What is happening to Mariner’s Mile?

Terrance Phillips

I wonder how much it will cost the city of Newport Beach to change all

those signs?

You’ve seen them -- beautiful lettering, crossed burgee flags with gold

leaves. The signs that read, “Mariners Mile.” Apparently, they should be

changed to say, “The Green Mile,” as our city is obviously only planning

for bottom-line profit, rather than the continuance of historical

significance and maritime ambience.

As an example, I drove down Coast Highway’s Mariner’s Mile today and

noticed a leveled lot, formally the site of the Casablanca Restaurant. I

couldn’t help but think the wrecking ball smashed a lot more than just

those hallowed walls. The demolished structure was once the legendary

home of the second-ever, “Chart House” restaurant, which occupied that

space from 1968 through 1986. It had a nautical theme, navigation charts,

model ships, photos, one of the first-ever salad bars and server’s

wearing Hawaiian shirts, and tennies. At that time it was a very

innovative concept. It will now be difficult to pass that site and see a

“Jiffy Lube.” That’s certainly consistent with a Mariner’s Mile theme --

isn’t it?

What official in their “left” mind would think we should forget the

nautical theme plan and turn Mariner’s Mile into a mediocre Mecca for

merchants? Numerous fast foods, car washes, and what about that

spaceship-shaped red and yellow monstrosity (now closed) called the “Auto

Bistro” (should have been spelled, Auto Beast-row)? With this thought

process in mind we should fill in the harbor and build condos, storage

units and tall buildings. Forget the boating community, boat dealers,

marine stores, and nautical restaurants, let’s change the name of this

city to “Newport Buck!” Please, city officials -- get a grip! Have our

bureaucrats lost their ability to navigate a steady course? Next they’ll

be tearing down the Balboa Pavilion to erect a steel mill and what about

that Sherman Garden’s place? That would make a great used car lot. Our

harbor and marine industry made this town -- lest we forget?

The Newport Dunes In-The-Water boat show is back beginning April 12th

through the 16th. Vessels from 1 to 100 feet will line the docks so

customers can dream and drool, but later only dread the payments. The

show offers displays, demonstrations, music, hot dogs and hotter prices,

but if the cost of fuel continues to soar, the plodding trawler will make

an enormous comeback. Before purchasing a boat, make sure you have a slip

to put it in because after officials fill-in the harbor for all those

storage units and condo’s, slips will be even harder to find!

* TERRANCE PHILLIPS column runs Mondays. He can be reached by e-mail at

[email protected].