Public records indicate that San Diego businessman "Papa" Doug Manchester is in the process of returning to the La Jolla space where he last operated Bijou bar & restaurant for the opening of a new concept dubbed Papas On Prospect.
Doug Manchester's Manchester Financial Group is in the process of transferring the liquor license at 1205 Prospect Street, Unit 100D, in La Jolla, to a new restaurant business named Papas On Prospect. Manchester had previously operated two restaurants in that space - first an offshoot of The Grand Del Mar's Amaya in 2013 before converting it into the French bistro concept Bijou in June 2014. Bijou abruptly shuttered in spring 2015 and the centrally located La Jolla space sat dormant for a few years before becoming Covo La Jolla, a Mediterranean restaurant from longtime restaurateur and industry insider Michael Viscuso. Covo ended its run in March 2019 and the 10,000 square-foot space has not been occupied since.Doug Manchester is a controversial San Diego real estate tycoon and businessman that has developed many properties in the area. Notably, he previously owned The San Diego Union Tribune and built The Grand Del Mar resort, which he since sold. In 2017, then-President Trump nominated Manchester to become the United States ambassador to The Bahamas, where he owns a house, but the nomination did not get through Senate.
