The Mitten Building providing extraordinary space for extraordinary events

A part of Redlands history, The Mitten Building is a step back into the elegance, of historic Redlands.

Built in 1890, the Mitten Building was originally one in a series of packing houses in Redlands. The brick structure remains untouched and speaks to the history of the building and industry. Stepping into the event center with its exposed rafters, beams and joists, visitors are transported into a graceful period of strength of structure. The all wood interior offers character and ambiance not found in sterile venues that tend to all look alike.

The multilevel interior invites people to move around, explore and mingle. Typically, the downstairs is set up as a reception area. Wrought-iron chandeliers descend from the Mitten’s 50-foot ceiling, and garlands entwined with twinkle lights run along every rail and banister. The mezzanine above has a beautiful narrow-slat maple floor, and its slender iron support beams are each flanked by two shiny brass lamps.

The Mitten Building’s Summerbell Ballroom, offers a more modern feel. Colored LED up-lights transform the walls. There’s also a granite-topped bar, a dance floor, and a lounge section with leather couch and bar tables. An adjoining patio provides an outdoor experience overlooking the garden.

Most recently The Mitten Building has opened for lunch, Monday through Friday, 11 AM to 2 PM. Overseen by executive chef Roberto Argentina, the restaurant offers sandwiches, soups, salads, and desserts. Complementing the menu, draft microbrew beer, handmade mixed drinks, wine and soft drinks are available. They bake all of their own breads each day and use local farmers whenever possible.

For your next special event, wedding or lunch date visit The Mitten Building at 345 North 5^th Street in downtown Redlands. Call for more information, 909 793-1294 or log onto, www.mittenbuilding.com.

Does your business employ at least one person? If so, you are probably covered by California’s new Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 which requires that California employers provide paid sick leave to most employees.

There are also new requirements for notice to your employees.

The Act took effect January 1st and has provisions for multiple penalties for employers who do not comply. The Seminar presented by Mark Edwards, Mirau, Edwards, Cannon, Lewin & Tooke, an employment lawyer with more than 32 years of experience, will explain the new law, and what your business needs to do to comply.

The seminar will take place Tuesday, February 3^rd, 7:30 AM at the Chamber office. Reservations are needed as seating is limited.

You cannot afford to ignore the new law!

Call the Chamber office for reservations, seating is limited.  793-2546

 

The Redlands Chamber of Commerce prepares an annual report which includes a review of the prior year’s activities, events, and accomplishments. The report is published for the benefit of its members and general public as a review of the progress made over the past year to advance the future visioning the Redlands’ business community.

We are pleased to present the following as a summary of the Chamber’s progress toward  strategic objectives during 2014.

Redlands Chamber of Commerce, Year in Review 2014

Overview of Chamber accomplishments;

• Maintaining 600 members
• Maintained successful Business to Business Network program
• Continued Speed Networking within the framework of Business to Business
• A member of the Government Review Committee sits on the City and Climate Action Task Force to effectively review the Community Sustainability Plan insuring the best interest of the business.
• Chamber staff serves on the on Senator Mike Morrell’s Small Business Advisory Council.
• The Chamber serves on the City of Redlands Disaster Council that will help businesses prepare for the advent of a disaster, and plan for recovery as well as act as a conduit of information to the business community in the event of a disaster
• The Chamber supported the City’s Alcohol Deemed Approved Ordinance, that provides an additional tool for the police department when overseeing businesses, new and old, that serve alcohol and the resulting behaviors.
• The Chamber has worked with the Redlands Conservancy on a marketing campaign to reach out to the development community interested in restoring and adaptively reusing commercial buildings, enhancing the current makeup of the existing inventory in Redlands, the result was a brochure that shows the kinds of opportunities available when locating and adapting buildings in downtown and historic areas.
• The Chamber continues the role of information disseminator as the Affordable Care Act became a reality in 2014, keeping members informed about the program, the California Exchange Market Place, and the numerous changes that have taken place over the course of the launch.
• The Chamber led the regional campaign opposing AB 2416, a bill that would create a new super-lien that would allow employees, governmental agencies or anyone authorized on behalf of the employee to file liens on an employer’s real or personal property, and/or property where work was performed, based on alleged-yet-unproven wage claims. A lien could be placed on an employer’s property and on the property where the work was done, in an effort to collect unresolved wage disputes. Residential remodel, tenant improvements, landscaping or custom home construction, delivery, service and more could have placed you in jeopardy of being woven into a wage dispute and consequently create a financial nightmare for you. The bill failed.
• The Chamber again took a position and rallied the effected non-profit organizations alerting them that the City Council would be again discussing the possibility of doing away with waiving “hard cost” fees for special events presented by local non-profit organizations.
• After serving as a conduit to the businesses in the Orange Street Plaza and the Redlands Police Department and developing a model for communication the Chamber continued to connect businesses and police throughout the city to discuss pressing issues; including pan handling, the civil rights of the homeless population, public services available, and proactive partnerships in crime prevention.
• The Chamber continues to work closely with lawyers and legislators to continue to stop the abusive attack on small business owners using the Americans with Disabilities Act and Unruh Civil Rights Act. After SB 1186 was past a new wave of offensive law suits have now surfaced and are plaguing our small businesses so further correction is needed. We are in the process of creating an information resource brochure that we hope to work with the City to include in all business license invoices, alerting the business community to the lawsuit attacks and what they might be able to do to prevent them.
• The Chamber Government Review Committee continues to monitor recently introduced Assembly Bills 52 and 54 advocating ADA reform to decrease the frivolous ADA law suits continuing to plague California.
• The Chamber provided a member to sit on the Redlands “Parklett Pilot Program”.
• The Chamber presented a live televised City Council Candidates Forum, offering insight into seven candidates vying for three seats.
• The Chamber is represented on a committee focusing on tourism that is establishing cross marketing efforts and casting an ever widening net to encourage visitors to Redlands.
• The Chamber sits on the Redlands Charitable Resource Committee, serving as a business representative to that organization.

