By Sam Richards

Staff writer

Friday, December 5 (9:00 a.m.): While they understand change is difficult ‒ in this case, involving the departure of a popular longtime restaurateur ‒ two members of the RWC Board say the upcoming expansion of food service offerings within the gates is what most Rossmoorians want.

“We found out what residents expect, and they want more services,” said Leanne Hamaji, Board president. “And we didn’t do this is a vacuum.”

The first thing residents will get in this acceleration of food services is the closure of the Creekside Grill and Bar for several weeks in early 2026 for renovations, and a new operator for that space, Rodney Worth, starting after those renovations are complete. Worth already operates several area restaurants, including The Little Pear in Walnut Creek, the Peasant’s Courtyard in Alamo, the Peasant & The Pear in Danville and the Bourbon Pear in Livermore; he’s also the executive chef.

“We realize change is difficult, but we went to focus groups, did surveys, and we think this should please most people,” fellow Board member Dwight Walker said. After all, he said, food service “could very well be the most important amenity in Rossmoor.”

Of Worth, Walker added, “He knows the area; he’s very much in tune with the 680 corridor. He’s constantly in touch with what his patrons want, and he’s hands-on. He’s making sure his customers are happy.”

Walker and Hamaji have some ideas as to what will make Rossmoor customers happy, after the results of a RWC food and beverage study that began in April 2024. The study idea was approved in late 2023, with Newport Beach-based Synergy Restaurant Consultants chosen to guide RWC through all phases of the process. Both praised Synergy’s involvement with Rossmoor’s efforts.

“It was important to get a cross-referenced opinion about what (Rossmoor) residents want,” Hamaji said. “We were able to connect with people who knew about the food service industry; Synergy is in touch with that industry.”

Synergy also helped orchestrate those focus groups, surveys and other methods for picking Rossmoorians’ brains about what kinds of food service they want.

“People in Rossmoor love to gather; they want to get together,” Walker said. “And they want a good cup of coffee.”

Having informal places to get together, to enjoy a cup of coffee, perhaps enjoy a less formal meal than is now available, or a mobile cart providing coffee, pastries, drinks and the like ‒ “That was a big part of the Request for Proposals” that went out to prospective food service partners in July.

“When you’ve got a mah jongg gathering at 10 a.m. and you need a coffee, you’ll be able to do that,” Walker said.

Rossmoor hasn’t had such an informal coffee/food vendor since Kairi’s Kitchen inside the Redwood Room at Gateway closed during the COVID pandemic.

Worth’s proposal to become a partner with RWC in food service offerings was selected from among four finalists, each of whom had their strengths, Walker said. Another of those finalists was Stan Gedeon, the longtime operator of Creekside Grill and Bar.

“He took care of an important amenity for us,” Walker said. Added Hamaji, “I applaud Stan ‒ he helped create community here.”

Hamaji and Walker both know Gedeon and his restaurant have a large and loyal following. They expect a measure of backlash to the change but hope that what’s to come will convince residents that the Board’s decision was the correct one.

“We know not everyone will be happy,” Hamaji said, “but we encourage people to give it a chance.”