Local Ownership Gives Togo's Special Flavor

There were high school songleaders who substituted the word "Togo's" for "Tesoro," and that was a nice touch. One of them was dressed as a sandwich. Sheer marketing genius.

With that as the backdrop, Mark and Linda Moran cut a ribbon Saturday on the first of three Togo's Restaurants the couple plan to open in south Orange County. Although the other sites are undetermined, Mark Moran said, there was no doubt that the couple would make their restaurant debut in Rancho Santa Margarita.

Currently residing in Ladera Ranch, they have lived in the RSM area since 1991, said Linda Moran. They love Togo's, and they wanted their store to be in the Plaza El Paseo.

The store is near the Canyon Fireside Grille in the storefront that used to be Lilies and Lilacs Consignment Boutique (which moved a couple of storefronts down). 

Togo's did brisk business on Saturday, and the Morans say business has been good thus far. They have been open about a month.

They said they look forward to being active in the community, and began by making a $250 donation to the American Cancer Society.

Watch their interview in the video.