New Restaurants & International Market Coming To San Diego's Mission Valley As Part Of Controversial Evangelist's Legacy Center

January 25, 2019

 A San Diego-based televangelist is in the process of building a massive multi-faith center in Mission Valley, open to the public, which will include a resort, restaurants, an al-fresco international market, a 4-D theater, a performing arts venue, and a replica of Jerusalem’s Wailing Wall. Get ready for The Morris Cerullo International Center, anticipated to unveil by year's end.

Famous lifelong Christian evangelist and San Diego County resident, Morris Cerullo, purchased the property that was then the Mission Valley Resort at 875 South Hotel Circle Drive out of foreclosure in 2011 with the goal of turning it into a religious Disneyland. In October 2017, the San Diego City Council approved Cerullo’s $130-160 million Legacy Center project by a 7-2 vote. Construction began in late 2018.

The Morris Cerullo Legacy Center is currently being developed for a late 2019 completion. The 18-acre project will be open to the public and include a five-building center, a 127-room luxury hotel complete with a spa and resort-style pool, a training facility for the Morris Cerullo World Evangelism ministry, a welcome center with a 28-foot interactive globe, a 4-D domed theater featuring biblical films, at least two restaurants, a 500-seat entertainment venue, an outdoor old-world-style international market, a Bellagio-like performing fountain, an underground maze of stone chamber catacombs, a dedicated museum and play area for children, cascading gardens designed by San Diego’s renowned Land Lab, and even a 100 foot long/16 foot tall replica of Jerusalem’s historic Wailing Wall. The project is being designed by architect Vincent Mudd. As part of the development, Cerullo will add one lane in each direction on Hotel Circle South and must maintain a count of vehicles that enter the facility’s driveway over the first three years.

The 87-year-old Morris Cerullo has been preaching Christian gospel since the early 1950s. Cerullo is a controversial figure to many due to his opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage. He was expelled from India for religious disturbances in the early 1990s and has been criticized for trying to convert Jews to Christianity. Cerullo was also indicted in California at one point for failing to report income, although those charges were subsequently dismissed.

The Morris Cerullo Legacy Center is anticipated to open by November 2019. For more information, visit legacysandiego.org.