Behind the ribbon cuttings, PR-staged influencer previews, and sold-out opening weekends, more than 70 bars, restaurants, bakeries, breweries, and neighborhood institutions shut their doors across San Diego County. Some closures came suddenly, with little warning or explanation. Others followed months - or years - of visible strain. A few eliminated establishments that once felt permanent, exposing just how fragile even “successful” restaurants have become.
These closures unfolded alongside one of the most aggressive expansion cycles San Diego has seen in years (check out our list of San Diego's most exciting openings of 2025). New concepts arrived almost weekly, often stepping directly into the footprints of recently shuttered businesses. As excitement surged on one side of the industry, loss mounted on the other - fueled by rising rents, labor shortages, tax debt, redevelopment pressure, corporate pullbacks, regulatory scrutiny, and an increasingly unforgiving cost structure for independent operators. In many cases, restaurants didn’t fail - the math simply stopped working.
For readers already looking ahead, SanDiegoVille has also published its ultimate guide to nearly 100 restaurants expected to open in 2026, offering a look at what’s coming next - from long-delayed projects finally nearing completion to major arrivals poised to reshape entire dining corridors. If this article reflects the endings, that one captures the reset.
Below are San Diego’s most surprising bar and restaurant closures of 2025, listed with context, timing, and why each one mattered.
Ballast Point Brewing Company Tasting Room Restaurant (9045 Carroll Way, Miramar) – Ballast Point Brewing Company permanently closed its Miramar tasting room in December 2025, marking the end of the brewery’s most significant San Diego outpost and signaling a steep decline for what was once one of the city’s most influential craft beer brands. Long regarded as Ballast Point’s flagship in the post-Constellation era, the sprawling Miramar facility symbolized San Diego’s dominance during the height of the craft beer boom and served as a major tourist destination built around beers like Sculpin IPA that helped define the region’s global reputation. The closure came less than two years after Ballast Point halted brewing operations at the site and handed production over to Athletic Brewing Company, a move initially framed as temporary but later viewed as an early warning sign of a broader retreat. Following its infamous $1 billion sale to Constellation Brands in 2015 and subsequent resale to Kings & Convicts Brewing Co. for a fraction of that price, Ballast Point struggled to regain relevance amid shifting consumer tastes and mounting industry pressures. With Miramar shuttered, the brand was left with only a handful of tasting rooms outside its hometown, underscoring the rapid contraction of a company once synonymous with San Diego craft beer. The closure marked a symbolic end to an era, reflecting the broader unraveling of the city’s “Capital of Craft” identity as legacy breweries continued to scale back, sell off, or disappear altogether. Closed December 14, 2025.
Basta (555 W Date Street, Suite B, Little Italy) – Basta, the short-lived Italian wine bar from Sam “The Cooking Guy” Zien and Grit & Grain Collective, closed in February 2025 after less than a year in business at Piazza della Famiglia. The concept, which replaced Graze by Sam The Cooking Guy in 2024, failed to gain lasting traction in Little Italy’s highly competitive dining scene and shuttered amid the sudden, controversial closure of the adjacent Little Italy Food Hall, reportedly with little notice to employees and vendors. Since then, the space has been taken over and reopened as Good Enough Cocktail Club, a hi-fi-inspired neighborhood cocktail bar operated by the team behind Same Same and backed by Tiger Hospitality, signaling a stylistic and operational reset for the address. At the same time, the former Little Italy Food Hall is undergoing a full redesign and revival under new management, with multiple new food vendors planned and an anticipated reopening in early 2026, marking a broader attempt to reenergize Piazza della Famiglia after a turbulent period of rapid closures and turnover. Closed February 2025.
