We’re honored to have the support of Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill in Antioch as they recognize the hard work Delta Veterans Group is doing for our Bay Area community.
On Monday May 26 from11am- 9pm, 15% of the day’s food and beverage sales will be donated to Delta Veterans Group to assist their efforts to help our local veterans during the Stand Down on the Delta later this year.
The Four Seasonings Steakhouse owners (center L-R) Betty Ware, Erica and William Foster (with scissors) are joined by building owner Sean McCauley (back left) Chamber President Teresa Glenn and Mayor Ron Bernal (back right), plus, family members, staff and others for the ribbon cutting on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Photos by Allen D. Payton
From food truck success to brick-and-mortar dream come true, owners excited about Rivertown Dining District’s newest restaurant; working to earn a Michelin Star
By Allen D. Payton
The Four Seasonings Steakhouse owners (L-R) Betty Ware and Erica and William Foster in front of their new restaurant at 304 G Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. Herald file photo.
On Saturday, April 5, 2025, the three owners of The Four Seasonings Steakhouse celebrated the new Rivertown restaurant with family, friends, Mayor Ron Bernal and members of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce and business community. The team of William and Erica Foster, and her mother Betty Ware, cut the ribbon to officially open their business. Ware’s husband, James, was also in attendance.
But before that occurred, a few remarks were offered.
“I’d just like to thank you for opening this amazing restaurant, it’s a beautiful asset to our city,” said the mayor. “It’s a real steakhouse like you’d have to go to San Francisco to get. It’s super exciting…this is really, really a big deal for Antioch to have a world class steakhouse. We’re excited to see you succeed and help our downtown community, as well.”
Teresa Glenn, President of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce, “I wanted to congratulate you on this wonderful ribbon cutting. This business is amazing…it looks amazing. I’ve eaten here; the food is great. You guys are going to thrive, here. Good luck to you guys. We’ll be here to support you through the years.”
William then shared a few thoughts of appreciation saying, “On behalf of my family, I’d like to thank every single person here, all the people who came during our soft opening and went through our growing pains. We thank you for having grace and came back to us.”
He then thanked his next door, business neighbor Debbie Blaisure of Rivertown Treasure Chest, “for introducing us to everybody” and building owner Sean McCauley, “for opening up the space to us and letting us to be the operators, here.”
“We just appreciate everybody here and thank you, so much,” Foster concluded.
McCauley then shared his thoughts saying, “I’d just like to say that these entrepreneurs are the vision that Antioch has. I fell in love with this family when they came in our door for the first time and wanted to be in downtown.”
“It’s been two years…of hard work, dedication and these guys persevered,” he continued. “And it’s a wonderful story.” (See video)
That was followed by the ribbon cutting and inviting guests inside to sample some of the restaurant’s food.
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening of The Four Seasonings Steakhouse on April 5, 2025. Photos by Allen D. Payton
From Food Truck Success to Brick-and-Mortar Dream Come True
William and Erica shared of their background in the food business as well as their goals and dreams, and why they located in Antioch.
“The restaurant has always been a dream of my wife because someone told her she’d never have,” he said. “She likes to prove people wrong and accepts all challenges.”
“We started with a food truck 10 year ago. We started doing well in our sixth year and the lines were really long,” William stated.
Asked why they chose to locate in Antioch, William said, “We were with Foodie Land up and down the coast and in Vegas. We got too successful. People started taking our recipes. Plus, our son was in school. So, we decided to do brick-and-mortar and looked for a place.”
We went to Walnut Creek first. But we didn’t think that would be a good fit,” he continued. “Then we looked at the closed Mel’s Diner at The Streets of Brentwood. But they were asking too much for rent. So, we came to downtown Antioch and called SMI (McCauley’s company).”
“What really got me was the waterfront here,” William stated. “It reminded me of Monterey and San Mateo with mom-and-pop restaurants along their waterfronts. We met with Sean and this has been a year-and-a-half in the making.”
Erica is the Operations Manager, Betty is in charge of the front of the house and William is the Executive Chef and runs the kitchen.
Asked about their menu items, he said, “The recipes have come from traveling a lot as a military brat. I used spices from around the world. When used in moderation it creates a great flavor profile for your palate.”
“Our signature dish is our lamb chops. They’re the biggest seller. People say they’ve never tasted any like mine before because they don’t taste gamey,” William explained. “That’s due to the mix of spices. You really need to know what you’re doing to keep it from tasting gamey.”
