In a heartfelt message shared on Instagram, Harley Gray owner John Ealy told followers he wanted them to hear the news directly from him. He explained that while the building is changing hands, the Harley Gray name will stay with him, calling it “something deeply personal” that won’t simply be passed along with the sale. “What the new owners will build in this space will be their own vision,” Ealy wrote, adding that he believes “it’s going to be something special for Mission Hills.”
Harley Gray opened in 2014 in the former home of longtime neighborhood restaurant The Gathering at the corner of Goldfinch Street and Washington Street. Ealy, who co-owned the restaurant with his sister Jill, named the new venture after his nieces Harper Grace and Marley May. Though he had built his career on high-volume waterfront spots like The Boathouse Restaurant on Harbor Island and Ideal Bar & Grill in Santa Cruz, Harley Gray was designed as a casual, all-day neighborhood eatery with salads, sandwiches, shared plates, nightly specials, and a lively bar that quickly became a go-to for Mission Hills locals.
From the start, Harley Gray also stood out as a proudly gay-owned business with an explicit commitment to inclusivity. In his farewell statement, Ealy reflected on what the space has meant for the community, writing that he wanted to create a place “where everyone was welcome” and noting that Harley Gray became “a home for the LGBTQ+ community, our allies, and anyone who walked through our doors looking for good food, great drinks, and a place where they could be themselves.” Regulars came to rely on traditions like Thursday lobster night, bottomless mimosa brunches, and neighborhood appreciation evenings that helped cement the restaurant as a social hub as much as a place to eat.
The news of the closure has hit staff and regulars hard. Longtime bartender Nick Berry, who has been behind the bar for more than a decade and calls Harley Gray his “home away from home,” posted his own goodbye on Instagram, describing the end of the restaurant as “the end of an ERA!!!!” and inviting guests to stop in during his final shifts before the lights go out. Berry said he doesn’t yet know where he’ll land next but promised to keep fans updated, emphasizing that these next weeks are about “see you laters” rather than goodbyes.
For Ealy, this is not an abrupt exit but a planned transition. He noted that selling the property was always part of his long-term strategy and said he feels he has accomplished what he set out to do with Harley Gray. “The industry has changed and so have I,” he wrote. “I know when to hold on and when to let go. I have other dreams to chase.” Earlier this year, he opened The Anvil Gym in the heart of Hillcrest and says he is actively working on other projects, including writing a book about his life story and decades in hospitality.
The closure of Harley Gray also marks another turning point in a restaurant career that has been closely tied to the San Diego waterfront. In 2019, Ealy and his sister shuttered Harbor Island’s nearly 50-year-old The Boathouse Restaurant rather than weather a lengthy Port-driven redevelopment. At the time, the siblings encouraged guests to visit Harley Gray for similar specials, making the Mission Hills restaurant a sort of spiritual successor to The Boathouse’s value-driven lobster and prime rib nights. Ealy continues to operate Ideal Bar & Grill in Santa Cruz and Zelda’s in Capitola, and has said he has no plans to walk away from the industry that he “was built for.”
On the other side of the deal are La Puerta owners Hailey and Merritt Powell, who already have deep ties to Mission Hills. Merritt, a neighborhood resident, opened the second location of La Puerta in 2021 in the former The Patio on Goldfinch space just up the block from Harley Gray, bringing family-friendly Mexican-American comfort food, strong cocktails, and the brand’s famously busy Taco Tuesday to the area. With the purchase of the Harley Gray building, the Powells now control a prominent corner in the heart of Mission Hills’ dining district.
While the couple has not yet announced their exact plans, sources indicate they may either expand La Puerta into the Harley Gray corner space or develop a new concept to sit alongside the existing restaurant. Either move would further cement their footprint in Mission Hills and continue the property’s long life as a neighborhood-driven gathering place. Ealy, for his part, emphasized that he sees the Powells as trusted stewards who will respect the site’s history while making it their own.
Harley Gray’s final weeks are expected to be busy as regulars return to reminisce over lobster nights, brunches, and happy hours that have stretched across weddings, breakups, birthdays, and everyday life. Ealy closed his message with a note of gratitude to both guests and staff, calling employees “the heartbeat of this place” and thanking the community for “letting me be part of your lives.” He made it clear that while the Harley Gray chapter is ending, his connection to San Diego remains firmly in place: “Hillcrest and Mission Hills are my home. I’m not going anywhere.”
Harley Gray Kitchen & Bar will remain open through Friday, December 19, 2025, at 902 West Washington Street in San Diego’s Mission Hills.
Summary (≤150 characters):
Mission Hills neighborhood staple Harley Gray will close December 19, 2025, as owner John Ealy sells the building to La Puerta’s Hailey and Merritt Powell.
