Recently in Colton Category

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.

It's time to catch up on a handful of new restaurants I've noticed while tooling around the Inland Empire...

Late last year, a little bit of Norco moved into Colton as Norco's Famous Sixth Street Deli and Grill took spot occupied briefly by Submarina at 1231 E. Washington St., Suite C.

I haven't been to either the Norco or the Colton location yet, but according to their Web site, the May special is a chicken fried steak or chicken fried chicken sandwich, chips and a small fountain drink for $5.99.

That's either a lot late or a little early.

Also, another branch of Corky's Kitchen and Bakery opened up recently at 2019 N. Riverside Ave., Suite 11, in Rialto, just north of the 210 freeway.

I've noticed the Rancho Cucamonga Corky's while driving on the 210 and have been wanting to try it, but I didn't realize the most important part...Corky's is open 24 hours a day!

I'm always on the lookout for decent late night food, and Corky's is pretty well-reviewed on Yelp. I'm looking forward to giving the Rialto restaurant a try.

As you may have read in today's Biz page, Zendejas' Colton location has closed.

The restaurant had recently remodeled to expand its bar and add a second dance floor, which ran afoul of the restaurant's conditional-use permit with the city.

Colton Police ordered the establishment to cease its nightclub activities as of August 1, and the owner decided to shut down.

In other words, the restaurant couldn't survive solely as a restaurant.

Prospective diners were greeted by a hand-written note saying: "Thank you for your support.  We have relocated to 1970 Ostrems Way in San Bernardino."

Odd choice of wording, since that San Bernardino location has been open for years.

Personally, I can't remember the last time I ate at the Colton location. Or the San Bernardino location, which is only about a block from The Sun.

You can read Matt Wrye's full story here.

Zendejas' closing makes the third restaurant in that neighborhood that I've noticed has gone belly-up.