On May 1, 2018 Blue Bridge Hospitality (BBH) officially took over daily operations of Candelas, a mainstay at the Coronado Ferry Landing for the last 10 years.
“The owners of Candelas were faced with making some changes, as the restaurant was just not working anymore,” says David Spatafore, owner of the extremely successful and ever expanding restaurant group Blue Bridge Hospitality. “There was a lack of vision, poor management, and little motivation for the space. They knew their options were to sell it or hire a new management company to maximize its potential.”
As reported by The Coronado Times earlier this year, the restaurant owners were forced to close the doors in January, and rumors sparked questions of whether or not the bayside eatery was closed for good, despite a “Temporarily closed for repairs sign” being posted on the door.
Unable to sell the restaurant, Candelas, which is part of the Mestre Restaurant Group owned by Alberto Mestre (which also operates Tent City in Coronado), turned to BBH.
With a business partnership in the works since December 2017, Spatafore says his goal is to maximize the space’s potential, so its menu, ambiance, and service can match the breathtaking view.
“The view is clearly amazing but the concept is unclear and tired,” says Spatafore. “Our plan is to keep Candelas Mexican, but update the bar and restaurant to be a top choice for locals and visitors alike. The staff of Candelas has been the only thing holding the place together. Demetrio, Jerry, Maria, Javier, Will and others have been amazing and hard working during the past year of ‘unknown.’ We look forward to working with them on these improvements.”
Some of the initial changes will include a more dynamic bar program, quality ingredients from local vendors, and improved service. The restaurant will get a cosmetic face lift, as there are plans to open up the view corridors from the bar and repaint the interior walls.
The month of May has been used to create a plan to be ready for launch this June. As of now, Candelas Taco Bar and Sunday Brunch Buffet will remain unchanged.
Blue Bridge Hospitality owns nine culinary delights in Coronado which include: Village Pizzeria Bayside, Village Pizzeria, Leroy’s Kitchen + Lounge, Stake Chophouse & Bar, Lil’ Piggy’s Bar-B-Q, Coronado Coffee Company, MooTime Creamery, West Pac Noodle Bar, and Maretalia Ristorante.
