Two popular oceanfront restaurants in Laguna Beach, California, Driftwood Kitchen and its sister establishment, The Deck, have closed to make way for a luxury resort development. The establishments served their final meals on Monday, September 7, after a decade of operation.
Locals have expressed significant opposition to the redevelopment, with many fearing the loss of the town's character. "Another charming, vintage, coastal Orange County icon being bulldozed and replaced with some monstrosity," one resident commented on social media. Others lamented that "Laguna is slowly losing its charm and turning into a money hungry resort conglomerates."
The properties are part of a larger parcel that includes the Pacific Edge Hotel. The restaurants' owners emphasized that their closure was not due to financial difficulties, stating, "Over the past decade, we’ve seen more than 50 restaurants in Laguna close for financial reasons — we want to emphasize that is not the case here." Driftwood Kitchen and The Deck were known for their beachfront dining experience, with diners able to enjoy meals with views of the Pacific Ocean.
The land encompassing the restaurants and hotel was reportedly purchased in 2024 by developers Dune Drifter for $80 million. The new owners have been working through the city's permitting and approval processes and are now prepared to begin construction. The new resort, which is intended to cater to high-end travelers, is expected to be completed in approximately three years.
During their ten years of operation, The Deck, which opened in 2012, and Driftwood Kitchen, which opened a year later, received awards and hosted various events. The restaurants collectively shucked nearly one million oysters during their tenure.