Sister Concepts Pop Pie Co. & Stella Jean's Ice Cream Opening New Location In San Diego's South Park

March 28, 2022

The third area locations of sister concepts Pop Pie Co. and Stella Jean's Ice Cream will open in San Diego's South Park neighborhood.

Founded in San Diego's University Heights in 2016 by co-owners Steven Torres and Executive Chef Gan Suebsarakham, Pop Pie Co. quickly became a popular dining destination due to its ever-changing assortment of globally-inspired savory and sweet single-serving pies made with a signature all-butter crust. In 2019, the second Pop Pie Co. opened in Costa Mesa in Orange County, CA. Torres and Suebsarakham also own and operate Stella Jean's Ice Cream, a small-batch ice cream parlor next door to their pot-pie eatery in University Heights, which has another branch sited alongside the Costa Mesa Pop Pie Co. outpost. Earlier this year, Pop Pie Co. and Stella Jean's Ice Cream opened a second area location in the 2,128 square-foot space that last housed The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf next to Cesarina on Voltaire Street on the outskirts of Point Loma and Ocean Beach.

Following a fire last fall and abundant allegations of impropriety against its owner, Hamilton's Tavern and sister concept South Park Brewing confirmed they would not be reopening, despite raising over $16,000 via two separate GoFundMe campaigns. Hamilton's Tavern was founded in 2006 and was long known as one of San Diego's original craft beer bars. Ownership opened South Park Brewing Company in the neighboring space in 2014. In November 2020, a fire that broke out that caused more than $1 million damage to Hamilton's Tavern and South Park Brewing Company. Both concepts were owned by Scot Donovan Blair, who was outspoken about his opposition to the forced shutdowns during the COVID-19 era and was named several times in damning accusations on Brienne Allan's viral @RatMagnet Instagram posts that took the craft beer industry by storm earlier this year.

We previously reported that the former Hamilton's Tavern space had been taken over by Brian Jensen, the founder of seven locations of Bottlecraft craft beer bar and bottle shop and branches of Vino Carta Wine Store and Bar in Little Italy and Solana Beach. In the building, which the landlord had to completely gut due to the fire, Jensen will open a new craft beer-forward bar named Bock, which will be heavily inspired by Hamilton's Tavern and other Old World neighborhood pubs. While the concept is still very much in development, Bock will offer a German tavern vibe with a curated selection of American craft brews and foreign beers. There will also be a gastropub-style food menu.

The 1,600 square-foot space that last housed South Park Brewing has been leased to become a third area outpost of Pop Pie Co. Like other branches, expect an array of savory and sweet pies, side dishes, coffee drinks, and a lineup of Stella Jean ice cream. 

The newest Pop Pie Co. is anticipated to open by year's end at 1517 30th Street in San Diego's South Park community. For more information, visit poppieco.com and stellajeans.com.