Black Plague Brewing Oceanside & Black Plague Brewing Dearly Departed Taproom (2899 University Avenue, North Park) – Black Plague Brewing’s collapse unfolded in stages in 2025, beginning with the closure of its North Park “Dearly Departed” taproom in May and culminating in the complete shutdown of the company later that year. The North Park outpost, a 1,700-square-foot space that opened in June 2023 in the former Rouleur Brewing location next to The Observatory, was branded around the brewery’s signature gothic, metal-inspired identity and quickly became known for loud shows, dark décor, and irreverent beer names like Tony Hawps and Bring Out Your Dead. Less than two years in, the company cited “unfortunate circumstances” and closed the taproom after a final send-off weekend. The loss proved to be an early warning sign: in September 2025, Black Plague permanently shut down its 13,000-square-foot Oceanside production brewery and its Escondido taproom, ending all operations after eight years in business. Founded in 2016, the once fast-growing brand had expanded aggressively but ultimately succumbed to rising costs, industry contraction, and profitability challenges. Together, the closures marked a stark reversal for a brewery that once symbolized San Diego’s alternative craft-beer culture—and highlighted the fragility of even well-known names in the region’s evolving beer scene. North Park taproom closed May 2025; brewery and remaining operations closed September 2025.
Chocolat Bistro (3896 Fifth Avenue, Hillcrest) – Chocolat Bistro quietly closed in early 2025 after more than 15 years as a Hillcrest neighborhood staple, ending a long run without any formal public announcement. Opened in December 2009 by Italian-born restaurateur Alessandro Minutella, the casually elegant bistro blended Italian comfort fare with all-day café appeal, serving crepes, pizzas, pastas, paninis, antipasti, and a standout dessert program anchored by house-made Italian gelato produced fresh daily. The space became a go-to for breakfast through dinner, known for its welcoming atmosphere, strong coffee program, imported beers and wines, and loyal local following. Ownership later transitioned to Safa Jarbo in 2016, who maintained the restaurant’s consistency and neighborhood appeal. The closure left a notable void on Fifth Avenue, but the space is already slated for a dramatic shift: viral plant-based fast-food brand Mr. Charlie’s is set to take over the former Chocolat Bistro location as its San Diego flagship, with an additional outpost planned for Pacific Beach. The change marks a sharp pivot from European café culture to Gen-Z-driven vegan fast food, reflecting the rapidly evolving dining landscape in Hillcrest. Closed early 2025.
Fish House Vera Cruz (360 Via Vera Cruz, San Marcos) – Fish House Vera Cruz closed permanently in 2026 after 47 years as one of North County San Diego’s most enduring family-owned restaurants. Founded in 1979 by Rex and Karen Butler, who opened the business in their early twenties, the mesquite-grilled seafood restaurant grew from a small, hands-on operation into a generational institution that employed more than 3,700 people over its lifetime and became a rite of passage for San Marcos families. Known for its wood-fired grill, fresh daily seafood, onsite market, and relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, Fish House Vera Cruz stood as a symbol of an earlier era of locally rooted dining. The Butler family announced the closure with an emotional farewell, thanking employees and customers for decades of loyalty and community support. While the restaurant’s building was not directly included in the nearby Old California Restaurant Row redevelopment, its closure came amid broader changes reshaping the area, including large-scale housing and retail projects planned across the street. With its final service, Fish House Vera Cruz marked the end of one of San Marcos’ last long-running culinary landmarks.
Harley Gray Kitchen & Bar (902 West Washington Street, Mission Hills) – The longtime Mission Hills neighborhood staple permanently closed in December 2025 after a 12-year run, marking the end of a deeply personal chapter for owner John Ealy and a significant shift along the city’s historic Restaurant Row. Opened in 2014 in the former Gathering space and named after Ealy’s nieces, Harley Gray became known as an approachable all-day restaurant with salads, sandwiches, shared plates, brunch, and a lively bar program that fostered a fiercely loyal local following. Proudly gay-owned, the restaurant evolved into a welcoming hub for the LGBTQ+ community, allies, and neighborhood regulars, with longtime staff forming a core part of its identity. The closure followed the sale of the property to Merritt Powell and his wife Hailey, the owners of La Puerta Mexican Restaurant, who confirmed plans to replace Harley Gray with an entirely new, Mission Hills–specific bar and restaurant concept rather than an extension of their existing brand. Ealy retained ownership of the Harley Gray name and framed the decision as a deliberate transition after fulfilling his vision for the restaurant, as he shifts focus to other ventures including The Anvil Gym and future projects. Harley Gray served its final guests on December 19, 2025, closing a chapter woven into more than a decade of everyday life, celebrations, and community in Mission Hills. Closed December 19, 2025.
