In their farewell, owners cited rising operational costs and a significant decline in tourism as factors that made it impossible to keep the restaurant open. They also pointed to challenges with city regulations that created unexpected roadblocks during a planned remodel and facelift. Despite hopes that reinvestment would sustain the restaurant’s future, the project was never completed.
Fred’s opened in Old Town in 1999 and quickly became a mainstay for visitors and locals alike, known for its lively patio, oversized margaritas, popular Taco Tuesday, and casual Mexican-American fare. Over the years, the brand expanded to multiple San Diego neighborhoods, including downtown and Pacific Beach, though those locations eventually shuttered. With the closure of the Old Town flagship, Fred’s presence in San Diego is now over, leaving only two sister restaurants operating in Huntington Beach, California, and Kihei, Hawaii.
The closure is the latest shakeup for Moose Restaurant Group, which owns Fred’s along with Moose’s Pub & Café in Hawaii. The company previously branched into new concepts, most notably Tamarindo Latin Kitchen & Bar, which opened in North Park in 2017 but closed by 2020. A second Tamarindo opened within Del Mar Plaza and remains in business.
In a message to staff and guests, the company expressed gratitude for the support Fred’s received over its 25-year run, adding that employees will receive severance pay equivalent to approximately two weeks’ wages. “Fred’s has always provided the best food, drinks, service, and atmosphere in Old Town,” DeShong wrote. “To all of our valued staff, guests, purveyors, and associates: thank you for your support over the years.”
The loss of Fred’s underscores the financial and operational pressures many San Diego restaurants continue to face. For Old Town, it represents the departure of a long-running fixture that served generations of tourists and locals in the heart of the city’s most historic neighborhood.
Originally published on September 30, 2025.
