Colton Zendejas reopens, Big Boy closes “for remodeling”

For those of you bemoaning the loss of Zendejas from the Colton restaurant scene, weep no more!

The rumors are true…Zendejas has reopened.

I drove by last week and there was a giant “Now Open” banner hanging on the front of the building.

They closed abruptly last August after Colton Police ordered the restaurant to shut down its dance floor operations and the city kept the site’s dance permit in limbo.

The entertainment revenue was keeping the restaurant afloat in the slow economy.

Well, apparently, they’ve worked out their issues with the city.

If you want to check out the resurrected Zendejas, it’s at 1030 S. Mount Vernon Ave.

A little ways north of there, the Bob’s Big Boy at 201 E. Valley Blvd. has closed “for remodeling.”

Usually, that’s a euphemism for “out of business,” but when I drove by there were actually workers milling about in the restaurant. That’s probably a good sign.

I remember how excited I was when I found out in 2006 that the restaurant was preparing to open and when they finally opened in early 2007.

And how that excitement was quelled the first time I went there.

Subsequent visits were equally lackluster.

Let’s hope the “remodeling” means they’re getting their act together and will open with renewed focus on customer service.

In the meantime, I highly recommend two other Inland Empire Bob’s Big Boys — in Calimesa and, especially, Norco.

Today only — $25 local restaurant gift cards for $10

We’ve written about them before, but today (May 25) is Ten Dollar Tuesday at over at SoCal Gift Cards (part of the Los Angeles Newspaper Group, as is Dine 909).

All $25 gift cards are $10, and all other gift cards are 60% off. Of course, $10 for a $25 gift card is also 60% off.

Seems like they keep offering better deals.

Initially, the gift cards were mostly 25% off, then 50% off and now today they’re 60% off.

You’ve got all day today to save at this link or via phone before 2 p.m. to 877-525-8185.

Hangar 24 job fair this Sunday

According to this article from the Redlands Daily Facts, fast-growing, ber-popular Redlands craft brewery Hangar 24 is hiring at least six people through a job fair.

According to the brewery’s website, they will be hiring a minimum of four beer tenders, along with two tour guides.

The positions are all part-time and hourly.

The job fair will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday (May 23) at the brewery, 1710 Sessums Drive.

Two other positions that the brewery is looking to fill, but not as part of the job fair, are cellarman and delivery driver.

For more information on both the job fair and the other two positions, click here.

It’s a shame they don’t have an open position for beer blogger.

Free McCafé Frappé samples! Free McCafé Frappé samples! Free McCafé Frappé samples!

McDonald’s has been promoting their new McCafé Frappés with a series of events throughout Southern California.

First up was Santa Ana last Thursday (May 6) , followed by the event in Riverside last night (May 11), which Dine 909 happened to spot on Twitter and stopped by.

For this final event, we’ve got a little advance warning.

It’lll be from 6 to 8 p.m. tomorrow (May 13) at the McDonald’s at 27774 Base Line.

Music will be provided by Power 106’s Flava Unit, and you’ll be able to sample both the mocha and caramel McCaf Frapps for free!

Last night in Riverside, there was also a steady stream of free food provided — McNuggets, fries and Snack Size Fruit and Walnut salads were handed out in Riverside.

They even had prize giveaways, including a $50 McDonald’s gift card.

The events are being promoted via Twitter, so for updates and more information, follow @McDonalds_SoCal on Twitter.

For information on tomorrow night’s “Tweetup,” click here.

Who knows…you may see us there.

70,524 boxes of Girl Scout cookies — none for you…

…unless you happen to be a member of the military stationed overseas.

That’s because the Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council has again teamed up with Operation Gratitude to send the sweet treats to troops based elsewhere.

It’s the fifth year that the two groups have combined forces to support the troops.

However, this is the largest one-time donation by a single council ever received by Operation Gratitude.

During their annual cookie drive, Girl Scouts ask buyers to support deployed troops by purchasing an extra box of cookies. The boxes are then delivered to troops all over the globe as part of their I CARE Cookie Program.

A team of Girl Scouts will deliver the cookies to the Van Nuys Armory on Saturday morning (May 15) and then prepare them for shipping.

Thanks and congratulations, Girl Scouts, and enjoy those cookies, folks! And please, stay safe!

Yamazato’s razed

So I was getting onto the 215 Freeway at Waterman Avenue the other day, and as I looked down, I spotted a big dirt lot where Yamazato of Japan once stood.

No more sushi bar. No more teppan grill. No more funky water wheel out front.

No more Chinese restaurant stashed away in back.

Yamazato’s closed back in December 2008 and the restaurant had stood vacant since then.

Now it’s gone, but what will take its place? A new restaurant? Or just more parking lot for the Hilton?

My guess is the latter.

I need Frappuccino for…

…half-price!

How else would you complete that sentence?

This seems to be the time for frozen coffee drinks. Tomorrow night The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is giving away 12-ounce Ultimate Ice Blended drinks, and from 3 to 5 p.m. every day until May 16, Starbucks is offering half-price Frappuccinos during their “Happy Hour.”

Of course, Starbucks’ “Happy Hour” is technically two hours, but we’re not complaining.

Not too many restrictions on this one…one per customer and this offer can’t be combined with any other offers or discounts.

For more details on Starbucks’ half-price Frappuccino “Happy Hour,” click here.

Inland Empire Starbucks are, well, pretty much everywhere.

Free Ultimate Ice Blended! Free Ultimate Ice Blended! Free Ultimate Ice Blended!

As you might be able to tell from the headline above, someone is giving away an Ultimate Ice Blended, whatever that is.

Well, that someone is The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and an Ultimate Ice Blended is their frozen coffee drink.

From 4 to 7 p.m. tomorrow night (May 11), you’ll be able to walk in to a participating Inland Empire Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf store and walk out with a complementary 12-ounce Ultimate Ice Blended drink during their “Ultimate Summer Open House.”

Your options: Ultimate Honey-Kissed, Ultimate Caramel or Ultimate Dark Chocolate.

Of course, there are restrictions. The free offer is not valid at locations in Ralphs stores, in casinos, on campus or in airport locations (sorry, LA/ONT flyers!). Oh, and one per customer, please!

Inland Empire Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf locations include Redlands, Fontana, Riverside, Rancho Cucamonga, Claremont and Chino Hills.

For more information on the offer, click here.

Just in case you can’t get enough blended ice coffee drinks, click here for another offer.

Thanks to the oh-so-mysterious e for tipping us off on this!

Jamba Juice celebrates its 20th anniversary with weekday deals

Jamba Juice continues to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its founding in San Luis Obispo with different “Feel Good” specials each weekday.

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  • Mondays bring “Ideal Meal Monday,” with $3 12-ounce Ideal Meals.
  • Tuesdays bring “Buy Two Tuesday,” with $1 off a second item of equal or lesser value.
  • Wednesdays bring “Wake Up Wednesday,” with $2 steel cut oatmeal.
  • Thursdays bring “Tasty Thursday,” with $1 baked goods with purchase of a menu drink.
  • Fridays bring “All Fruit Friday,” with $3 All Fruit Smoothies.

Saturdays and Sundays bring…nothing.

Jamba Juice locations can be found throughout the Inland Empire. The specials are good through the end of May at participating locations.