Joe’s Crab Shack (525 E Harbor Drive, Embarcadero) – Joe’s Crab Shack permanently closed in August 2025, ending a 22-year run as a highly visible but increasingly troubled fixture on San Diego’s downtown bayfront. The casual seafood chain had occupied the historic San Diego Rowing Club building since 2002, serving tourists and convention-goers buckets of crab, shrimp, and other shellfish in a kitschy waterfront setting just steps from The Rady Shell and the Convention Center. In its final years, Joe’s operated on a month-to-month lease as the Port of San Diego sought a higher-performing replacement for the underwhelming site, which generated declining rent revenue. The restaurant’s exit was accelerated when the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health ordered an immediate shutdown after a confirmed sewage leak and discharge outside the facility, an “imminent health hazard” that forced the restaurant to go dark weeks before its planned final days and left all 61 employees laid off. The closure marked a particularly ignominious end for a once-popular Embarcadero staple and cleared the way for a new chapter at the historic property, with the Port approving a long-term option to lease the site to Texas-based live-music restaurant concept The Rustic, slated to redevelop the space for a 2026 opening. Closed August 2025.
The Local Eatery & Drinking Hole (1065 Fourth Avenue, Downtown San Diego) – The Local Eatery & Drinking Hole quietly closed its original downtown San Diego location in fall 2025 after months of confusion, conflicting claims, and an unusually opaque transition that left vendors, patrons, and industry insiders uncertain about when the business actually ceased operations. Founded in 2003 by Mina Desiderio and long operated under her Social Syndicate umbrella, The Local was a Fourth Avenue fixture for more than two decades before a June 2025 email circulated to some vendors stating the bar would permanently close at the end of that month and would be unable to satisfy outstanding financial obligations. Despite that notice, the bar continued operating for weeks, with ownership publicly disputing reports of a closure and launching profane online tirades directed at SanDiegoVille and its founder for reporting on the situation. By late summer, however, The Local’s website went dark, its listings flipped to “closed,” and the space began transitioning to Modern Times Beer + Coffee’s new concept, Timestead. The muddled ending coincided with the earlier January 2025 closure of Resident Brewing, which had partnered with The Local since a major 2015 remodel, and marked the end of one of downtown’s longest-running neighborhood pubs without a formal announcement or farewell. The downtown closure paved the way for Modern Times’ takeover, while a separate East Village project using The Local name emerged under a new legal entity, underscoring that the original Fourth Avenue operation had ended for good. Closed September-October 2025.
Below are San Diego’s most surprising bar and restaurant closures of 2025, listed with context, timing, and why each one mattered.
85°C Bakery Café (5575 Balboa Avenue, Suite 330, Clairemont/Balboa Mesa) – The original San Diego location of the globally recognized Taiwanese bakery chain permanently closed in December 2025, ending an 11-year run that helped introduce the brand to the region. When 85°C debuted in this Balboa Mesa space in fall 2014, it arrived amid major international momentum, quickly drawing long lines for its grab-and-go pastries, fresh breads, sponge cakes, milk teas, and signature Sea Salt Coffee. The store served as the company’s first San Diego foothold before subsequent expansions to Mira Mesa, National City, University Town Center, and later Oceanside. In its final year, customers reported noticeable declines in inventory, reduced hours, and lighter foot traffic, fueling speculation about rising rents, shifting consumer habits, and broader financial pressures affecting the brand globally. While the company has not publicly detailed the reason for the closure, an in-store notice confirmed the café served its final customers on December 19, 2025. The closure marked the end of a foundational chapter for one of San Diego’s most influential Asian bakery arrivals of the past decade, even as other local 85°C locations continue operating across the county. Closed December 19, 2025.
