Storyliving by Disney has announced a wave of new dining and retail destinations for Cotino Bay Beach, Dining, Shops, and a waterfront town center in Rancho Mirage, California. The new businesses are scheduled to open in spring 2027.
Storyliving by Disney's move will introduce a diverse collection of six new experiences, including a Mexican restaurant called Asada Cantina + Kitchen, an artisan marketplace known as Mojave Flea Trading Post, an Italian concept named SottoSopra, a juice and coffee spot called Big Juice, a sustainable refill shop named It Refills, and a family-owned gelateria called La Dolce Piccola Gelateria. All of these destinations are set against the backdrop of Cotino Bay with its turquoise waters enabled by Crystal Lagoons technology.
Image Credit: Storyliving by Disney
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Branded Lifestyle Districts
- Entertainment companies are extending their intellectual property into residential-adjacent dining and retail hubs that blend placemaking, hospitality, and long-term fan engagement.
- Sustainable Convenience Retail
- Refill shops and eco-minded marketplaces within premium developments highlight how everyday sustainability can become a curated lifestyle amenity for affluent communities.
- Immersive Waterfront Commerce
- Artificial lagoon technology is reshaping mixed-use destinations by turning scenic water features into anchors for restaurant, retail, and leisure experiences.
Where This Applies
- Hospitality
- Branded restaurants, cafes, and dessert concepts within master-planned communities create new models for experiential dining tied to entertainment-driven environments.
- Retail
- Curated artisan markets and refill-focused stores signal opportunities for specialty retail formats that prioritize local discovery, sustainability, and destination appeal.
- Real Estate Development
- Mixed-use waterfront town centers connected to beloved entertainment brands demonstrate how developers can differentiate residential communities through immersive commercial ecosystems.
