Highly Anticipated Windmill Food Hall May Finally Open This Weekend In San Diego's North County

August 30, 2019

After a substantial delay, the 12,000 square-foot Windmill Food Hall is anticipated to finally unveil this weekend in San Diego's North County - offering 14 food vendors, a full bar, lawn games, a kids' play area, and much more.

During his illustrious career, Carlsbad native James Markham has opened more restaurants than some people ever dine at during a lifetime. A founder of such nationally recognized restaurants as MOD Pizza & Pieology, Markham has always struggled to balance his desire to open the next big fast-casual chain with being an ever-present family man. Last year, after an injury and subsequent surgery made travel inconvenient, Markham reigned it in and decided it was time to keep his business focused on his local community of Carlsbad. He closed his operations within Liberty Public Market's Mess Hall and pulled plans for his Pacific Beach pizzeria to focus on his own food hall ambitions and expanding his concepts in North County, including the opening of The Village Yard in central Carlsbad Village.

Windmill's repurposed Craftsman tool box beer tap system

After a year long delay, Markham may unveil the ambitious Windmill Food Hall this weekend, pending a final inspection later today. Located in the 1982-era structure that previously housed a TGI Friday's location, the Windmill Food Hall will house 14 unique food vendors, a full indoor/outdoor bar with a Craftsman toolbox serving as the tap house, an indoor repurposed shipping container acting as a pizzeria, skee-ball games, arcade machines, an outdoor yard with lawn games, and a childrens' play area. The onsite windmill will even begin spinning in the next few months after being inoperational for more than a decade. The space also intends to host special events like weekend outdoor yoga, dance lessons, paint & sip sessions, as well as singles-oriented Bumble, Tinder and Hinge nights.

The initial lineup of vendors at the Windmill Food Hall include Cross Street Chicken & Beer (Korean fried chicken), Bread & Cheese Eatery (grilled cheese sandwiches), Lobster West (New England seafood), The Fry Fix (Belgian waffles and fries), Mesteeso Brazilian Coffee Co. (coffee & espresso drinks and Prager Brothers pastries) District 1 Pho (Vietnamese fare), Bing Haus Desserts (tea and soft serve ice cream), Rolled Up Sushi Burritos (giant sushi rolls), RJ’s Sizzlin’ Steer (steak & BBQ), Thai Style (Thai food), El Puerto Street Tacos (San Diego-style fast Mexican), Friend’s House (Korean bowls), Doughballs Pizza (customizable pizzas), and Notorious Sliders & Salads (burgers, hot dogs and salads). Only around half the vendors will open this week, with some not available for a few more weeks.

The Windmill Food Hall is expected to open at some point this weekend at 890 Palomar Airport Road in San Diego's Carlsbad. For more information, visit windmillfoodhall.com.