Smashburger opens in Marina Dunes Center

The long line at the new Smashburger restaurant in the Marina Dunes was full of people hungry for something new.

“It’s very scarce to find food out here,” said CSUMB student Alonzo Waters. “For example, you have to go 30 miles north or you have to go east to find food.”

The franchise’s unique take on the classic hamburger, fries and shakes satisfied CSUMB student Marco Munoz, who said he’s tired of all the usual choices.

“Usually it’s kind of a struggle,” said Munoz. “If I want to eat I’m usually resulting to Chipotle in Sand City or I try to find places such as Noodle Bar but it was getting pretty dry after a while.”

Smashburger is in good company. Blaze Pizza and Teriyaki Madness are some other restaurants opening up in the more than 40,000 square foot development.

“Having good chains nearby that is cheap and convenient for us to get to really is going to help with just finding some variety in our diet.” Said Ariana Mariotti of Marina.

“I think it’s gonna put Marina on the map,” said John Dick of Salinas.

Other than adding variety, local food critic Raul Nava said the chain restaurants reflects the fast casual boom erupting on the Monterey Peninsula.

“At a fast casual restaurant you kind of get that quick service mentality, you get that quick service experience,” said Rava. “But you get the high quality food that you might expect from a more traditional restaurant.

Nava said with so many foodies on the Central Coast, he thinks the new restaurants will bring people in to the new shopping center.

“We just kind of, I think as a community, are really interested in seeing what’s new, what’s coming up,” said Rava. “I think that definitely extended here. I think the hype behind In-N-Out was another great example of that.”

Other restaurants will open in December and January 2017.

ORIGINAL STORY: The Marina Dunes shopping center in Marina opened in stages. First came the stores. Later, there was a movie theater. Restaurants, however, have taken a while to appear.

On Wednesday, Smash Burger opened its doors to customers. It’s among a small handful of restaurants that have opened in what some people call a “food desert,” where dining choices are limited.

KION’s Maya Holmes reports tonight on the long-awaited arrival of restaurants in a food-starved corner of Marina.