San Diego's Station Tavern Launches Search For Missing Employee Mario Arias As Family Organizes Community-Wide Search Effort

A beloved San Diego neighborhood restaurant is asking the public for help after one of its own disappeared over the Fourth of July weekend. Station Tavern & Burgers has joined family and friends in the search for 35-year-old Mario Arias, urging the community to share information and assist in bringing him home safely as volunteers organize search teams across City Heights.

Is Buc-ee’s Really Opening A Location In San Diego? Mysterious "Coming Soon" Sign Sends Locals Into A Beaver Nugget Frenzy

A mysterious “Buc-ee’s Coming Soon” sign spotted in San Diego County has sent locals into full roadside-attraction panic mode, with many wondering whether the cult-favorite Texas travel center is secretly preparing to bring its brisket sandwiches, beaver nuggets, spotless bathrooms and supersized gas station chaos to Northern San Diego County.

San Diego Mourns Beloved Restaurateur Tony D'Amato, Founder Of Baci Ristorante In Bay Park

For nearly half a century, Antonio "Tony" D'Amato welcomed generations of San Diegans through the doors of Baci Ristorante with the warmth, grace and hospitality that made the Bay Park institution one of the city's most enduring fine dining destinations. Now, the community he helped shape is mourning the loss of the man who many considered the heart and soul of the restaurant.

Moonlight Stage Productions Brings Roald Dahl's "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory" To San Diego's North County As 45th Anniversary Season Continues

One of the world's most beloved children's stories is making its way to North County San Diego this summer as Moonlight Stage Productions continues its landmark 45th anniversary season with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, running July 8 through July 25 at the Moonlight Amphitheatre in Vista.

Months After Yelp Protest, San Diego Restaurant's Public Battle With Critics Reignites As Online Thread Sparks Fresh Controversy

Less than two months after drawing headlines for renaming its Yelp listing "DO NOT FOLLOW YELP – WE DON'T," San Diego brunch restaurant Heat Bistro has once again become the subject of widespread online discussion after a Reddit thread reignited debate over the Rancho Peñasquitos eatery's increasingly public battles with dissatisfied customers.

The Taco Stand Eyes Mission Valley As Shōwa Hospitality Continues Expanding San Diego Restaurant Empire

One of San Diego's most successful homegrown restaurant brands appears poised to add another location in the heart of Mission Valley as The Taco Stand continues its steady expansion while its parent company, Shōwa Hospitality, quietly builds one of the region's most diverse hospitality portfolios.

Remembering San Diego's Great Big Bay Boom Disaster Of 2012, The 30-Second Fireworks Fail That Became A Local Legend

It was supposed to be 17 minutes of perfectly choreographed fireworks over San Diego Bay. Instead, hundreds of thousands of spectators witnessed every shell launch at once in a deafening 30-second explosion that would make headlines around the globe. On the 14th anniversary of the infamous 2012 Big Bay Boom disaster, we look back at the spectacular malfunction that became one of San Diego's most unforgettable moments.

Whiskey Bear Tavern Abandons Planned North County San Diego Opening After More Than A Year Of Delays

More than a year after announcing plans to bring a fantasy-inspired tavern unlike anything else in San Diego County, Whiskey Bear Tavern has officially abandoned its long-awaited Oceanside opening.

San Diego Cuban Dining Destination Havana Grill Permanently Closes Clairemont Location, Citing Rising Costs And Loss Of Street Parking To Bike Lane

One of San Diego's most popular Cuban restaurants has permanently closed its original Clairemont location, with ownership pointing to a combination of rising operating costs, challenging economic conditions, and the loss of street parking following the installation of a protected bicycle lane along Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.

San Diego Restaurants Closures & Downgrades This Week (June 26 - July 2) Due To County Health Department Inspections

A Better Buzz Coffee location, the area's last remaining Marie Callender's, a branch of a popular fried chicken chain, an East Village urban park venue, and two upscale Carlsbad hotel properties are among the San Diego County restaurants and food facilities that faced temporary closures or downgraded health inspection grades between June 26 and July 2, 2026. 

FIRST LOOK: Telefèric Barcelona Officially Opens At Westfield UTC, Bringing Award-Winning Spanish Tapas And Paella To San Diego

One of the year's most anticipated restaurant debuts has officially arrived in San Diego. After months of construction, family-owned Spanish restaurant Telefèric Barcelona has begun its soft opening at Westfield UTC in La Jolla.

San Diego At Midyear: The Saddest Closures, Biggest Openings, And Most Popular Stories Of 2026 So Far

The first half of 2026 has been nothing short of unforgettable for San Diego. From heartbreaking restaurant closures to blockbuster openings and the biggest stories that had everyone talking, we've rounded up everything that defined the year so far. Our midyear recap features 35 of the saddest closures, 47 of the biggest openings, and the 15 most-read stories that shaped San Diego during the first six months of 2026. Whether you missed a major headline or just want to look back at everything that's happened, this is the ultimate look at San Diego in 2026 so far.

Federal Lawsuit Alleges Discrimination At 99 Ranch Market Parent Company, Which Operates Three Stores In San Diego County

One of America's largest Asian supermarket chains is facing a federal employment discrimination lawsuit that could have implications across California, including San Diego County, where 99 Ranch Market operates three locations. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has accused the brand's parent company of systematically discriminating against non-Chinese employees by paying them less, denying promotions, reducing work hours, and terminating managers based on their national origin.

San Diego's Hospitality Minimum Wage Jumps Again As Restaurant Industry Faces Mounting Pressure

Restaurant workers across San Diego are getting another pay raise, but many owners warn diners may soon be paying the price. As the city's new hospitality minimum wage officially takes effect, an industry already battered by inflation, soaring rents, insurance hikes and declining customer traffic is bracing for another financial hit. With beloved restaurants like Deckman's, Vin De Syrah, Hob Nob Hill, Angry Pete's and Denny's Point Loma all closing within the past month alone, many operators fear the latest wage increase could accelerate an already troubling wave of restaurant closures across San Diego.