Membership Services

• Continued discounted movie tickets program for chamber members
• Continued Office Depot discounted office product program to chamber members
• Offering a discounted Workers Comp Insurance Program that will allow Agents to offer a discount to Chamber members when shopping for Workers Comp insurance to qualifying businesses.
• Continued the prestigious Presidents Circle Program a unique and exciting opportunity for our local businesses, community leaders, and distinguished members offering;

“Extraordinary Benefits for Distinguished Members”.

• The Chamber identified and celebrated three “Top Chamber Businesses” in conjunction with Senator Mike Morrell’s office at the annual event held in November.
• Chamber facilitated 44 Ribbon cutting/grand openings
• Hosted the Annual Installation/Civics Awards dinner sponsored by Redlands Community Hospital
• Hosted the State of the Community Luncheon sponsored The Gas Co.
• Presented the fifth Annual Cruisin’ Cuisine
• The Chamber along with the Rochford Foundation, presented for the first time ever in downtown Redlands, Redlands on Ice, a synthetic ice rink that brought hundreds of fun seekers to downtown to enjoy the sights and sounds of ice skating in Redlands. Sponsored by The City of Redlands, Circa 2020 and Inland Presort and Mailing Services.
• Presented the second annual Redlands Chamber Night Light Run, sponsored by, Barich and Associates, Beaver Medical Group, Juice it Up, Redlands Fitness Training , Arthur Murray Dance Studio, JAMS Sportswear, and Redlands Blueprint and Commercial Press and Southern California Edison.
• Produced a Holiday Shopping Guide distributed to all racers and skaters and delivered throughout the region.
• Produced a new Business Directory and Visitors Guide
• Facilitate committees:
• Ambassadors
• Government Review
• Rise n Shine Redlands
• The Cruisin’ Cuisine Committee
• The Redlands Chamber Night Light Run
• Redesigned the Chamber e-newsletter, through new delivery system that can now analyze data, from accessing areas of interest, the number of “clicks” on each article, who opened the email etc.
• Introduced Wednesday morning member E-Blasts an opportunity for our members to E-Blast their message through the Chamber (Sold out).

 

 

 

 

BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS

Joyce Beauregard

663 New York Street

Redlands, CA  92374

Phone:  793-4211

 

BRENNA HAMRICK-STOTTS, DDS, INC

Brenna Hamrick-Stotts

1150 Brockton Avenue, Suite T

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  793-9711

 

C-21 LOIS LAUER REALTY

Janey Cole

1998 Orange Tree Lane

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  748-7026

 

CALIMESA COUNTRY CLUB

Bev Carlson

1300 3^rd Street

Calimesa, CA  92320

Phone:  795-2488

 

CITRUS PLAZA

Jennifer Rowe

27530 Lugonia Avenue, Suite C

Redlands, CA  92374

Phone:  562-948-4317

 

COLDREN’S CLEANING CREW, INC.

