Fresh Picked Retailer, Summer 2015: Slapfish

Photo collage of bottled sauces, sandwiches and fish tacos.

Slapfish

www.slapfishrestaurant.com | Village at La Floresta

The Village at La Floresta in Brea, Calif. is about to get a bit more “fresh” with the addition of modern seafood shack, Slapfish.

“We feel that the Slapfish concept will prove to be very synergistic with the Fresh Look restaurant lineup we’ve curated at La Floresta,” said Omar Hussein, Senior Leasing Agent at Regency Centers. “Slapfish does an excellent job of connecting to the community through social media and has generated a huge cult following. Their high quality buildout melds nicely with the look and feel of the center,” he continued.

 

Slapfish owners Andrew Gruel and Jethro Naude inside restaurant Image credit: Slapfish

Slapfish began as a food truck in 2011, by co-owners and self-proclaimed “ocean-a-holics,” Andrew Gruel and Jethro Naude. It gained so much popularity that its owners expanded business to multiple trucks in less than a year. In 2012, the trucks screeched to a halt, when the pair opened the first brick-and-mortar Slapfish location at Regency’s Newland Center in Huntington Beach, Calif. Slapfish now operates seven locations in California, Maryland and Dubai, with plans for expansion. Should you have a layover, Slapfish recently opened at Terminal 2 in the Los Angeles airport; the Baltimore airport location is slated to open later this summer.

While everyone is talking about farm-to-table, Slapfish brings a new perspective on the “boat-to-plate” concept by serving the freshest seafood sourced directly from well-managed and sustainable suppliers. With a rotating menu, some fan favorites include the Clobster grilled cheese (yes, grilled cheese with lobster AND crab — drooling is definitely allowed), the classic Lobster Roll and the award-winning Ultimate Fish Tacos. Not only is the food sustainable, Slapfish believes in eco-friendly packaging, offering biodegradable napkins and takeout containers. In fact, last year Slapfish was named to Food & Wine Magazine's list of the 7 Most Eco-Minded Restaurants.

Occupying a 1,694 SF space at La Floresta, Slapfish is scheduled to open in February of 2016. Get your bibs ready, Brea!