After nearly five decades serving San Diego, 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant will shutter after today's service, although ownership says it's only temporary.
World War II Army vet and restaurateur David Tallichet unveiled 94th Aero Squadron restaurant in San Diego in 1976 as a third location of the original, which opened in the Van Nuys area of Los Angeles in 1973. Named after one of the first American fighter squadrons to see combat service in the First World War, the classic American restaurant sits inside a replica WWI French farmhouse that overlooks Mongomery Field Airport in San Diego's Kearny Mesa. The San Diego branch has been sold twice since it opened, once in 1997 and again in May 2018 to the current owner Seung Kim. There are still locations of 94th Aero Squadron restaurant in Miami, FL, and Columbus, OH.
We have received word that 94th Aero Squadron will close as of January 31. Although ownership is maintaining optimism that the restaurant will reopen one day, speculation by sources is the 46-year-old brunch destination is finished in its current form. Ownership also operates The Butcher Shop steakhouse in Kearny Mesa.
"We understand there is misinformation out there regarding our temporary closure," posted 94th Aero Squadron San Diego to the company's Facebook page. "Our shutdown is temporary and we will be back soon after reorganizing our team. A few weeks ago, the San Diego Union-Tribune misreported that our business was closed. The misreported information added on to the struggles we were already facing due to the extended mask mandate. The 94th Aero Squadron is a unique venue that is famous for its Friday nightclub and award-winning Sunday Brunch. Unfortunately, both aspects of our business have been heavily affected by the pandemic. After speaking with our landlord, we came to the conclusion that it would be best to temporarily close and take a break while we wait for things to get better. We are very fortunate to have a supportive landlord who understands the obstacles COVID-19 has created for the restaurant industry. Again, our closure is just temporary and we will be back soon. We will update our website with a reopening date when it becomes available."
94th Aero Squadron restaurant is located at 8885 Balboa Avenue in San Diego's Kearny Mesa. For more information, visit 94thsandiego.com.
