Celebrating Small Businesses | |
Let's celebrate our small businesses!
National Small Business Week is May 4–10 and there’s no better time to show your love for the local shops, restaurants, and entrepreneurs that make Santa Ana shine!
✨ Shop local
✨ Dine local
✨ Support local
We’re visiting different Santa Ana small businesses every day and sharing their stories on our social media reels — follow along and discover some hidden gems! Want to learn more about why small businesses matter? Check out sba.gov.
Let’s rally around our small businesses and keep our community strong!
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Avatar Coffee Roasters
In October of 2022, Avatar Coffee Roasters opened its doors as the newest destination for the specialty coffee lovers of Santa Ana and the OC. Owners Kelly and Pavan Makker initially began their venture into coffee several years prior in 2019 as roasters of thoughtfully-sourced, specialty-grade beans. Soon after, they broadened their horizons by opening a cafe with the vision of providing an elegantly timeless space for guests to share in their motto: “ Peace and love shared over coffee ”.
With diverse backgrounds themselves, Kelly and Pavan have consistently placed a strong emphasis on cultural fusion. They drew on their Brazilian and Indian roots for the interior design and took inspiration from across the globe when designing the food and drink menus. They also strive to foster a strong sense of community by hosting a variety of events throughout the year, ranging from coffee education opportunities to community gatherings. The pair are hopeful to see the location continue to develop as a part of Santa Ana’s coffee culture.
📍 1951 E. Dyer Rd.
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Sister Cities Santa Ana & Sahuayo Business Expo
Our inaugural Sister Cities Santa Ana and Sahuayo Business Expo was a great success! Over 100 local businesses, 39 Mexican businesses and over 1,000 members of the public attended the three-day event March 28-30 at Hotel Zessa to see the variety of products and services offered by businesses from our sister city, Sahuayo, Michoacán, Mexico.
The expo allowed local businesses and entrepreneurs to explore new international business ventures and connect directly with partners, clients, and suppliers from Sahuayo. During the event, we set up over 200 Business-to-Business meetings between companies from Santa Ana or surrounding cities and businesses from Sahuayo. Our sister city specializes in leather work, much of which was on display, from sandals and shoes to belts and purses, along with other products including colorful clothing, hats, handmade jewelry and more.
Thank you to everyone who supported and joined the event. We look forward to doing it again, and even bigger, next year!
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Santa Ana GROW Conference
The 2025 GROW Conference presented by the City of Santa Ana and the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce highlighted new developments, businesses, economic growth in Santa Ana and a panel of four industry leaders on “Why Santa Ana?” This video was presented at the conference to showcase three major projects that are in various stages of development and the experiences that the developers had working with the City of Santa Ana to bring these wonderful additions to our community to fruition.
Santa Ana is open for business!
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Santos Pizza
📍 307 W. 3rd St.
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Egg Flip
📍 3017 S. Harbor Blvd.
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Taibat Noodle House
📍 1441 W. MacArthur Blvd.
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The Kickin' Crab
📍 518 N. Broadway
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Movita Juice Bar
📍 3372 S. Bristol St.
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Printing Nest
📍 1601 S. Grand Ave
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La Colmena (THRIVE)
📍 1901 W. Walnut St.
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Orange Claw Club
📍 310 E. 4th St.
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Business Start-Up Workshop
The City of Santa Ana’s Economic Development Division will host the Business Start-Up Workshop at Santa Ana City Hall on the second Wednesday of each month. The next workshop will be held on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM in Room 1600.
This workshop is beneficial to anyone interested in starting a new business or expanding an existing one in Santa Ana. You’ll learn about the resources available to help entrepreneurs and have the opportunity to get your questions answered by city staff as you begin your business journey. The workshop will be offered in English and Spanish.
For more information, please call the Business Hotline at
(714) 647-5477 or email at econdev@santa-ana.org.
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Step-By-Step Guide
If you are unable to attend our monthly business start-up workshop, we have a detailed step-by-step guide to starting your business.
Starting a business in Santa Ana is an exciting opportunity and the City is here to help you succeed. Whether you're opening a restaurant, retail shop, beauty salon, fitness studio, food truck, or launching a home-based service, Santa Ana offers a clear, step-by-step guide to get you up and running.
From choosing the right location and verifying zoning to registering your business name and obtaining the necessary licenses, this process is designed to be approachable and efficient.
Let’s walk through the essential steps to bring your business vision to life in Santa Ana.
