Detroit's Justin Vauciunas Named Executive Chef Of Downtown San Diego's Incoming Guild Hotel

March 14, 2019

San Diego's incoming Guild Hotel is shaping up to be quite the culinary destination. In addition to poaching Gordon Ramsay's former VP of Restaurants to be the boutique resort's general manager, The Guild recently hired executive chef Justin Vaiciunas to relocate from Detroit to lead the culinary operations.

Chef Justin Vaiciunas’ passion for food began at the age of fifteen when he started working at the popular Kruse and Meur Restaurant on the outskirts of Detroit, MI. He went on to graduate from Schoolcraft College Culinary Arts Program, which is widely regarded as one of the top culinary programs in the country. After graduating, Vaiciunas joined the culinary staff of The Detroit Athletic Club. Chef Justin went on to work at a variety of restaurants around the Detroit metropolitan area including Forte and 220 Merrill, has opened three restaurants, and a fast casual pizza company. He has won awards such as Best Chef for 2015 in the Metro Times and his restaurant Top of the Pontch in Detroit won Best New Restaurant in 2015 from both the Detroit Free Press and Metro Times. Chef Justin prides himself on using only the freshest products from local famers and producers.

At The Guild Hotel, which is expected to open by this summer, Chef Justin will oversee all culinary operations, including in-room dining and hotel's onsite three-meal restaurant, currently dubbed Luca. Luca Bar, Kitchen & Outdoor Courtyard is expected to serve an array of Spanish and Mediterranean tapas as well as a full bar with an ambitious bar program featuring craft cocktails, an extensive wine list, and local and macrobrewed beers. More details on food and beverage options will be released once finalized.

The Guild Hotel will be an upscale hotel that is being installed in the iconic YMCA building in the center of downtown San Diego. The 168-room resort will preserve the building’s historic facade that is adorned with modern art, as well as reimagine the former gymnasium into a decadent ballroom with an adjacent gardens for events. Part of Marriott-owned Starwood Hotels new line of luxury accommodations - Tribute Portfolio - The Guild will be independently operated by Oram Properties, a local hospitality investment and management company that includes such hotels as Cardiff by the Sea Hotel and Four Points by Sheraton on its portfolio. Managing the property will be Azul Hospitality (The Nolen), a San Diego-based management firm that oversees various resorts and restaurants around the country. Former Vice President of U.S. Operations for Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, Steven Adyani, has been appointed to be general manager of the hotel.

For more information on The Guild Hotel, visit theguildhotel.com.