The 4 Seasonings, of course, offers six different types of steaks.
“Our best is the tomahawk. It’s huge. I haven’t seen anyone finish it yet,” he said with a laugh.
About his time in Antioch, so far William said, “My experience has been amazing. The people of Antioch have really taken to this place. Most of them quote that we really need our type of restaurant down here to restore the glory days of Rivertown. This was part of the pharmacy going back to 1904.”
About their future plans, he said, “Our goal is to be a staple of the community, if the Lord wills, and be here 30 or 40 years from now with people still enjoying it after I’ve retired and move on.”
“We do plan on opening two more locations. But we haven’t decided where yet,” William added.
Asked about the Michelin Star, Erica said, “I’d like to earn a star. The only reason I want it is because someone said I couldn’t have one.”
Guests sampled some of the food from The Four Seasonings Steakhouse menu during the Grand Opening. Photo by Allen D. Payton
About Michelin Stars
According to the Michelin Guide, “A Michelin Star is awarded to restaurants offering outstanding cooking. We take into account five universal criteria: the quality of the ingredients, the harmony of flavours, the mastery of techniques, the personality of the chef as expressed through their cuisine and, just as importantly, consistency both across the entire menu and over time.”
“A Michelin Star is awarded for the food on the plate – nothing else,” the Guide continues. “The famously anonymous Michelin Inspectors – all full-time employees who are former restaurant and hospitality professionals – make the decisions.”
According to Wikipedia, “The Michelin Guides…have been published by the French tire company Michelin since 1900…to increase the demand for cars, and…car tires, The Guide awards up to three Michelin stars for excellence to a select few restaurants in certain geographic areas.”
Erica’s background is in IT, for 20 years, and she has a bachelor of science degree in Computer Science and a Master’s in Information Systems.
“I’ve been an entrepreneur since selling candy in high school,” she shared with a chuckle. “Then designed websites during college.”
Asked her thoughts about Antioch Erica said, “I love Antioch. I live here. I’ve been here for about 12 years.”
“We want to be successful, stick around, and maybe open a second location,” she continued. “I really want a breakfast place. But steak is our first love. Breakfast is my second.”
Asked if William has her sample his recipes Erica responded, “Oh, yes. It’s been a two-way street on that. He’s been trying out his seasonings, and I was trying out our mac and cheese. It’s a completely different preparation process that’s true.”
“We tested our seasoning recipe on our parents and at festivals selling skewers,” she explained.
Her favorite dish is, “lamb chops second to scallops,” Erica shared. “I love the scallops.” Her favorite steak is the ribeye.
The restaurant also serves sea bass, lobster, salmon and a vegan mushroom steak, as well as appetizers including their California Crab Tower, Steakhouse Smoked Shrimp and Ahi Tuna. They also offer soups, salads and a variety of sides, plus, dessert.
“We’re happy to be a contributing member of the Rivertown community,” she stated. “All the store owners have been gracious. I really like the community they’re trying to build down here. We’re trying to participate in the events.
“I’m looking forward to more restaurants locating down here,” Erica added.
The 4 Seasonings Steakhouse is located at 304 G Street and open Wednesday through Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. To view their menu and make reservations visit www.the4seasonings.com or call (925) 732-7468.
Without a new buyer, the sun is setting on Mac’s Old House. Flyer and photo source: Mac’s Old House
Restaurant and property put up for sale
By Allen D. Payton
A 69-year-old Antioch institution and icon, Mac’s Old House, will close in June as owner and president Gary Noe and general manager and head chef Rick Cook have decided to throw in the dish towel and chef’s hat.
Locally famous for their dine-in, family-style prime rib and pasta dinners, as well as their very affordable cocktails, “The story of Mac’s stretches back to 1925 when Floyd ‘Mac’ McKinney built this house with his father. In 1956 he began to operate a bar out of a converted part of the home. He operated it for 17 years before selling it and retiring,” according to a report by onlyinyourstate.com. “The restaurant changed hands a few times after Mac, but today’s owner bought it in 1983.”
Noe and Cook, who have operated it on E. 18th Street, announced the closure in a post on Facebook Friday evening:
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the closing of Mac’s Old House on Sunday, June 22, 2025.