A Little Moore Café (698 North Coast Highway 101, Leucadia) – The attempted revival of the longtime North County breakfast institution collapsed less than a year after reopening, with the café permanently closing in late 2025 amid a bitter legal dispute between its co-owners. Encinitas natives and longtime friends Andy Vasquez and Deon Dickey relaunched A Little Moore Café in January 2025 after purchasing the brand and intellectual property following the original diner’s 2023 lease loss, rebuilding the space with salvaged booths, stools, and a retro bar while updating the menu with classic diner fare and modern brunch offerings. Despite strong community nostalgia, the partnership quickly unraveled. By March 2025, Vasquez had been removed as day-to-day manager, competing civil lawsuits were filed by Vasquez, Dickey, and the Winter family trust (the café’s prior owners and minority stakeholders), and the business ceased operations entirely. Court filings outline sharply conflicting accounts, including allegations of unpaid purchase installments, improper termination, withheld access to business accounts and social media, and public accusations made between the parties. The fully built-out café soon hit the market as a turnkey restaurant opportunity, underscoring how internal ownership conflict - layered atop rising coastal operating costs - abruptly ended what had been framed as a sentimental, community-driven comeback. The legal dispute remains unresolved, with a jury trial scheduled for April 2026, while the café itself stands dark once again, closing a second chapter of a once-beloved Leucadia institution. Closed late 2025.
Barrio Dogg (2234 Logan Avenue, Barrio Logan) – Barrio Dogg closed its original Barrio Logan location in early 2025 after seven years as one of the neighborhood’s most distinctive food-and-culture destinations. Founded in 2017 by Pablo Rios, the concept began as a hot dog cart built from a 1964 Impala, channeling lowrider culture before expanding into a brick-and-mortar restaurant and taproom that blended Chicano comfort food, local and Mexican craft beer, and a rotating lowrider art gallery. The restaurant shuttered quietly without advance notice, with the space cleared out and communications disconnected, marking another significant loss for Barrio Logan’s independent business ecosystem. Its closure followed a string of high-profile neighborhood shutdowns, including Border X Brewing, Salud, and La Bodega, underscoring the mounting pressures facing culturally rooted small businesses in the historic district. The Logan Avenue space has since been taken over by Fonda del Barrio, a regional Mexican restaurant from City Tacos founder Gerry Torres, bringing a new concept to the former Barrio Dogg footprint. Closed early 2025.
Barrio Star (2706 Fifth Avenue, Bankers Hill) – Barrio Star permanently closed in October 2025 after 15 years as one of San Diego’s most recognizable Mexican-fusion restaurants, ending a long run in the bright orange corner building at Fifth Avenue and Nutmeg Street. Founded in 2010 by chef Isabel Cruz and later operated by owner Todd Camburn with longtime bar manager–turned–general manager Jeremy Stellenwerf, Barrio Star built a loyal following for its self-described “modern Mexican soul food,” blending traditional Mexican flavors with Asian influences, health-conscious ingredients, and bold presentation. Known for house-made tortillas, rice bowls, inventive tacos, and a strong cocktail program, the restaurant earned particular acclaim for its Roasted Jalapeño Blackberry Margarita, which won San Diego Reader’s “Best Margarita” in both 2018 and 2019. Its Día de los Muertos–inspired décor, vibrant murals, and high-energy atmosphere helped make it a Bankers Hill landmark during a period when the neighborhood was rapidly evolving. In a farewell message, ownership thanked guests and staff for years of support, noting the deep sense of community built around the space. The closure marked the loss of a defining restaurant of San Diego’s 2010s dining era, leaving behind a legacy of creativity, color, and influence on the city’s modern Mexican scene. Closed October 2025.
