Ocean Beach's Surf Rider Pizza Continues San Diego Expansion Under The Patio Group Ownership

March 22, 2018

After being purchased by San Diego's The Patio Group in 2016, Surf Rider Pizza Co. will continue to expand this year with new locations set to debut in Pacific Beach's Crown Point area and La Mesa, alongside a newly remodeled eatery with rooftop dining and ocean views in Mission Beach.

San Diego hospitality and real estate firm The Patio Group (The Patio on Lamont, The Patio on Goldfinch, Fireside by The Patio, Harvest by The Patio) purchased the Surf Rider Pizza Cafe brand in early 2016. The original location of the pizza and beer house was opened at 2163 Abbott Street in Ocean Beach in Summer 2010 by Hilary Rossi, who was appointed to Director of Food and Beverage at The Patio Restaurant Group in conjunction with the purchase. Surf Rider Pizza Co. opened a second location with rooftop dining at the former Saska's Sushi Lounge building at 3770 Mission Boulevard in Mission Beach in late Spring 2017, which closed earlier this year for renovations and the addition of necessary kitchen equipment. The 1,890 square-foot Mission Beach location will reopen this summer with a full menu, wine & beer,  indoor bar, upper outdoor rooftop bar, and pet-friendly patio.

Artistic rendering for Crown Point location

"It was always important to me to bring the same East Coast pizza experience I grew up with to the West Coast," says Surf Rider founder and The Patio Group’s Senior VP of Food and Beverage Hilary Rossi. "We’re excited that the Surf Rider family is growing into San Diego neighborhoods that we love."

Artistic rendering for La Mesa location

Surf Rider Pizza Co. will open two new locations this year. A take-out and delivery-only version will open as early as this Summer in the space that the company last used for an outpost of its fast-casual The Patio Express marketplace at 3453 Ingraham Street in Crown Point. A 2,200 square-foot Surf Rider Pizza Co. will also unveil in La Mesa as early as this Fall. Previously reported to be a joint venture project with luxury condominiums to be installed at 8381 La Mesa Boulevard, plans have changed for the La Mesa location and it will now feature an onsite bakery, two outdoor patios, an indoor bar, and an outdoor bar named Himmelberg's, built as a tribute to longtime La Mesa resident, business owner and Patio Group friend Joey Himmelberg. All locations will serve a similar menu as the original Ocean Beach branch with whole pizzas, pizza by the slice, Philly cheesesteaks, strombolis, craft beer and freshly baked desserts.

For more information on Surf Rider Pizza, visit surfrider.pizza.