The 42-year-old Mandarin House restaurant at 6765 La Jolla Blvd., closed since a summer kitchen fire, will not reopen for the holidays as planned.

“The electrical fire was very unfortunate, they [owners] hoped to reopen for Christmas, but permitting and remodeling work is taking time and they’re now expecting to reopen in early 2020,” said Steve Strauss, a partner with Cooley LLP law firm.

Strauss, a general partner of Mandarin Partners, which owns the property, noted, “Our family has owned the property forever. It was my grandfather’s grocery store in the ‘30s. My grandfather owned it, my dad owned it and now me.” 

Strauss said Nelson Law is the restaurant’s owner and operator. “His father was the original tenant, John Law,” he said. 

The cause of the non-injury summer blaze at Mandarin House was determined by fire investigators to be grease buildup in the kitchen vent. The fire was confined to the kitchen and no one was inside the restaurant when it started. 

Mandarin House has been operating on La Jolla Boulevard for more than four decades. Law’s late father, Tat “John” Law, and his partner, Wai “Bill” Man, worked their way up from dishwashers and delivery boys to head chefs in Hong Kong before relocating to the United States. They opened the La Jolla restaurant in 1977.

VALERIE IN STYLE

Though a “store closing” banner is still draped across the front of the building, owners of Valerie in Bird Rock said advertising their closing sale may have been premature, as they are still in lease negotiations with their landlord.

Located at 5628 La Jolla Blvd., Suite B., Valerie is a retail store offering a variety of European-style women’s apparel and accessories including custom-made jewelry. Owned by former Miss Ukraine Tanya Tkachenko, the women’s apparel shop sells bathing suits, rompers, dresses, shoes and accessories for beach or resort lifestyles. 

A jewelry designer, Tkachenko’s long-term goal is to break into fashion design.

COLDWELL BANKER

Laurielynn Barnett, a global luxury property specialist affiliated with the La Jolla office of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, recently received the McNaught-Davis/Knox Award from the La Jolla Real Estate Broker Association (REBA). The McNaught-Davis/Knox Award is given once a year to the REBA member who best characterizes the golden rule and follows the ethics of the real estate profession.

“Throughout my career as a real estate agent, I have specialized in working with buyers. My favorite part of real estate is making sure my buyers are informed and happy with the purchase of their new home or investment property. As a Credentialed Lay Mediator, I can offer my clients that additional knowledge as I help them navigate the different aspects of their real estate transaction,” said Barnett. “Being raised in Mexico City, Mexico and traveling extensively around the world, I can offer my clients assistance in their home buying process in Spanish, English, and some French. Learning from my clients is one of my greatest joys!”

With 33 years of real estate experience, she has successfully handled the purchase of homes in price ranges up to multi-million dollars. Passionate about helping others, she has supported the San Diego Blood Bank, Congregation Beth El, La Jolla Playhouse, National Conflict Resolution Center, Rady Children’s Hospital and Breast Cancer organizations.