Blackmarket Bakery (Oceanside & North Park) – Blackmarket Bakery shuttered both its Oceanside and North Park locations in late summer 2025, bringing a sudden and definitive end to the once-beloved Southern California bakery brand. The closures followed the company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in September 2024 and came within weeks of one another, first with the Oceanside outpost and then with the North Park café, which had briefly remained open as the brand’s final storefront. Founded by CIA-trained pastry chef Rachel Klemek, Blackmarket Bakery built a cult following for nostalgic, chef-driven baked goods including housemade Pop-Tarts, croissant breakfast sandwiches, fruit tarts, and signature two-tone chocolate chip cookies. The Oceanside location, which opened in 2022 at the Freeman Collective development, was positioned as a modern coastal café intended to anchor a growing culinary hub in North County, while the nearly 3,000-square-foot North Park shop served as the brand’s San Diego flagship. Customers arriving at the North Park location in early September 2025 encountered a handwritten closure notice, and the shop never reopened. With both locations closed, Blackmarket Bakery’s physical presence in San Diego County - and Southern California at large - has fully disappeared, marking a rapid fall for a brand that had expanded aggressively just a few years earlier. Closed August–September 2025.
Border X Brewing (2181 Logan Avenue, Barrio Logan) – Border X Brewing closed its Barrio Logan brewpub in late 2024 after more than a decade as one of the neighborhood’s most influential cultural and craft beer institutions. Founded by David Favela and originally launched in Otay Mesa before expanding to Barrio Logan in 2014, Border X became widely known for boundary-pushing beers such as Jamaica Saison and Mexican Chocolate Stout, as well as for its role as a community anchor deeply rooted in Latino culture. The brewery earned national recognition, including a James Beard Award nomination for Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Producer, and played a pivotal role in supporting local entrepreneurs, most notably helping launch Mujeres Brew House, San Diego’s first all-female-led brewery. Border X’s closure followed the expiration of its lease in late December 2024 and mounting financial strain tied to pandemic-era debt and unresolved back rent, prompting a public GoFundMe plea weeks before shutting down. The loss marked another major blow to Barrio Logan’s independent business landscape, even as the brand signaled it would continue operating in partnership with Mujeres Brew House at its Julian Avenue location. The former Border X taproom has since been taken over by Mason Ale Works, which launched a revamped tasting room and eatery in the space, closing the chapter on Border X’s Logan Avenue era while ushering in a new operator at the longtime neighborhood gathering spot.
Bottle Rocket Bar & Grill (805 16th Street, East Village) – Bottle Rocket Bar & Grill permanently closed in October 2025, ending a six-year run in San Diego’s East Village after operating in the former Monkey Paw Pub & Brewery space since 2019. The bar debuted with a revamped interior and a casual tavern concept centered on smash burgers, hot chicken sandwiches, wings, cheesesteaks, and an extensive craft beverage program featuring roughly 30 rotating taps alongside cocktails, wine, and cider. Part of the old brewery footprint was converted into a game room, reinforcing Bottle Rocket’s aim to function as a laid-back neighborhood hangout. Co-owner Elias Delgado announced the closure publicly, citing an inability to renew the lease and a combination of mounting financial and operational pressures that made continued operation untenable. The shutdown marked yet another turnover for the long-troubled 16th Street address, which has seen multiple concepts cycle through since Monkey Paw’s 2018 closure, underscoring the ongoing challenges facing independent bars and restaurants in downtown San Diego. Closed October 2025.
Breakfast Republic (3685 Fifth Avenue, Hillcrest) – The San Diego morning-focused chain closed its Hillcrest location in early 2026, quietly shuttering the former Tractor Room space less than five years after opening in late 2021. A sign posted in the window redirected diners to the chain’s North Park outpost, offering no explanation for the sudden exit. The closure marked another setback for Johan Engman’s Rise & Shine Hospitality Group, which has seen a growing number of San Diego concepts shut down in recent years, including Breakfast Republic locations in La Jolla and Carmel Valley, Fig Tree Café in Mission Valley, an East Village rebrand, and earlier casualties such as El Jardin, Como Ceviche, and the short-lived Breakfast Company flagship in North Park. Once celebrated for its rapid expansion and national press, the group’s trajectory has increasingly been defined by volatility, overextension, and closures often following just a few years in operation. The Hillcrest shutdown further fueled local skepticism about the sustainability of Rise & Shine’s growth model, particularly as operating costs rose, consumer habits shifted, and prior controversies - including temporary health department closures due to major vermin at multiple sites - lingered in public memory. As of publication, Rise & Shine Hospitality Group had issued no formal statement on the Hillcrest closure, reinforcing the perception that what was once San Diego’s fastest-growing brunch brand was now in visible retreat.
