Manresa’s David Kinch Plans New Santa Cruz Area Project

A $40 million housing and retail complex outside Santa Cruz in Aptos, the currently under construction Aptos Village, will get a boost from David Kinch, among others. The restaurateur and Santa Cruz resident behind three Michelin-starred Manresa in Los Gatos has signed on to the endeavor, where he’ll open an as-yet unnamed business. A representative for Kinch says no specific details on the project are available at this early stage.

The Aptos Village complex is still adding tenants, announcing — along with Kinch — coming locations from popular area businesses like the Penny Ice Creamery. Four restaurants and 15 shops will make up the complex in total, adding to an already announced location of the New Leaf Community Market, a grocer that operates in Santa Cruz and Capitola.

Kinch’s flagship restaurant, meanwhile, remains closed after it sustained damage in a recent fire — its second such incident in four years. Kinch’s other businesses — the Bywater, a New Orleans-inspired restaurant in Los Gatos, and Manresa Bread, his bakery with chef Avery Ruzick in Los Gatos and Los Altos, remain open.

Beyond the new Aptos project, Manresa Bread is also due for growth: A permanent location in Campbell (where the bakery’s monkey bread and more items have been reliable farmers market hits) is on the way.

• David Kinch to open Aptos Village restaurant [Santa Cruz Sentinel]