June 26, 2021
The restaurateur behind now-defunct Waypoint Public and Park & Rec in San Diego's University Heights has bought the building that housed Small Bar for more than a decade and will open a new bar and restaurant concept called The Regular.
John Pani opened craft beer-focused Waypoint Public in 2013 within the 5,000 square-foot North Park corner unit that long housed controversial The Linkery. Pani also owns Park & Rec in University Heights and previously operated Hotel Vyvant in Little Italy. Pani opened a second Waypoint Public location within Del Sur Town Center in San Diego's 4S Ranch area, which operated for about a year before it shuttered in spring 2018. The North Park Waypoint Public closed last year, and the space currently houses Eppig Brewing and is slated to become Nautica, a new Mexican-inspired lunch and dinner restaurant concept from the owner of Swami's.