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Free Business Assistance
Our Economic Development team is here to help our local business community. Whether you’re just starting a business, need help with a marketing plan, or have questions about growing your business, our experts are ready to provide guidance.
Stop by Santa Ana City Hall for Business Assistance Office Hours from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday through Thursday. This free service is your opportunity to get personalized advice and take the next step toward building your dream business.
Call the Economic Development Division at (714) 647-5477 for more information.
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Virtual Webinar for Small Businesses
The National Small Business Week Virtual Summit will take place May 6-7 2025. This is a free two-day online event featuring expert-led webinars, networking opportunities, free business tools and more, to help small business thrive.
Transform your business with cutting-edge strategies and valuable connections at the National Small Business Week Virtual Summit—your gateway to growth, innovation, and success.
Connect with like-minded business owners, receive real-time guidance from industry mentors, and gather resources specifically designed for small business success. Sign up today!
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Want to grow your revenue by 10–20% in 2025?
Join a free 6-month digital marketing & AI program from OCIE SBDC + City of Santa Ana!
✅ $100K+ revenue
✅ Based in OC, Riverside,or SB County
✅ Ready to grow
📅 Scan the QR or email roger.lloyd@ociesbdc.org to apply!
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Do you need seed funds to launch your worker-owned business?
Cooperación Santa Ana is distributing grants from $5,000 to $30,000 to worker cooperatives based in Orange County, California this year.
Register to receive more information about the application process and rubric elements during their upcoming virtual info session on Thursday, May 15 at 6pm.
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Cito de Mayo
Get ready for a fun day in Downtown Santa Ana as Cerveza Cito's anticipated Cito de Mayo event returns!
Join them on Saturday, May 3 from 2–10 PM at 4th & Birch Street for an unforgettable day packed with:
🌮 Food Trucks
🍺 Craft Beer
🎶 Live Music
🎭 Lucha Libre
🎨 Local Vendors & Art
Don’t miss the energy, the flavor, and the community vibes that only Downtown Santa Ana can bring. Mark your calendar, gather your crew, and let’s party! 🥳
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Cinco de Mayo Festival
Join the Bowers Museum on Sunday, May 4, 11am-3pm as they kick off the Cinco de Mayo spirit a day early with vibrant music, delicious food, and cultural celebration! Enjoy music by Mariachi Anacatlan, a performance by Relampago del Cielo and dance to the rhythms of boleros, salsas, and cumbias by Los Cuates.
This festival includes a special student art exhibition by Santa Ana Unified with generous funding provided by the California Cultural Heritage Endowment.
This event is held in conjunction with Arts Orange County and Orange County Department of Education’s 2025 Imagination Celebration.
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Help Shape Santa Ana's Future
Join the city's Planning Division in May for the second round of workshops dedicated to updating the City's rules for new development, the Zoning Code!
This is your chance to get involved, learn, and provide input about the rules that shape how our neighborhoods and business districts grow and thrive. The upcoming workshops will explore key topics:
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May 13 and 22: Residential/Industrial Interface & Nonconformities
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May 14 and 31: Development & Design Standards
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May 21 and 29: Use Regulations & Streamlining Processes
Please click on the link below for additional details for locations and times of workshops.
Your participation is invaluable as we work together to create a 21st-century and user-friendly Zoning Code to achieve the General Plan vision. We look forward to a productive and collaborative discussion with you!
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Download the mySantaAna App
The mySantaAna mobile app puts the power of the Santa Ana city government in the palm of your hand!
Business owners and residents with an iPhone or Android smartphone can download the mySantaAna application for free allowing them to quickly and easily report issues with photos to the City for clean-up.
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MacArthur Plaza: 2 Hutton Centre Drive, Suite 200
Property Highlights:
- 2,160 sq. ft. of retail space
- Former "Rubios" space for lease
- Co-tenancy with Starbucks
- Private patio, full kitchen with 15' hood, and walk-in cooler
- Close proximity to SR-55 highway
- Class-A office, apartment, entertainment, and hotel(s) within walking distance
Contact:
Kameron Graylee
kameron.graylee@avisonyoung.com
(213) 471-1052
| | To market your property for sale or lease, and to inquire about available sites in Santa Ana for your business, please contact the Economic Development Team at (714) 647-5477 or econdev@santa-ana.org | | |
The City of Santa Ana's team of Economic Development Specialists are here to assist you with tools and resources for your business.
For information about the City’s incentives, workforce training programs, site selection assistance, navigating City licenses and permits, and other services and programs, please visit our website.
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