 41st Avenue in Capitola, Seabright Avenue and Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz. They will also offer wine and eight beers on tap.
A stone’s throw away is the recently opened Ser Winery tasting room, 10 Parade St., Suite B in the Aptos Village.
Owner Nicole Walsh features a host of fine red and white wines including their popular 2016 Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands. They are perched next door to the recently opened Cat & Cloud Coffee that features indoor and outdoor seating.
And just around the corner will soon be a new location for the Penny Ice Creamery, the only ice cream shop in Santa Cruz that makes in house ice cream from scratch.
Owner Zachary Davis said he is excited to open the third location of the business.
“In August we will be celebrating 10 years,” he said. “I still can’t believe it.”
Davis said that while the Aptos location at 141 Aptos Village Way will feature their same mix of flavors, they will try to showcase something unique to that store to offset it from the others.
He said he is aiming for an end of March or early April opening with a soft opening event. About a dozen new employees will be brought on board.
A few blocks north on Soquel Drive, several new businesses are in the mix at Rancho Del Mar Center, which has undergone a major renovation over the past few years.
Sushi Garden Japanese Restaurant, which already has locations in Watsonville, Scotts Valley and Capitola, opened in December and is open seven days a week. They feature sushi, rolls, teriyaki and other menu items, with indoor and outdoor seating.
It is located in suite 38.
Across the parking lot, finishing touches are being put on a new branch of Mountain Mike’s Pizza, which has had a long-standing Watsonville location. Their chain restaurants are scattered by the dozens over several western states and host a wealth of pizzas, chicken, sandwiches, salads and desserts.