SEO topics/keywords:
Harley Gray Kitchen & Bar closing, Mission Hills restaurant news, John Ealy Harley Gray sale, La Puerta Mission Hills expansion, San Diego LGBTQ-owned restaurants, Harley Gray last day December 19 2025, San Diego neighborhood restaurants closing, Mission Hills dining scene
Harley Gray opened in 2014 in the former home of longtime neighborhood restaurant The Gathering at the corner of Goldfinch Street and Washington Street. Ealy, who co-owned the restaurant with his sister Jill, named the new venture after his nieces Harper Grace and Marley May. Though he had built his career on high-volume waterfront spots like The Boathouse Restaurant on Harbor Island and Ideal Bar & Grill in Santa Cruz, Harley Gray was designed as a casual, all-day neighborhood eatery with salads, sandwiches, shared plates, nightly specials, and a lively bar that quickly became a go-to for Mission Hills locals.
From the start, Harley Gray also stood out as a proudly gay-owned business with an explicit commitment to inclusivity. In his farewell statement, Ealy reflected on what the space has meant for the community, writing that he wanted to create a place “where everyone was welcome” and noting that Harley Gray became “a home for the LGBTQ+ community, our allies, and anyone who walked through our doors looking for good food, great drinks, and a place where they could be themselves.” Regulars came to rely on traditions like Thursday lobster night, bottomless mimosa brunches, and neighborhood appreciation evenings that helped cement the restaurant as a social hub as much as a place to eat.
The news of the closure has hit staff and regulars hard. Longtime bartender Nick Berry, who has been behind the bar for more than a decade and calls Harley Gray his “home away from home,” posted his own goodbye on Instagram, describing the end of the restaurant as “the end of an ERA!!!!” and inviting guests to stop in during his final shifts before the lights go out. Berry said he doesn’t yet know where he’ll land next but promised to keep fans updated, emphasizing that these next weeks are about “see you laters” rather than goodbyes.
For Ealy, this is not an abrupt exit but a planned transition. He noted that selling the property was always part of his long-term strategy and said he feels he has accomplished what he set out to do with Harley Gray. “The industry has changed and so have I,” he wrote. “I know when to hold on and when to let go. I have other dreams to chase.” Earlier this year, he opened The Anvil Gym in the heart of Hillcrest and says he is actively working on other projects, including writing a book about his life story and decades in hospitality.
The closure of Harley Gray also marks another turning point in a restaurant career that has been closely tied to the San Diego waterfront. In 2019, Ealy and his sister shuttered Harbor Island’s nearly 50-year-old The Boathouse Restaurant rather than weather a lengthy Port-driven redevelopment. At the time, the siblings encouraged guests to visit Harley Gray for similar specials, making the Mission Hills restaurant a sort of spiritual successor to The Boathouse’s value-driven lobster and prime rib nights. Ealy continues to operate Ideal Bar & Grill in Santa Cruz and Zelda’s in Capitola, and has said he has no plans to walk away from the industry that he “was built for.”
On the other side of the deal are La Puerta owners Hailey and Merritt Powell, who already have deep ties to Mission Hills. Merritt, a neighborhood resident, opened the second location of La Puerta in 2021 in the former The Patio on Goldfinch space just up the block from Harley Gray, bringing family-friendly Mexican-American comfort food, strong cocktails, and the brand’s famously busy Taco Tuesday to the area. With the purchase of the Harley Gray building, the Powells now control a prominent corner in the heart of Mission Hills’ dining district.
While the couple has not yet announced their exact plans, sources indicate they may either expand La Puerta into the Harley Gray corner space or develop a new concept to sit alongside the existing restaurant. Either move would further cement their footprint in Mission Hills and continue the property’s long life as a neighborhood-driven gathering place. Ealy, for his part, emphasized that he sees the Powells as trusted stewards who will respect the site’s history while making it their own.
Harley Gray’s final weeks are expected to be busy as regulars return to reminisce over lobster nights, brunches, and happy hours that have stretched across weddings, breakups, birthdays, and everyday life. Ealy closed his message with a note of gratitude to both guests and staff, calling employees “the heartbeat of this place” and thanking the community for “letting me be part of your lives.” He made it clear that while the Harley Gray chapter is ending, his connection to San Diego remains firmly in place: “Hillcrest and Mission Hills are my home. I’m not going anywhere.”
Harley Gray Kitchen & Bar will remain open through Friday, December 19, 2025, at 902 West Washington Street in San Diego’s Mission Hills.
Summary (≤150 characters):
Mission Hills neighborhood staple Harley Gray will close December 19, 2025, as owner John Ealy sells the building to La Puerta’s Hailey and Merritt Powell.
SEO topics/keywords:
Harley Gray Kitchen & Bar closing, Mission Hills restaurant news, John Ealy Harley Gray sale, La Puerta Mission Hills expansion, San Diego LGBTQ-owned restaurants, Harley Gray last day December 19 2025, San Diego neighborhood restaurants closing, Mission Hills dining scene