We know this may come as a shock, but after 42 incredible years it’s time to hang up our hats. In 1983, Gary and Rick came together with a vision to create the Mac’s you know and love today. Gary purchased this old house with the dream of bringing Bertolas style to Antioch, and Rick, who spent over a decade at Bertolas in Oakland, joined him. We were welcomed with open arms and were a success from day one.
We have weathered recessions, a pandemic, and ever-changing times, and through it all, we have been fortunate to serve this community. We could not have done it without our loyal customers and our dedicated staff. This little house has served well over three million meals, and we are grateful for each and every one of you.
Photo: Mac’s Old House
As difficult as this decision is, all good things must come to an end. Rick and Gary have dedicated more than half their lives to Mac’s—along with many of our staff. We are incredibly grateful for everyone who has been part of our Mac’s family over the years. Their hard work and loyalty is what makes Mac’s Old House so special.
We hope this gives you time to visit and enjoy Mac’s a few more times before we say our farewell. Your stories and memories mean the world to us, and we look forward to celebrating with the community that helped make Mac’s an iconic and loved institution.
There is still hope for the future—Mac’s Old House and the property are for sale, meaning it’s possible that Mac’s could live on with new ownership and management. For inquiries, please contact Tatiana Guzman, Chromata Real Estate at 925-783-2480 or tatiana@chromataRE.com.
Thank you all for being the most important part of our story.
With gratitude,
The Mac’s Old House Family”
Prime Rib dinner. Photo: Mac’s Old House
Their menu also includes Extra Cut Prime Rib, Ribeye Steak, fresh Salmon and Red Snapper, Calamari Steak, Grilled Chicken Breast and Ground Round. Mac’s dine-in meals include hot baked bread, Minestrone soup, salad, pasta and fresh sauteed vegetables. See all of their menu at www.macsoldhouse.com and go get some while you still can!
Dress like a cow to eat free on opening day at new location in the Slatten Ranch Shopping Center on Lone Tree Way
Breakfast begins at 6:30 a.m.
A new Chick-fil-A® restaurant will begin serving guests in Antioch on Thursday, April 3 at 6:30 a.m. Chick-fil-A, Inc. has selected Evan Hawthorne to serve as the local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Antioch at Lone Tree Way in the Slatten Ranch Shopping Center. The new restaurant brings approximately 100 jobs to the community.
To celebrate the restaurant moo-ving into town, Hawthorne and his team are inviting the community to show off their cow spots at the restaurant on opening day for one free entrée*!
New Owner-Operator Evan and his wife Lindsey Hawthorne (with scissors), her father Dan Kosin, the owner of a location in Fremont, and team held a ribbon cutting followed by a separate ribbon cutting with the Antioch Chamber of Commerce and local officials, including Mayor Ron Bernal and Councilman Don Freitas, during what was labeled a “small closed private ceremony” Wednesday, April 2, 2025. Photos by Zeno Group.
Whether it’s a full cow suit or a simple cow-spotted accessory, Guests of all ages are encouraged to join the fun. The celebration takes place on opening day, offering the community a chance to celebrate the iconic Chick-fil-A Cows seen in TV commercials and on billboards. Guests dressed in cow attire can redeem the offer of one free entrée inside the restaurant or in the drive-thru.
Located at 5705 Lone Tree Way, Chick-fil-A Antioch at Lone Tree Way will serve Guests Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., offering dine-in, drive-thru and carry-out.
Rendering of the new Chick-fil-A location in Antioch. Source: City of Antioch
Locally Owned and Operated • “Chick-fil-A holds a special place in my family’s heart, and I am forever grateful to my father-in-law for introducing me to the brand – it has truly changed my life,” said Hawthorne. As we open our doors in Antioch, my goal is to make a meaningful impact by bringing our community together through service and care. I look forward to mentoring future generations while serving great food with genuine hospitality.”
Evan started his journey with Chick-fil-A as a Team Member at his father-in-law’s restaurant in Fremont, California and advanced to General Manager. Today, he is thrilled to become the local Owner-Operator of the first Chick-fil-A in Antioch – a dream nearly eight years in the making.
Caring for the Antioch Community Hawthorne is committed to giving back to the Antioch community by: • Recognizing 100 local heroes making an impact in the Antioch area by providing them with free Chick-fil-A entrées for a year. • Participating in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table® program, which redirects surplus food to local nonprofits, helping to create over 35 million meals nationwide to date. • Celebrating the opening with a $25,000 donation from Chick-fil-A, Inc. to Feeding America to support local hunger relief efforts of Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, a Feeding America partner food bank, in honor of the new restaurant.
