San Diego Seafood Destination Truluck's Announces Impending Closure After More Than A Decade In Business

November 17, 2022

A longtime destination for upscale seafood in San Diego, Truluck's restaurant has announced its impending closure after more than a decade in business. 

"We would like to say 'thank you' to each of you for supporting Truluck’s and our team over the past 12 years," wrote Todd Perry, Truluck's La Jolla Operating Partner. "Unfortunately, our San Diego location is closing at the end of this year. Our lease was purchased by the new owners of the Aventine property, and, over the next two years, the site will be redeveloped into a state-of-the-art life sciences complex. I speak on behalf of myself and our fantastic team when I say that it has been an honor of a lifetime to serve you and yours these past 12 years. We would have loved to do it for another 12, but the life of this location is coming to an end."

Established in 1992 with the opening of its first location in Houston, TX, Truluck's has remained privately owned with the same pair of owners over its 30 years in business. The La Jolla location first opened in 2009 and was the company's 10th restaurant at the time and first on the West Coast. Today Truluck's has expanded into twelve markets throughout Texas and Florida, in southern California, Illinois, Washington, D.C., and most recently in Chicago. The company operates its own stone crab-fishing fleet in Naples, Fl, that delivers fresh-never-frozen seafood to Truluck's restaurants within 24 hours of capture. The company also has a strong sustainability program and commits to never serving endangered fish.

"Truluck’s is currently experiencing exciting growth in Florida and Texas, with several new locations planned for the near future," continued Perry. "Because of this, we have decided not to seek a new location in the San Diego market right now. Perhaps in the years to come it will make sense to open another San Diego property, but that is not possible in the immediate future."

Truluck's La Jolla will continue at normal hours through December 24, 2022. The company intends to support its employees with both severances and bonuses that will allow them to get the most out of their jobs through the end of the year and then assist them in finding great jobs after closure. 

Over the course of the past year, Biotech-focused IQHQ has purchased nearly the entire Aventine complex in San Diego's UTC neighborhood. The Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine was purchased for $216.3 million, the Aventine Atrium building for $11 million, and the 11-story Aventine Office Building including restaurants for $205 million. While there has been no announcement by IQHQ regarding re-development plans for the property, the company's website features a future life science project called Aventine on University Center Lane, adjacent to the Hyatt Regency. This project is the reason for Truluck's closure. 

Truluck's is located at 8990 University Center Lane in San Diego's UTC neighborhood. For more information, visit trulucks.com/locations/la-jolla-california.