Harley Gray owner John Ealy announced the closure in an emotional message to supporters, telling followers he wanted the news to come directly from him. Ealy emphasized that although the building is changing hands, the Harley Gray name will remain his, calling it “something deeply personal” that will not continue with the buyer. He expressed confidence that whatever replaces it “is going to be something special for Mission Hills.”
That belief now has more shape. In a statement to SanDiegoVille, Merritt Powell confirmed that he and his wife Hailey, plan to create an entirely new restaurant and bar concept - not an expansion of their La Puerta - designed specifically for Mission Hills and for the historic Restaurant Row corridor.
“Our goal is straightforward,” Powell said. “Create a bar and restaurant that feels like it’s always belonged in Mission Hills. A true local spot that residents will claim as their own, while bringing something fresh and new to Restaurant Row.” He added that guests can expect seven-day-a-week service including lunch, strong happy hours, late-night dining, and a proper brunch that pays homage to the legacy Ealy built with Harley Gray. Powell also confirmed the couple has hired architect Mark Bausback to lead design and space planning.
Harley Gray’s departure closes a meaningful chapter for Ealy, who opened the restaurant in 2014 in the former home of longtime neighborhood favorite The Gathering. Named for his nieces Harper Grace and Marley May, Harley Gray was imagined as an approachable, all-day restaurant with salads, sandwiches, shared plates, nightly specials, and an energetic bar program that quickly drew a devoted local following.
Harley Gray’s departure closes a meaningful chapter for Ealy, who opened the restaurant in 2014 in the former home of longtime neighborhood favorite The Gathering. Named for his nieces Harper Grace and Marley May, Harley Gray was imagined as an approachable, all-day restaurant with salads, sandwiches, shared plates, nightly specials, and an energetic bar program that quickly drew a devoted local following.
The restaurant’s identity also reflected Ealy’s deeply held values; he has long described Harley Gray as a proudly gay-owned business committed to creating a space “where everyone was welcome.” In his farewell letter, he said the restaurant 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.”
That sense of belonging extended to the staff. Longtime bartender Nick Berry, who has spent more than a decade behind the Harley Gray bar, shared his own goodbye on Instagram, calling the closure “the end of an ERA!!!!” and inviting guests to stop in during his final shifts. Like many employees, Berry said he doesn’t yet know where he will land next, but promised to keep supporters updated and emphasized that the coming days are “see you laters,” not goodbyes.
For Ealy, the decision to sell is not a sudden change but the fulfillment of a long-term plan. He wrote that he has achieved what he hoped to build with Harley Gray and is now ready for the next phase of his career. “The industry has changed and so have I,” he said. “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 Hillcrest and noted he is working on additional ventures - including writing a book about his life and decades in hospitality. Ealy still operates Ideal Bar & Grill in Santa Cruz and Zelda’s in Capitola, two landmarks for the Ladeki-Ealy restaurant family, and says he has no intention of leaving the industry he “was built for.”
For the Powells, the acquisition represents a significant expansion of their presence in Mission Hills. Merritt, a neighborhood resident, opened the second La Puerta location in 2021 in the former Patio on Goldfinch space just steps from Harley Gray. With this purchase, the couple now holds one of the most prominent corners of Mission Hills’ dining district. While the exact branding of their new project remains under wraps, Powell’s comments make clear that the goal is not simply to extend an existing concept but to build something the neighborhood can embrace as its own. The restaurant is envisioned as a lively, everyday gathering place with lunch, late-night offerings and a brunch program meant to honor the traditions Ealy created. “We want to bring something fresh, but rooted,” Powell said.
Harley Gray is expected to be packed in its final weeks as regulars return for their favorite lobster nights, brunches, and cocktails - rituals woven into weddings, birthdays, breakups, first dates, and the everyday fabric of Mission Hills. Ealy’s final message to the community expressed gratitude and love for the neighborhood that supported him for more than a decade. “Hillcrest and Mission Hills are my home,” he wrote. “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. For more information, visit harleygraykitchenandbar.com.
That sense of belonging extended to the staff. Longtime bartender Nick Berry, who has spent more than a decade behind the Harley Gray bar, shared his own goodbye on Instagram, calling the closure “the end of an ERA!!!!” and inviting guests to stop in during his final shifts. Like many employees, Berry said he doesn’t yet know where he will land next, but promised to keep supporters updated and emphasized that the coming days are “see you laters,” not goodbyes.
For Ealy, the decision to sell is not a sudden change but the fulfillment of a long-term plan. He wrote that he has achieved what he hoped to build with Harley Gray and is now ready for the next phase of his career. “The industry has changed and so have I,” he said. “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 Hillcrest and noted he is working on additional ventures - including writing a book about his life and decades in hospitality. Ealy still operates Ideal Bar & Grill in Santa Cruz and Zelda’s in Capitola, two landmarks for the Ladeki-Ealy restaurant family, and says he has no intention of leaving the industry he “was built for.”
For the Powells, the acquisition represents a significant expansion of their presence in Mission Hills. Merritt, a neighborhood resident, opened the second La Puerta location in 2021 in the former Patio on Goldfinch space just steps from Harley Gray. With this purchase, the couple now holds one of the most prominent corners of Mission Hills’ dining district. While the exact branding of their new project remains under wraps, Powell’s comments make clear that the goal is not simply to extend an existing concept but to build something the neighborhood can embrace as its own. The restaurant is envisioned as a lively, everyday gathering place with lunch, late-night offerings and a brunch program meant to honor the traditions Ealy created. “We want to bring something fresh, but rooted,” Powell said.
Harley Gray is expected to be packed in its final weeks as regulars return for their favorite lobster nights, brunches, and cocktails - rituals woven into weddings, birthdays, breakups, first dates, and the everyday fabric of Mission Hills. Ealy’s final message to the community expressed gratitude and love for the neighborhood that supported him for more than a decade. “Hillcrest and Mission Hills are my home,” he wrote. “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. For more information, visit harleygraykitchenandbar.com.
Originally published on December 3, 2025.
