Monica’s Riverview is located 1 I (eye) Street on the pier in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. For menu and more information see www.visitmonicas.com.

Join former 49er Jeremy Newberry for Newberry’s B.L.O.C.K. 2025 Toy Drive & Car Show! Sunday, Dec. 14. 11am– 3pm at Lumpy’s Diner at 5891 Lone Tree Way in Antioch.

Your $25 donation or unwrapped gift for a child gets you a delicious barbecue lunch by Kinder’s BBQ and entrance to the So-Low Riderz Car Show.

If you’re unable to make it, we also accept Venmo donations @NewberrysBlock we’re a 501c3 organization 100% of your donations go toward underprivileged children. Thank you.

Newberry’s B.L.O.C.K. is a non-profit organization providing underprivileged children the opportunity to participate in sports by sponsoring scholarships and equipment to youth programs Benefiting Leagues Offering Children Kindness.

For more information call (925) 783-6050, email newberrysblock@yahoo.com or visit www.facebook.com/NewberrysBlock.

Will have “the original menu…same feel, same ambiance. New bathrooms. More dining. More parking. New kitchen.” – Joe Martinez

New co-owner has history of buying, improving historic Antioch buildings

By Allen D. Payton

A post on the Mac’s Old House Facebook page on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, shared some good news for diners in Antioch and East County community.

It reads, “As most of you’ve heard…we have some exciting news. The legacy of Mac’s Old House will live on!

Mac’s has officially been purchased by Joe Martinez and Ron Harrison. We’re thrilled to share that their goal is to preserve Mac’s as much as possible, with some much-needed updates along the way. They’re aiming for a June 2026 reopening—exactly one year after closing!

As many of you know, the building needs major improvements, including bringing everything up to 2025 code. This is no small task, and we’re incredibly grateful that the new owners are committed to taking it on while honoring the history of the building.

When Mac converted his home into a bar on St. Patrick’s Day in 1956, and later a restaurant, none of us could have imagined how special this place would become. Gary Noe didn’t purchase the restaurant until 1983, and only then did the menu change into what everyone knows and loves today. Mac’s has needed a tune-up for quite some time and we’re all very excited to see the renovations and improvements (including expansion and more takeout options!!!)

Former head chef and manager Rick Cook will be lending his support and passing along all of Mac’s classic recipes.

We always did our best to keep prices as low as possible, and we know the new team is striving for that as well.

We all want the legacy of Mac’s to live on and be as successful as it can be. We’re looking forward to the future and cannot wait to see what 2026 has in store!!”

Martinez Offers Details

When reached for comment, Martinez offered additional details.

“I’ve been eyeballing this property. It’s iconic. It’s been in business for 42 years,” he stated. “I knew it was going to be a lot of work but a good investment for Mac’s Old House and the Antioch community.”

Asked about the menu he said, “We’re going to have the same menu.”

“Rick is going to go there and help with the recipes, show them how to cook the food to make sure we get everything right,” Martinez continued. “We have Sherry who runs Mel’s Diner in Antioch, she’s going to run it, basically. I told her the original menu, the original recipe. She can add a few things.”

About the improvements Martinez said, “We’re going to gut the whole thing. But it’s going to have the columns, the same feel, same ambiance. New bathrooms. More dining. More parking. New kitchen. It’s a substantial investment.”

“We want people to walk in and go ‘wow,” he stated.

A few new aspects will also be added.

“We’ll have a place on the side for DoorDash and we’re going to take credit cards,” Martinez added.

“It closed on the 22nd of June. So, I’m hoping to open a year-and-a-day after that. We might be ready a bit earlier,” he shared. “We’ll start with a soft opening.

“A couple of waitresses said they want to come back, one maybe part-time,” Martinez said.

History of Antioch Building Renovations

Martinez already has a history of buying and renovating buildings in Antioch, including five in downtown Rivertown.

The first one was the yellow painted “J. Ross building at the corner of G and W. 3rd Streets,” he shared. (That was the location of the first office for this reporter’s first newspaper, the Antioch Press).

Second was “the building where Blue’s Club was and Smash Burgers is located now” on the corner of W. 2nd and I Streets.

Third was “the old pool hall, the red brick building” on W. 2nd Street next to Smash Burgers.

Fourth was “the old Masonic Hall where the Antioch Armory is located, now” at the corner of W. 3rd and H Streets across from City Hall.

Then, he “bought and renovated the Casino Building” in Waldie Plaza, near the railroad tracks and river.

He likes to do mixed use with business below and apartments above, Martinez shared

“I’ve been downtown for 26 years, now,” he added.

Regarding the current renovations at Mac’s, Martinez said, “We have people driving by and they’ll honk and wave. We have people stopping by and sharing their stories, like one couple who said they got engaged there. It’s great.”

“It’s going to be nice. We’re excited,” he concluded.