Cabo Cantina (1050 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach) – Cabo Cantina closed its Pacific Beach location in February 2025, ending nearly two decades as a prominent fixture of the neighborhood’s bar-and-grill and late-night dining scene. Opened in 2006 by Milton Zampelli and Michael Bezerra of Sunset Restaurant Management Group, the Garnet Avenue outpost replaced the former El Comal and became known for its high-energy atmosphere, oversized margaritas, and Baja-inspired Mexican menu that catered to Pacific Beach’s party-driven crowds. Over the years, the group expanded locally with concepts such as PB Cantina and Fiesta Cantina, both of which later closed, leaving Baja Beach Cafe on the PB boardwalk as the company’s only remaining San Diego operation. Cabo Cantina served its final guests on February 16, 2025, with no official reason publicly disclosed for the closure. While the Pacific Beach chapter has ended, the Cabo Cantina brand continues to operate locations in Newport Beach, Hollywood, Venice Beach, and Santa Monica, preserving its legacy beyond San Diego.
Cacio e Pepe & The Seventh House (2835 University Avenue, North Park) – The dual-concept space housing Roman-style Italian restaurant Cacio e Pepe and its tarot-themed speakeasy bar The Seventh House quietly shuttered in late 2025, marking the latest reset at one of San Diego’s most frequently rebranded restaurant addresses. Cacio e Pepe operated out front as a pasta-focused trattoria, while The Seventh House functioned as a moody, astrology-inspired cocktail bar hidden behind the dining room. Both concepts emerged from the tangled ecosystem of operators and affiliates often linked to San Diego Dining Group and its extended network, following earlier iterations of the space that included MétlBar Creamery & Café and a previous all-day version of The Seventh House. After a short and uneven run, the restaurant and bar closed without a major public farewell, and state records soon confirmed their exit: a Type 47 liquor license transfer was filed to a new entity called Sono, signaling a full takeover and rebrand. The closures underscored the ongoing volatility and rapid turnover tied to this particular North Park corner, which has become emblematic of a broader pattern of fast pivots, overlapping ownership, and concept recycling among San Diego’s most aggressive restaurant groups. Closed late 2025 and soon to reopen at Sono.
Camino Riviera Bar & Restaurant (2400 India Street, Little Italy) – Camino Riviera permanently closed in late September 2025, ending a four-year run as one of Little Italy’s most nightlife-driven dining and bar concepts. The Riviera Maya–inspired venue opened in June 2021 after SDCM Restaurant Group founder Matt Spencer acquired and reimagined the longtime El Camino cantina into an immersive, art-forward space centered on DJs, late-night crowds, and indoor-outdoor energy. The closure followed mounting challenges, including a temporary liquor license suspension tied to patio entertainment restrictions in late 2024; although Camino later reopened, ownership announced that Sunday, September 28 marked its final day, thanking staff and guests without offering further explanation. The shutdown came months after Wilma’s Carousel Bar & Restaurant - another SDCM concept located next door at 2401 Kettner Boulevard - abruptly closed in March 2025 after just seven months in business, wiping its website and social accounts and leaving only a brief note on the door before the 2,500-square-foot space was listed for sale. Together, the back-to-back exits created two prominent vacancies in Little Italy and fueled industry chatter that Consortium Holdings/CH Projects may be eyeing one or both properties, underscoring the increasing difficulty of sustaining entertainment-heavy concepts amid regulatory pressure and shifting market conditions. Closed September 28, 2025.
