This Beloved Orange County Restaurant Is Closing After Serving 50 Years Of Mai Tais

The beloved Dana Point edifice Wind & Sea will beryllium closing Sept. 15 aft 54 years.

The waterfront edifice was opened successful 1972 by Robert Mardian, a Stanford postgraduate who abandoned his plans to prosecute a profession arsenic a lawyer to alternatively participate nan edifice business. Wind & Sea soon became an Orange County staple, serving seafood and its self-proclaimed “best mai tai successful nan world” connected Dana Point Harbor.

The restaurant’s building is group to beryllium demolished soon aft its last time of cognition arsenic portion of nan $600-million revitalization task that will modernize nan harbor and bring caller restaurants, hotels and shops.

The closure was announced successful a station by Wind & Sea connected Instagram past week.

“While our hearts are heavy, we are filled pinch immense gratitude for nan unthinkable travel we’ve been fortunate capable to stock pinch you,” nan station said. “To our guests: Thank you for welcoming america into your lives and becoming portion of our family.”

The station has amassed much than 1,200 comments crossed Instagram and Facebook from longtime customers upset by nan news.

“Tragic. I understand modernizing Dana Point Harbor, but I don’t support losing nan businesses that made it worthy visiting successful nan first place,” 1 commenter wrote.

“Shame connected Dana Point,” different said.

Wind & Sea said successful a remark it would stock its mai tai look connected its societal media accounts earlier closing.

A authorities filing this week revealed 198 labor will beryllium laid disconnected erstwhile nan edifice closes connected Sept. 15.

Mardian closed his different Dana Point Harbor restaurant, Harpoon Henry’s, successful August 2025 aft 50 years of business. That edifice closed for demolition arsenic portion of Phase 3 of nan Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Project that besides led to nan extremity of nan Mariner’s Village successful early 2026.

As Phase 4 of nan revitalization task moves guardant this fall, Wind & Sea is not nan only longtime edifice shuttering.

Proud Mary’s, unfastened since 1977, and Turk’s, unfastened since 1984, are besides closing.

Two different Dana Point Harbor eating establishments will beryllium relocating: Coco Bloom Coffee is moving to Newport Beach, and Frisby Cellars Winery will run retired of its location successful Rancho Mission Viejo.

While nan early of these restaurants is uncertain, Dana Point Harbor Partners are negotiating imaginable opportunities for aft nan completion of nan project. “The businesses impacted by nan adjacent shape of building stay successful ongoing discussions pinch Burnham-Ward Properties’ guidance and leasing teams regarding opportunities wrong nan completed harbor project,” said a spokesperson for Dana Point Harbor Partners successful a statement. “Interim impermanent locations are besides nether consideration.”

The Dana Point Marina Inn was group to beryllium demolished and replaced by 2 caller hotels connected nan harbor, though nan ballot to o.k. nan leases has been postponed to adjacent month.

The wharf area of Dana Point Harbor will adjacent to nan nationalist for building Nov. 1.