Mac’s Old House is located at 3100 E. 18th Street in Antioch.

Donations, 10% of specific sales support effort through Dec. 31

By Allie Packer

Chick-fil-A Antioch at Lone Tree Way has partnered with Tunnels of Joy to bring the spirit of the season to life—one car at a time. The restaurant transformed its drive-thru into a “Tunnel of Joy,” complete with Christmas lights, festive décor and live carolers. This special effort is to support six-year-old Angelo Venegas, a local child bravely battling brain cancer. Guests will find QR codes on signage and in carry-out bags, providing them an easy way to donate for Angelo through Dec. 31. Additionally, the restaurant will donate 10% of the sale of all Peppermint Chip Milkshake sales to support Angelo during the same time frame.  

“We’re honored to partner with Tunnels of Joy to help bring light, hope and joy to families battling health challenges during the holiday season,” said Evan Hawthorne, local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Antioch at Lone Tree Way. “We invite our community to join us in celebrating the season and supporting a cause that truly touches the hearts of so many people in our community. 

“Tunnels of Joy” is a Brentwood-based neighborhood group dedicated to raising funds and awareness for pediatric cancer patients and their families. Tunnels of Joy creates holiday light displays, featuring a walking path illuminated by lights and festive decorations. 

According to a post on the Tunnels of Joy Facebook page, “The reason for The Tunnels of Joy Season…ways to donate:

1. Venmo Donations go directly to the family.  Just scan the QR Code.

2. Donation Boxes are located at Tunnels of Joy on La Costa Dr and Torrey Pines…you can also drop off letters to Angelo here.

3. Chick fil A on Lone Tree is donating a percentage of its Peppermint Shake sales to Angelo, now through Dec 31st.”

Chick-fil-A Antioch is located at 5705 Lone Tree Way in the Slatten Ranch Shopping Center, is open 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed Sunday.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Monica’s Riverview is located at 1 I Street on the pier in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. For menu and more information see www.visitmonicas.com.

^{Paid advertisement}

Proceeds to benefit Delta Veterans Group

Veteran’s Appreciation Night next Monday, November 10, 2025, from 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM.

Enjoy great food and drinks with Smash Burgers from Chef Jeff. Help us give back to our local heroes. 10% of all proceeds will be donated to the Delta Veterans Group.

The event will be held at HOPS AND GRAPES, 24 W. 10th Street, Antioch on the corner of B Street.

For more information about Delta Veterans Group visit https://deltaveteransgroup.org.

Just like the deck at Monica’s Riverview; similar to previous lease to Sean McCauley of City-owned land next to Smith’s Landing for new patio

Will also discuss two ongoing lawsuits

By Allen D. Payton

During a Closed Session meeting beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, the Antioch City Council will consider the use of the City-owned parking lot at the north end of G Street by Sean McCauley, owner of the adjacent property at 113 G Street, which is planned to be a restaurant. The area for the proposed outdoor dining deck, like the one he built at Monica’s Riverview, is approximately 1,275 square feet.

Smith’s Landing Patio

Previously, the Council approved the rental of land near the Antioch Marina adjacent to Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill to McCauley for an outdoor dining patio for that restaurant. It is also approximately 1,300 square feet in size.

He said the “concept for the Smith’s Landing Patio took over three years to approve and plans were submitted for permits earlier this month. We are excited about it and wanted to share it with the public.”

“We are planning to open the patio in spring of 2026,” McCauley added.

G Street Parking Lot Needs Improving

“It will cost about $100,000 to improve the G Street parking lot,” he shared. The costs of the deck are separate and part of the restaurant improvements.

“There will still be parking there,” McCauley explained. “We’re only taking five stalls.”

The council previously rejected his proposal during their meeting on Aug. 9, 2025, he said.

Interim City Attorney Derek Cole reported out from that Closed Session meeting simply that “Direction was given to the City’s negotiators.”

Will Discuss Two Lawsuits

The Council will also discuss two lawsuits during the Closed Session meeting, including one by the California Resources Pipeline Corporation v. City of Antioch regarding use of the natural gas pipeline which was blocked by the previous council majority. The case is being heard in Superior Court in Contra Costa County. The other, a federal lawsuit against the City, six cops and former police chiefs, was brought by murder suspect Trent Allen and others. The case is labeled Trent Allen, et al. v. City of Antioch, et al., and is being heard in U.S. District Court Northern District of California.

Public Comment will be received on all three meeting agenda items before the Council adjourns into Closed Session. That meeting will be followed by a Special Meeting at 5:30 p.m. to appoint a new City Clerk and the Council’s regular meeting at 7:00 p.m. The meetings will be held in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 H Street, in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. They can also be viewed via livestream on the City’s website and the City’s YouTube Channel, on Comcast Cable Channel 24 or AT&T U-verse Channel 99.