David Coldren

P. O. Box 8181

Redlands, CA  92375

Phone:  215-2533

 

CUTLER CHURCH INSURANCE SERVICE

Jack Lucas

201 Cajon Street

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  307-8500

 

DAN CARLONE CONSTRUCTION, INC.

Dan Carlone

234 North “D” Street

San Bernardino, CA  92401

Phone:  386-1828

 

DAN CROW

ASSOCIATE MEMBER

Redlands, CA  92373

 

EMPIRE BOWLING CENTER, LLC

Will Mossonette

940 W. Colton Avenue

Redlands, CA  92374

Phone:  793-2525

 

EVANS & CO HAIR COLOR & DESIGN, INC.

Cheryl Evans

101 South 6^th Street

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  793-1991

 

GOODWIN INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.

Glenn Goodwin

1806 Orange Tree Lane, Suite A

Redlands, CA  92374

Phone:  793-8118

 

HIGHLAND COMMUNITY NEWS

Rhonda Narvaez

27000 Baseline, Suite G

Highland, CA  92346

Phone:  862-1771

 

INLAND VALLEY BANK

Stephenie Shackelford

1200 California Street, Suite 240

Redlands, CA  92374

Phone:  583-9150

 

JANET FLETCHER

ASSOCIATE MEMBER

Redlands, CA  92373

 

LEONARD REALTY

Jack Leonard

6 North Eighth Street

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  793-2436

 

MICHAEL REYNOLDS

ASSOCIATE MEMBER

Redlands, CA  92373

 

REDLANDS ANIMAL HOSPITAL

Dr. Hanson Dusenberry

1093 W. Colton Avenue

Redlands, CA  92374

Phone:  793-2181

 

REDLANDS AUTO BODY AND FRAME

Tim Brown

705 W. Colton Avenue

Redlands, CA  92374

Phone:  798-1388

 

REDLANDS FOOTLIGHTERS

1810 Barton Road

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  793-2909

 

SACRED HEART ACADEMY

Angela Williams

215 South Eureka Street

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  792-3958

 

SPORTBALL

Lori Digulla

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  794-1761

 

STOR-N-LOCK SELF STORAGE

Del and Pam Armstrong

1006 No. Wabash Avenue

Redlands, CA  92374

Phone:  389-7867

 

SUPER 8 MOTEL

Vissal Patel

1160 Arizona Street

Redlands, CA  92374

Phone:  335-1612

 

TONYS SPUNKY STEER REDLANDS, INC.

Vangie Fernandes

1350 Industrial Park Avenue

Redlands, CA  92374

Phone:  792-6200

 

UNIVERSITY OF REDLANDS

Dr. Ralph Kuncl

1200 E. Colton Avenue

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  748-8390

 

YMCA OF THE EAST VALLEY

Darwin Barnett

500 E. Citrus Avenue

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  798-9622

 

Rosa Maria’s restaurants offer the authentic taste of Mexico

The Rosa Maria story begins with Jose and Guadalupe Robles, husband and wife.  The foundation for them to be in the food service industry started when they didn’t even realize what a talent they possessed.  Jose worked in the orange groves in Highland for many, many years. Guadalupe would prepare lunch (burritos) for her husband, children and even his co-workers.

After many years of working in the orange groves, they decided they wanted to open their own business.  They were going to open a bakery with another family member, but those plans didn’t come to fruition.  Jose and Lupe persisted with their vision of owning and operating their own business, so they changed plans and decide to open a Mexican restaurant.  They would sell what they knew best Lupe’s famous burritos!  And so, opportunity arose and the original San Bernardino location opened their doors on January 16, 1975.

Rosa Maria’s is now known for their authentic Mexican food.  Hand dipped rellenos, homemade tortillas and the signature garbage burrito are just a few of the reasons for their success.  A keep element to the on-going success of the family owned and operated business included all the kids putting in many work hours making Rosa Maria’s what it is today.

After thirty eight years Rosa Maria’s now has four locations in the Inland Empire. For the taste of authentic Mexican food you can always count on Rosa Maria’s. Catering is available for any special occasion. Both the restaurant and catering menus can be found of the website, www.rosamarias.com.

Stop by the Redlands location, at 1154 Brookside Ave. Suite AA Redlands, CA 92373 (909) 307-9077, the friendly folks will happy to help you Monday through Friday, 10:30 AM to 8:00 PM, Saturday 10:30 AM to 6 PM, Sunday 10:30 AM to 6 PM