For the latest news and updates on Chick-fil-A Antioch at Lone Tree Way, visit the restaurant’s Facebook page and follow along on Instagram. For more on Chick-fil-A’s high-quality menu options, click here.
*Guests who dress in cow attire on opening day can redeem the offer of one free entrée inside the restaurant or in the drive-thru. Breakfast offer options are a Chick-fil-A® Chicken Biscuit, Egg White Grill or 4-ct Chick-fil-A Chick-n-Minis® . Lunch/dinner offer options are Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, 8-ct Grilled Nuggets and a 5-ct Nugget Kid’s Meal for kids. The offer is limited to one per person in cow attire, per day, while supplies last. Customizations are not available for this offer and no purchase is necessary. See the restaurant for more details.
About Chick-fil-A, Inc. Chick-fil-A, Inc. is the third largest quick-service restaurant company in the United States, known for its freshly-prepared food, signature hospitality and unique franchise model. More than 200,000 Team Members are employed by local Owner-Operators in more than 3,000 restaurants across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Chick-fil-A opened its first restaurant in the UK in early 2025 with the goal of launching five locations across the UK within the next two years. The first Singapore restaurant is set to open in late 2025, marking the brand’s entry into Asia.
Chick-fil-A local Owner-Operators live and work in the communities their restaurants serve, each supporting local efforts to address hunger, education, and making a positive impact. The family-owned and privately held company was founded in 1967 by S. Truett Cathy. More information on Chick-fil-A is available at www.chick-fil-a.com and @ChickfilANews.
Dotted red outline shows project location and monument sign located at entrance (inset). Source: City of Antioch
Majority of parcel that’s remained vacant for 20 years finally being developed, just not as originally envisioned
By Allen D. Payton
Starting their regular session an unusual 55 minutes late, the Antioch City Council met on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, and approved the new Lone Tree Retail Project on an unusual 3-2 split vote with Councilmembers Don Freitas and Monica Wilson joining in opposition.
The meeting began with a closed-door meeting at 6:00 p.m. before the regular session began at 7:55 p.m.
“We had a closed session before this. So, here we are ready to go,” Mayor Ron Bernal explained for the delay.
Acting City Attorney Derek Cole reported out from Closed Session saying, the Council met to discuss three items. The first was an employee evaluation. No reportable action. Second was conference with real property negotiators on the Sycamore Square police substation. The council gave direction to its negotiators. No reportable action. Third, was a “Qui Tam” including several agencies. No reportable action was taken, he stated.
Tenants and locations for the approved Lone Tree Retail project. Source: City of Antioch
Lone Tree Retail Project Approved on Split Vote The Lone Tree Retail project on three parcels totaling 3.22 acres next to the In-Shape Fitness health club at 4099 Lone Tree Way, is part of an 18-acre Master Planned Development, named Antioch Town Center, that had previously been approved in 2004, when Freitas was Mayor, for fitness, grocery and hard and soft retail uses. The health club was built in 2007, but the rest of the site has remained undeveloped.
Following council discussion with both Freitas and Wilson expressing their concerns that the project didn’t fit with what they had envisioned for the site, the Council voted 3-2 on Tuesday night to approve the project.
According to the City staff report, the new project consists of three buildings: a car wash, fast casual restaurant (aka Quick Service Restaurant or QSR), and combination, fast casual restaurant and retail building, along with associated site improvements Tenants with signed leases include Mister Car Wash, Habit Burger & Grill, Chipotle and to be determined retail. It will also include an adjacent multi-family residential project on the nine acres behind the project.
A representative of the project applicant, Architecture Plus, Inc. of Modesto, Paul Rothbard, former CEO and owner of In-Shape Health Clubs, said the larger restaurants suggested by members of the public won’t work at that location as those types of restaurants want freeway visibility.
At the March 11th meeting, he said they also had spoken with multiple grocery stores, but none were interested.
Street view renderings show the three retail project buildings with the future multi-family housing behind. Source: City of Antioch
“The rear nine acres are in contract with a developer, a local, Central Valley, to build a residential complex,” Rothbard said. “They’re ready to go…in Q3 of this year.” His father and partner on the project, Morton, was also in attendance at the meeting.
