Tip Top Meats is officially on its way back home. After closing its iconic North County San Diego grocery and eatery in 2024 and navigating a complicated legal battle, the beloved European delicatessen and restaurant is preparing to reopen in a small section of its original building in Carlsbad this summer.
"We had a small setback with the health department and are back in the waiting line for inspection," Tip Top's ownership shared in a statement. "We hoped to be open this month, but it looks like we have to wait. I still don't have an exact date until I hear from the inspector."Tip Top Meats originally opened in 1967, founded by German immigrant Joachim "Big John" Haedrich, and quickly became a mainstay for traditional European fare, in-house butcher services, and its famously hearty breakfast plates. The business operated for nearly six decades at 6118 Paseo Del Norte before closing in October 2024 and selling the property amid a legal settlement involving Top Choice Investments, LLC.
Despite the closure, the Haedrich family made clear they were not stepping away from the brand's legacy. They reaffirmed their sole ownership of Tip Top Meats and moved forward independently, announcing earlier this year that they had secured a new lease in Carlsbad. Although the new space will certainly house a restaurant, there is no word on if it will also have an onsite market component.
Excitement over Tip Top’s return has been building steadily, especially among longtime patrons eager to once again enjoy the deli's signature sausages, schnitzels, and warm, old-world hospitality. While no firm date for reopening has been announced, final inspections and health department approvals are reportedly the last remaining steps.
Tip Top Meats plans to share the official reopening date on its social media once confirmed. Until then, Carlsbad locals and devoted fans across San Diego will have to wait just a bit longer for the return of a true regional institution.
Tip Top Meats is anticipated to open at some point this summer at 6118 Paseo Del Norte in San Diego's North County city of Carlsbad. For more information, follow Tip Top Meats on Facebook.
Excitement over Tip Top’s return has been building steadily, especially among longtime patrons eager to once again enjoy the deli's signature sausages, schnitzels, and warm, old-world hospitality. While no firm date for reopening has been announced, final inspections and health department approvals are reportedly the last remaining steps.
Tip Top Meats plans to share the official reopening date on its social media once confirmed. Until then, Carlsbad locals and devoted fans across San Diego will have to wait just a bit longer for the return of a true regional institution.
Tip Top Meats is anticipated to open at some point this summer at 6118 Paseo Del Norte in San Diego's North County city of Carlsbad. For more information, follow Tip Top Meats on Facebook.
Originally published on June 16, 2025.