Shimogawa Scoops

The Canadian owner of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the largest media organization in Hawaii, is looking to sell the the property that houses the paper’s printing press and distribution center in Kapolei in West Oahu. CBRE has the listing, which was just released:  http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1102006692645&ca=94d8b401-76bd-45df-b900-169eb9b4bfe9 Oahu Publications, owned by Canadian publisher David Black, purchased the property in 2010 for $32.9 million as part of an acquisition of Gannett’s Honolulu Advertiser by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

The TV home of “Magnum P.I.” was demolished last weekend in Windward Oahu. Here’s a photo shared with select media members of the demolished home in Waimanalo that was recently purchased by former President Barack Obama’s good friend, Marty Nesbitt. This is happening all the while shooting for a reboot of the popular show in Hawaii has been making headlines.

Longs Drugs, the largest drugstore chain in Hawaii, may be opening another store in Kapolei in West Oahu, according to public records. Longs Drugs filed a sewer connection application Tuesday with Honolulu regulators for a possible new location in the area. The CVS Health-owned chain currently has one store in the area at the Kapolei Marketplace and a pharmacy at the Kapolei Commons shopping center. Longs Drugs, which has a little more than 20 stores in Honolulu alone, also has many other stores sprinkled across the state.

 Mexico Cantina has closed its Ward Village restaurant in Honolulu after being open for about four years. The owners, who also head popular Mexican eateries in Kailua in Windward Oahu and in the Honolulu neighborhood of Kalihi, abruptly shut down its Kakaako location on the second floor of Ward Centre. It’s not known yet what’s replacing Mexico Cantina at this location. Three other Mexican eateries — Grand Leyenda Cantina, Pablo’s Cantina and Compadres Bar & Grill — have previously occupied this 5,360-square-foot space. Texas-based The Howard Hughes Corp. owns Ward Village.

Vera Bradley, the famous designer, maker and retailer of women’s handbags, luggage and other items, closed its Ala Moana Center location in Honolulu. The Indiana-based company is keeping its newer International Market Place store in Waikiki. It also has an outlet store at the Waikele Premium Outlets in Central Oahu. Vera Bradley’s Ala Moana store closure is part of the retailer’s plan to close more than a dozen locations across the country in the next two years after seeing a drop in revenues.

Joe Pacific Shoe Repair, the iconic shoe repair shop in Downtown Honolulu that has was founded nearly two decades ago is up for sale, Shimogawa Scoops has learned. Located in a very visible nearly 1,000-square-foot space on Queen Street, Joe Pacific is on the market with an asking price of nearly $500,000. Its owner, Robert Lopresti, is retiring. Joe Pacific, which used to be located in the nearby alley between Queen and Merchant streets, moved to its visible location in 2016. The popular shoe repair shop is expected to follow in the footsteps of the recent closure of iconic men’s clothing store Andy Mohan Inc., which was located for many years across the street from Joe Pacific at the Topa Financial Center.

The owners of Beer Lab HI near the University of Hawaii Manoa in Honolulu are expanding to Central Oahu with a new brewery and bar opening at the Ukee Industrial Court in the Waipio Gentry Business Park, Shimogawa Scoops has learned. The trio of Pearl Harbor nuclear engineers have filed permits with Honolulu regulators regarding its new location called “BLH Brewing LLC.” Beer Lab HI’s expansion continues the momentum the local craft beer industry has been enjoying in the last several years.