The founder of SoCal-born burger and beer chain Slater's 50/50 is about to bring a new concept to San Diego's Mission Valley. TBS Tavern is expected to open next month with a slow-cooked meat based menu from the chef behind one of Maui's most popular eateries.
After starting and selling a successful hot dog stand business, San Diego State University alum Scott Slater launched his first Slater's 50/50 in Anaheim in 2009 and gained an immediate following for a menu of bacon-infused burgers and a devotion to craft beer. The company grew to numerous locations in California with restaurants in Anaheim Hills, Huntington Beach, Rancho Cucamonga, Pasadena, San Marcos and San Diego's Liberty Station. In late 2016, not long after closing his S&M Sausage and Meat concept in San Diego's North Park, Scott Slater sold all six Slater’s 50/50 restaurants to Elite Restaurant Group with hopes of a future national expansion. The company opened a Las Vegas branch last month.
Upons selling his namesake chain of restaurants, Slater took a year off to spend time with family and has returned ready to start anew. He has recently taken over the 1,100 square-foot space previously occupied by The Remedy, adjacent to the Promenade Apartment Complex in Mission Valley, for the September opening of TBS Tavern. TBS, which stands for "tacos, balls and sliders," will have a menu centered around those three items prepared with low-and-slow proteins, as well as other dishes that start with the letters 'T', 'B' and 'S'. Leading the kitchen will be Chef Chris Mahon, who garnered a name for himself on the Hawaiian Island of Maui, where he spent most of his life and eventually earned a loyal following with his crazy-popular Shark Pit food truck that later went brick-and-mortar.
The 36-seat TBS Tavern will have a lounge area, pinball, and several televisions devoted to sports. Behind the bar expect 8-10 taps with local beers, a large menu of canned brews, and an extensive wine list with 20-30 options. The bar will also have a monthly-membership club that will cost around $40/month where members will be entitled to a drink every day. Scott Slater is also in the process of seeking a San Diego location for a more ambitious restaurant concept that will be announced later this year.
TBS Tavern is expected to open in early-to-mid September at 8555 Station Village Way in Mission Valley. For more information, visit tbstavern.com.
