Fresh off its 80 year anniversary last October, Hob Nob Hill owner Tania Warchol has decided to retire, and last week finalized the sale of the restaurant and the building to Douglas Hamm of Creative House real estate development and investment company. With the final exchange of the restaurant set to take place next month, the future of this historic San Diego eatery is unknown, although new ownership hopes to continue operating the restaurant as-is following a temporary closure. The recent ownership group will only be the third owners in the restaurants eight decade history.
"We have had unprecedented numbers since reopening back after COVID, and I owe a lot to the people that stayed with me through and after the lockdowns," explained Hob Nob Hill's longtime owner Tania Warchol. "The highest revenue years in the 81 year history of Hob Nob have been 2022, 2023, and 2024. But while revenue has gone up, costs have gone up tremendously as well. Everything is more expensive - from eggs to labor. It's so much harder to run a restaurant these days, and I don’t have the energy or stamina to do it anymore. So I decided that it's time for me to retire while I still have the chance to do it on my terms."
Hamm, who also developed Lofty Coffee and Half Door Brewing, launched the hospitality arm of Creative House with Nolita Hall in Little Italy in 2018. The company is also working on boutique Airbnbs and the long-delayed Cedar Park bar and restaurant in the area. In 2022, Creative House took over a 6,500-square-foot space in Coronado Plaza, formerly home to Boardwalk Beach Club, Maretalia Ristorante, and Vigilucci's, with plans to open a new restaurant and bar after renovations. That same year, it also acquired the 7,000-square-foot former Il Dandy/Civico By The Park in Bankers Hill, and was set to debut a new dining concept in mid-2023. There is no word on the status of Cedar Park, the Coronado Plaza concept or the former Il Dandy space.
Hob Nob Hill's story began in May 1944 when Harold and Dorothy Hoersch opened the Juniper Café, a humble 14-stool lunch counter aimed at providing quality food at affordable prices. Their dedication bore fruit, leading to the expansion and relocation of the restaurant to its current address on Juniper and First Avenue in 1946, where it was renamed the Melody Grill. Over the years, it transformed into Dorothy's Oven before finally settling on the name Hob Nob Hill around 1970.
The restaurant has become a cornerstone of San Diego's dining scene, known for its commitment to traditional American diner cooking. From baking fresh muffins in house to curing its own corned beef, everything is done on-site, adhering to recipes that have been cherished and passed down through generations.
"We have had unprecedented numbers since reopening back after COVID, and I owe a lot to the people that stayed with me through and after the lockdowns," explained Hob Nob Hill's longtime owner Tania Warchol. "The highest revenue years in the 81 year history of Hob Nob have been 2022, 2023, and 2024. But while revenue has gone up, costs have gone up tremendously as well. Everything is more expensive - from eggs to labor. It's so much harder to run a restaurant these days, and I don’t have the energy or stamina to do it anymore. So I decided that it's time for me to retire while I still have the chance to do it on my terms."
Hamm, who also developed Lofty Coffee and Half Door Brewing, launched the hospitality arm of Creative House with Nolita Hall in Little Italy in 2018. The company is also working on boutique Airbnbs and the long-delayed Cedar Park bar and restaurant in the area. In 2022, Creative House took over a 6,500-square-foot space in Coronado Plaza, formerly home to Boardwalk Beach Club, Maretalia Ristorante, and Vigilucci's, with plans to open a new restaurant and bar after renovations. That same year, it also acquired the 7,000-square-foot former Il Dandy/Civico By The Park in Bankers Hill, and was set to debut a new dining concept in mid-2023. There is no word on the status of Cedar Park, the Coronado Plaza concept or the former Il Dandy space.
Hob Nob Hill's story began in May 1944 when Harold and Dorothy Hoersch opened the Juniper Café, a humble 14-stool lunch counter aimed at providing quality food at affordable prices. Their dedication bore fruit, leading to the expansion and relocation of the restaurant to its current address on Juniper and First Avenue in 1946, where it was renamed the Melody Grill. Over the years, it transformed into Dorothy's Oven before finally settling on the name Hob Nob Hill around 1970.
The restaurant has become a cornerstone of San Diego's dining scene, known for its commitment to traditional American diner cooking. From baking fresh muffins in house to curing its own corned beef, everything is done on-site, adhering to recipes that have been cherished and passed down through generations.
Tania Warchol, who took over in 1993, preserved the essence of Hob Nob Hill while introducing modern touches. Under her stewardship, the restaurant was featured on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," which significantly boosted its profile, drawing food enthusiasts from across the nation eager to try specialties like old fashioned chicken and dumplings.
In response to changing times, Hob Nob Hill underwent significant renovations in 2020, modernizing its look while maintaining its historical charm. The interior was refreshed with white walls and black trim, new seating, and a striking mural of "The Wizard of Oz" characters, linking back to the local history with Frank Baum, the book's author, having lived in nearby Coronado. The menu also evolved, adding contemporary dishes like Cincinnati chili, French onion soup au gratin, and fish and chips, alongside its traditional offerings like the Thanksgiving-style turkey dinner and lemon-pecan pie.
"This restaurant has endured wars, recessions, upturns and downturns in the economy, and even a global pandemic," continued Warchol. "Yet it stands proud on the corner of First and Juniper, like it has for 80 plus years. I hope that doesn't change."
Once new ownership takes over, Hob Nob Hill will close for an unspecified period for undisclosed changes, and employees are expected to reapply for their positions. We reached out to Douglas Hamm for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.
Hob Nob Hill is located at 2271 First Avenue in San Diego's Bankers Hill community. For more information, visit hobnobhill.com.
Originally published on February 11, 2025. Photo of sign from Dave DeCaro.
