The founder of SoCal-born burger & beer chain Slater's 50/50 is ready to unveil Mission + Garnet, a 24-hour, multi-concept restaurant collective opening this week in the building that last housed Denny's diner for more than 50 years in San Diego's Pacific Beach.
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. Then in 2019, Slater turned his attention back to opening up comforting restaurant concepts and launched two fast-casual eateries side-by-side in the University City area of La Jolla - burrito-focused Spitfire Tacos and build-your-own salad & bowls eatery Head Lettuce. In 2021, Slater opened the central cocktail bar called Understory in partnership with Le Parfait Paris at Del Mar's restaurant collective The Sky Deck.
Mission + Garnet will open on Thursday, February 16, at 800 Garnet Avenue in San Diego's Pacific Beach, with original hours being 7am to 3am. Hours will expand in the future. For more information, visit missiongarnet.com.
In July 2021, 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. Named Mission + Garnet, the concept now houses six separate eateries, including versions of Spitfire Tacos, Head Lettuce, and Earlybird Breakfast Burritos, as well as new concepts Scotty Dogs hot dog stand, the Checkered Churro desserts, Frutas Chamoy Mexican-style fruit cups, and Harvey Carver sandwich shop. While Mission + Garnet will open this week, Harvey Carvers and Frutas Chamoy will not debut until May and Scotty Dogs opening date is still to be determined.
Mission + Garnet will open on Thursday, February 16, at 800 Garnet Avenue in San Diego's Pacific Beach, with original hours being 7am to 3am. Hours will expand in the future. For more information, visit missiongarnet.com.
