THE SALTED PIG

THE SALTED PIG CONFIRMED AS ANCHOR RESTAURANT IN TRANSFORMATIVE DOWNTOWN RIVERSIDE PROJECT

Jan 24, 2018

RIVERSIDE, CALIF. – Ratkovich Properties, led by veteran Southern California real estate developers Cliff Ratkovich and Rob Dodman, today confirmed that The Salted Pig will be the anchor restaurant tenant in a transformative new mixed-use project in the heart of downtown Riverside.

The Salted Pig will occupy 2,470 square feet of interior space, plus an area for outdoor dining, of the Imperial Hardware Lofts project along Main Street. The restaurant will be located on the ground floor behind the historic Imperial Hardware façade, which Ratkovich Properties is rehabilitating as a key design element of the development. The restaurant will debut this fall following the opening of the residential apartments in late spring.

“Fierro Foods started with the goal of bringing unique spaces, and one of a kind experiences, to downtown Riverside. It was immediately apparent that Ratkovich Properties was looking to achieve a similar goal with the creation of the Imperial Hardware Lofts; therefore, it only made sense that our two brands would find a way to collaborate and deliver a project that would serve that goal,” The Salted Pig owner Ronaldo Fierro said.

“The Imperial Hardware Lofts are a major first step towards turning downtown Riverside into a densely populated urban area,” Fierro continued. “With this in mind, it was apparent to us that we needed to be in a prime location to capitalize on the current and future growth of downtown. We are ecstatic to play a small role in helping the downtown area reach its full potential as an entertainment destination, and believe that IHL is an ideal location for us to do just that.”
The Salted Pig was established by Fierro seven years ago within the Courthouse District of downtown Riverside. It was considered a pioneering effort at the time, and the restaurant has become one of the most successful and sought-after destinations in the downtown area.

“Having the Salted Pig as our first commercial lease at IHL comes as no surprise considering Ronaldo's early adopter history in Riverside,” Dodman said. “When the Salted Pig first opened in the Courthouse District, it was a bold step and skeptics opined that it was premature for downtown. Ronaldo proved the doubters wrong; Riverside was ready then — and it is now — for another bold move: bringing this landmark brand to the historic Imperial Hardware Lofts building. We are so excited to see Ronaldo make this commitment, and we know it will be a resounding success as well as serving as a terrific amenity for our residents."

The six-story Imperial Hardware Lofts project has topped-out with 89 apartment lofts including studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units located at the intersection of Main Street and University Avenue. It is a half block from the historic Mission Inn and one block from City Hall.

The project will be the first of its kind appealing to the new downtown Riverside resident searching for the best of urban living. The units have dramatic views of the historic Mission Inn, the skyline of downtown, Mount Rubidoux and the surrounding San Gabriel Mountains. The project is rich in amenities including The Deck, which includes a pool, spa, fitness center, gourmet kitchen, community lounge, game area, grill stations and fire pits, and The Roof sky lounge which has panoramic views, outdoor lounge, fire pit and dog park.

The development is a joint venture of Ratkovich Properties and The Owl Companies, a multi-generational, privately-held real estate investment and development company. Both companies are based in Irvine. Ratkovich Properties and The Owl Companies will be breaking ground next month on Main & 9th, a sister project to IHL. More information on that project is available on Ratkovich Properties' website: http://www.ratkovichproperties.com/

In related news, Ratkovich Properties will be the recipient of the Riverside Downtown Partnership's Business Activity Award at the 31st Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony on Feb. 21.