After starting and selling a successful hot dog stand business before the 2008 recession hit, San Diego State University alum Scott Slater launched his first Slater's 50/50 in Anaheim in 2009 and gained an immediate following for a menu of bacon-infused burgers and an early devotion to the craft beer industry. The company grew to numerous locations in California with restaurants in Anaheim Hills, Huntington Beach, Rancho Cucamonga, Pasadena, San Marcos and San Diego's Liberty Station. In late 2016, Slater sold all six Slater’s 50/50 restaurants to Elite Restaurant Group with hopes of a future national expansion. In late 2019, Slater opened two fast-casual concepts side-by-side in the University City area of La Jolla - burrito-focused Spitfire Tacos and build your own salad & bowls eatery Head Lettuce. Last year, Slater opened the central cocktail bar called Understory in partnership with Le Parfait Paris at Del Mar's new restaurant collective The Sky Deck.
Last July, Slater signed a lease on the 4,000 square-foot building located on the corner of Garnet Avenue and Mission Boulevard in Pacific Beach that housed a location of Denny's from 1966 until it closed following an alleged arson in October 2018. Dubbed Mission + Garnet Pacific Beach, the concept will house at least six separate eateries, including versions of his Spitfire Tacos, Head Lettuce, and Earlybird Breakfast Burritos eateries, as well as Scotty Dogs hot dog stand out front, the Checkered Churro desserts, Harvey Carver sandwich shop and possibly other, new take-out friendly concepts. Once opened later this year, the project is expected to operate 24 hours a day.
Mission + Garnet will unveils as early as Memorial Day weekend 2022 at 800 Garnet Avenue in San Diego's Pacific Beach. For more information, visit spitfiretacos.com, theheadlettuce.com and earlybirdbreakfastburritos.com.
