San Clemente Man Tells Council He is New Miramar Owner

Barry Baptiste Tells Council He is New Miramar Owner

JULY 17, 2013

Barry Baptiste, of San Clemente, speaks to the City Council on Tuesday about the ownership situation at the Miramar. Baptiste said he and his company have purchased the property from Marc Spizzirri following a lawsuit and the latter man’s bankruptcy filing. Photo by Jim Shilander

At the conclusion of a presentation to the City Council on potential redevelopment options for the Miramar Theatre and Bowling Alley, San Clemente resident Barry Baptiste dropped a bombshell on the body. He, not Marc Spizzirri, is now the owner of the Miramar.
Baptiste said as the result of a lawsuit against Spizzirri in 2009, he had been awarded a judgment against a limited liability

company controlled by Spizzirri, which gave him control over 99 percent of its assets, including the Miramar. The other 1 percent is currently held in the name of Spizzirri’s wife, but Baptiste said he expected to be awarded that final percentage next month. Baptiste said he had grown frustrated with Spizzirri appearing before city boards and being referred to in the press as the owner of the Miramar.

After a story in the July 11 issue of the San Clemente Times about a presentation before the Planning Commission, an anonymous letter-writer sent documents to the paper indicating Spizzirri had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In a phone interview, Spizzirri confirmed that he had indeed filed for bankruptcy and said his ownership status had changed.

Baptiste told the council he was presently working to get caught up on some of the development options for the theater and bowling alley.
After a presentation by design consultant Matt Jennings on potential uses for the Miramar, council members expressed hope that something could be done at the site.

Mayor Bob Baker asked Baptiste to meet with City Manager Pall Gudgeirrsson and other city officials to confirm his new status as owner, and catch up on development options.

Jennings told councilwoman Lori Donchak the cost of refurbishing the facility was “more than likely a couple of million” dollars, but would ultimately depend on what the owner decided to do with the property.