Maria's Restaurant told to move
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers Maira and Carlos Perez

When Carlos and Maira Perez purchased Maria's Family Restaurant in downtown Moorpark about two years ago, they believed they'd achieved their American dream to own and operate a family eatery.

However, the Thousand Oaks couple wasn't aware that the small Mexican restaurant they had just bought was destined for removal to make way for redevelopment.

The business is located on city-owned land that had been targeted for redevelopment since 2000. City officials voted in November 2007 to sell the property to Aszkenazy Development Inc., a San Fernando Valley builder who specializes in historical projects.

If escrow proceeds as expected, the 2.3 acres south of High Street will be revitalized with a mix of restaurants, shops and office space. Existing structures will be removed to accommodate the project, said Moorpark Redevelopment Agency manager David Moe.

Maria's Restaurant and the One More Time Thrift Shop are the only businesses remaining on the property. The owner of the building in which the restaurant is housed knows that he'll have to raze or move the building when redevelopment proceeds, Moe said.

"Many people think the restaurant is already closed because there are very few businesses still open in that area," said Ana Cozano, a friend of the Perez family.

"Carlos and Maira worked hard for 14 years to buy their own business. They want to stay on High Street and keep the restaurant because they love the area and enjoy serving local customers, but now they are losing money and worried they may lose the business," said Cozano, speaking on behalf of Carlos Perez, who isn't fluent in English.

According to Carlos Perez, no one divulged the redevelopment details to him when he purchased the business.

Carlos and Maira are trusting people, Cozano said, but their confidence in others has been crushed.

"Big people are taking advantage of little people. We are going to see if we can do something for them because it's not fair," she said.

Patrons are also upset about the impending closure of the restaurant.

"Moe and Freddy Carrillo, two city of Moorpark Redevelopment Agency wolves, showed up at the door of Maria's Restaurant recently, during the busiest part of their lunch hour, to inform the owner that his thriving little business was to be unceremoniously kicked off High Street- and soon," said longtime High Street patron Rosemary Moffat.

Moffat said she doesn't oppose revitalization plans, but she objects to how the city is doing it. It should offer relocation benefits to the restaurateurs, she said. "Moorpark has shown this incredible lack of concern for Moorpark businesses, community groups and residents many times before."

Moe disputed Moffat's comments.

"The city didn't know that the business was changing hands and once it found out, the agency offered to help the new owners move across the street, but they didn't appear interested at the time," he said.

Moe acknowledged that he and a translator went to visit the Perezes recently because the restaurant owners had gone to the city hall counter to ask questions about the future of their business.

"Our intent is not to put them out of business," Moe said. The Perezes will have to move from their existing location when the new project moves forward, but both the city and the developer are willing to explore possibilities to bring them back into the new project, he said.

Moe said developer Severyn Aszkenazy has made public his willingness to work with existing business owners so they can stay in the area.

And, although it is not obligated to do so, the redevelopment agency may provide some relocation assistance, Moe said.

No definite date has yet been set for redevelopment, he said.