A longtime California restaurant known for its waterfront views and famous cocktails is preparing to serve its final meals. The closure will mark the end of more than five decades in business and affect nearly 200 employees.
Wind & Sea will close in September
Wind & Sea Restaurant in Dana Point, California, is scheduled to permanently close on September 15, 2026, after 54 years at Dana Point Harbor.
The restaurant opened in 1972 and became a longtime Orange County institution, serving seafood, steaks, and its signature Mai Tai while overlooking the harbor.
The closure will affect 198 employees, according to a government filing reported by the Los Angeles Times.
The restaurant has continued operating at its harbor location while the area undergoes a major redevelopment project.
Harbor redevelopment is behind the closure
Wind & Sea’s building is scheduled to be demolished as part of the $600 million Dana Point Harbor revitalization project.
The multiyear project is expected to bring new restaurants, hotels, shops, and other improvements to the harbor. However, the redevelopment is also forcing several longtime businesses to leave their existing locations.
Wind & Sea’s owners announced the closure on social media in July, thanking customers for decades of support. The announcement prompted an outpouring of responses from longtime patrons who shared memories of birthdays, holidays, family gatherings, and other celebrations at the restaurant.
Other longtime restaurants are also closing
Wind & Sea isn’t the only longtime Dana Point Harbor restaurant affected by the redevelopment.
Proud Mary’s, which has operated since 1977, and Turk’s, which opened in 1984, are also closing as the next phase of construction moves forward. Another longtime restaurant, Harpoon Henry’s, closed in August 2025 after 50 years in business.
The future could eventually bring opportunities for some of the displaced businesses to return. Dana Point Harbor Partners said businesses affected by the next phase are in discussions about potential locations within the completed harbor project, including possible temporary locations.
For now, Wind & Sea’s final day is set for September 15, bringing an end to one of Dana Point’s most recognizable waterfront dining destinations.
Links on this page may be affiliate links, for which the site earns a small commission, but the price for you is the same
Leave a Comment