The son said they’re hoping to be under construction with the retail project by this August and have it completed by next July.
Rothbard also mentioned that the Chipotle will have a drive-through for picking up orders made on the app.
The Council then heard opposition from three members of the community during their March 11th meeting, with the main concerns being the fast food uses, no grocery store and no affordable housing included in the adjacent multi-family residential development.
Brian Heron of Fresno-based Commercial Retail Associates, who has been working on the property with the Rothbards since 2005, responded to those concerns, saying, “Under the previous PD..7,000 square-foot, sit down, in-house restaurants were suggested. Back then, we had agreed to get those 7,000 square-foot restaurants. Since COVID, it’s a whole new world. By and large those are obsolete concepts and…not willing to come to this location. And we have tried…many and many a time.”
The brands are “in demand in your community,” he added.
“We have tried getting all the grocers,” Heron continued. “We’ve spoken to Sprouts…to Nugget…from big to small. We went from Food 4 Less, down. We’ve tried Amazon. There isn’t a grocer for this site. We went into the next phase of that development, anchor…in 2008, 2009. The market shifted. Once again, change.”
During Council discussion, Freitas spoke first saying he was “very surprised”, “disappointed” and “very, very saddened.”
“We had a very, very grandiose view of this particular development…and I embraced it,” he continued. “I’m conflicted…because the world has changed, and we all are aware of that.” Mayor Pro Tem and District 2 Councilman Louie Rocha asked, “Are we really in a position that we can turn away business and revenue?”
District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker then said, “What the opponents are saying is ‘we don’t want this, bring us something else.’ But this is not our property. We’re talking to the actual owners who are trying to develop it because they lost money on it for 20 years for not being able to get a project completed.”
But then she switched things up and said, “My recommendation was to sell it to someone who wanted to develop more housing.”
Mayor Ron Bernal spoke next saying, “I was also surprised, not at the uses, but the way they’re oriented.” He asked if staff if there was an attempt to place the drive-through on the back side of the building. When you’re looking at 30 cars sitting up there with marginal landscaping, that’s a whole different looking project to me.
City of Antioch Associate Planner Nathan Tinclair responded saying, “One of the things we have to look at on this parcel is it’s already partially developed. There’s already this main entrance drive with the main, kind of circle with the access points to the adjacent parcels.”
He then shared his concerns with the project being presented to council “with a couple days’ notice to look at it on really tiny sets of plans” as well as landscaping, since “Lone Tree is lower and the pads, higher.”
At Freitas’ urging, the council voted 5-0 to continue the item until their meeting last night, March 25th.
A noise study was completed to confirm that noise generated by the new project does not create a significant impact, in excess of the noise levels permitted in the City of Antioch General Plan.
According to Tinclair, the Planning Commission at their February 19, 2025 meeting, with two members (Robert Martin and Christian Hills) absent and one vacancy, voted 4-0 to approve the Addendum to the Adopted Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration. All four members, Chair Kevin Riley, Vice-Chair Seth Webber, and Commissioners Jennifer Perez and Cortney Jones, voted in favor.
The IS/MND was approved by the City Council in 2005. But the motion to adopt the Final Development Plan, Use Permit and Design Review failed on a 3-1 vote, with Webber voting no, as motions require four “yes” votes to pass.
Nevertheless, on Tuesday, the Council majority of Bernal, Rocha and Torres-Walker approved all four requirements for development of the project, while Freitas and Wilson voted “No”.
In honor of our Past Distinguished Member, Romano Marchetti, the Kiwanis Club of the Delta-Antioch is proud to host our Annual Tri-Tip / Chicken Dinner on March 29th, 2025. This event will take place at the Veterans of Foreign Wars located at 815 Fulton Shipyard Road in Antioch, CA. Come on down for 5PM Social with dinner starting promptly at 6PM.
Enjoy Garlic Butter Tri-Tip, Roasted Herb Chicken, Bam Beans made with no meat, fresh Bam Slaw, a fresh roll with butter, and a decadent ice cream cup catered by Archie’s S and Q Smoked Meats. All this for $40 per adult and only $20 for children. Plus, you will have the chance to win many great prizes in our opportunity drawing, live auction and Silent Auction.
All profits of this dinner, Opportunity Drawing, and Auction contribute to the support of the local Kiwanis Community, Youth Charities, and local Scholarships.
