San Diego's ever-expanding Trust Restaurant Group is opening a new, French brasserie in the North Park space that was previously set to house a branch of Death By Tequila.
Trust Restaurant Group started in early 2016 with the opening of Trust Restaurant within design guru Jonathan Segal's Mr. Robinson Building on the outskirts of San Diego's Hillcrest neighborhood. The expanding hospitality company was founded by alums of San Diego-based Eat.Drink.Sleep (JRDN), including Co-Owner/Chef Brad Wise, former GM/Managing Partner Steve Schwob, and Pastry Chef Jeremy Harville.
In January 2019, the Trust team (with financial backing by local real estate developer and co-owner of San Diego Legion rugby team Ryan Patterson) unveiled Fort Oak within developer Jonathan Segal's The Fort mixed-use building in Mission Hills. In January 2020, Trust Group opened all-day restaurant, bakery and marketplace Cardellino within the space previously occupied by Brooklyn Girl Eatery in Mission Hills. The company also owns two locations of The Wise Ox Butcher & Eatery and several branches of their expanding steakhouse concept Rare Society, which has branches in University Heights, Solana Beach, Santa Barbara, San Clemente, Mill Creek, and an incoming location opening in Las Vegas.
Trust Restaurant Group has now taken over the 5,400 square-foot, long-vacant space that previously housed a discount store and Hawaiian restaurant on the corner of University Avenue and 30th Street in the heart of San Diego's North Park. The building was previously scheduled to become a branch of Encinitas-based Death by Tequila Mexican bar & restaurant, but that project has fallen through despite several assertions by company ownership that it was merely delayed. Death By Tequila ownership, Empress Investments, now claims to be a partner on the incoming Trust French restaurant.
Trust's yet-to-be-named French brasserie concept will be designed by San Diego-based GTC Design, which also developed several Rare Society restaurants, Cardellino, and even the brand new Gaslamplighter. Expect a Parisian-inspired ambiance with Bohemian influence and elegant charm. Chef Wise will tap into his culinary training to develop a menu of modern and traditional French cuisine. From the bar, expect a cocktail program from beverage director Jess Stewart and a curated wine list from Ben Zumba.
"The new space will be open next summer," explained a representative from Trust Restaurant Group. "Chef's vision is to create an elevated, plush, charming space, reminiscent of a classic Parisian restaurant - refined, yet conveying an easy sense of grandeur. The menu will be anchored by French-inspired dishes, reimagined in Chef’s signature style."
Trust Restaurant Group's new French restaurant & bar concept is expected to unveil in summer 2025 at 3002 University Avenue in San Diego's North Park. For more information, visit trustrgsd.com.
