The 4,600 square-foot building at 2688 E Mission Bay Drive near Mission Bay Park acted as San Diego Visitor's Information Center for more than four decades before closing in 2010, but the prime bayside location will soon be revived to become Shoreline restaurant, an ambitious restaurant, coffee & juice bar, and private event space slated to break ground later this year.
Shoreline is the brainchild of owners Greg Van de Velde and husband-and-wife partners Bradley & Kristine Schnell. Van de Velde has over 20 years of hospitality experience in both the U.S. and Italy, including currently as a managing partner at East Village's Bottega Americano and a longtime former Maitre D' and General Manager at Mister A's Restaurant, so he will naturally be in charge of developing the restaurant concept. The Schnells, who are partners in their own design firm - The Playground Agency, which did the design work for The Patio on Goldfinch in Mission Hills and Chuck Alek Brewery & Tasting Room in North Park, will oversee the redevelopment and design of the historic space.
Founded in 1969, the San Diego Visitor's Information Center, which is located on East Mission Bay just south of De Anza Cove and north of Playa Park, claimed to be the largest and most visited visitor information center in California and generated income through referrals and advertising for local hotels and tourist attractions. The San Diego City Council terminated the lease for the center in the fall of 2010 and the space has sat dormant ever since.
For more information on Shoreline, visit shorelinemissionbay.com.