Carmelita’s Kitchen de Mexico (Park 12, East Village) – Carmelita’s Kitchen de Mexico abruptly closed its San Diego location in early 2025 without advance notice, ending a short-lived expansion of the historic, family-run Mexican restaurant brand. Founded in Sacramento in 1962 by Alberto and Carmen Heredia, Carmelita’s built its reputation on multigenerational recipes rooted in Puebla and Central Mexican cuisine, with signature dishes including carnitas, guajillo-based red pozole, and Mexico City–style tacos. The East Village outpost opened in March 2022 at the Park 12 mixed-use development across from Petco Park and was operated by the founders’ son, Clemente Heredia, and his wife Rosalba, marking the brand’s foray into San Diego. Despite its prominent location within a busy residential and commercial complex, the restaurant shuttered quietly with no public explanation from ownership, leaving the space vacant and adding to the growing turnover among East Village dining tenants near the ballpark. Closed early 2025.
City Tacos (322 Seventh Avenue, East Village) – City Tacos closed its East Village location near Petco Park in mid-2025 after five years in operation, following a lease buyout by the San Diego Padres as part of the team’s broader effort to consolidate control over stadium-adjacent food-and-beverage spaces. The taqueria, which opened in March 2020 just days before California’s COVID-19 shutdowns, nevertheless became a reliable pre- and post-game stop for Padres fans, offering a mix of traditional tacos and more creative fillings like mahi mahi and beef shank. The restaurant had been operating under a sublease through J Street Hospitality with an original term running into 2026, but the Padres purchased the lease rights and opted not to renew. After City Tacos’ departure, the compact Seventh Avenue space was turned over to Delaware North’s Patina Group, which began redeveloping it into an upscale cocktail lounge called The Diamond Room, signaling a shift from independent local dining toward curated, team-aligned hospitality concepts around Petco Park. City Tacos continued operating its other San Diego County locations and later confirmed the East Village closure marked a strategic exit rather than a brand contraction. Closed June 30, 2025.
Comedor Nishi (1109 Wall Street, La Jolla) – Comedor Nishi quietly closed in late 2025, ending a brief but closely watched run for the Japanese-Mexican café in one of La Jolla Village’s most storied restaurant spaces. Opened in August 2024 by Shōwa Hospitality, the group behind The Taco Stand, the concept replaced the longtime Coffee Cup Café with an inventive daytime menu that blended Japanese technique and Mexican flavors under the direction of chef Pancho Ibáñez, a Pujol alum, alongside pastry chef Daniela. The restaurant drew early attention for dishes like duck carnitas, chilaquiles with Japanese-style salsas, matcha conchas, and refined takes on brunch staples, but struggled to gain long-term footing in the highly competitive La Jolla market. By fall 2025, the business was quietly shuttered as the property transitioned to new ownership, with the Barragán family of Cazadores and Cotija’s moving forward with plans for a new, more traditional Mexican brunch concept at the same address. The closure marked another rapid turnover for the high-profile Wall Street corner, underscoring the challenges of sustaining experimental concepts in one of San Diego’s most expensive dining districts. Closed fall 2025.
Common Theory Public House (1980 Optima Street, Chula Vista) – Common Theory permanently closed its Chula Vista outpost at the Mix at Millenia in December 2025, less than two years after opening as a highly anticipated South Bay expansion of the Convoy District original. Opened in March 2024 by founders Cris Liang and Joon Lee - both Chula Vista natives - the 4,500-square-foot gastropub was envisioned as a hometown return and a more refined evolution of the Kearny Mesa flagship, complete with a 30-tap beer program, communal seating, expansive windows, and a striking 3D dragon installation by local artist Christopher Konecki. Despite strong early enthusiasm and a loyal core of regulars, the restaurant struggled with factors largely outside its control, including incomplete surrounding development, delayed infrastructure, unfulfilled parking plans, and limited visibility and access within the Millenia project. In a farewell message, the owners cited these structural challenges alongside broader economic pressures as making continued operation unsustainable, framing the closure as painful but unavoidable. While the Chula Vista location is now shuttered, Common Theory’s original Convoy Street restaurant remains open, along with sister concepts Realm of the 52 Remedies and Woomiok. Closed December 21, 2025.
Copa Vida (Diamond View Tower, East Village) – Copa Vida permanently closed its East Village café in late August 2025, ending a decade-long run as one of downtown San Diego’s most recognizable specialty coffee hubs. Opened in 2014 inside the Diamond View Tower overlooking Petco Park, the café was one of the Pasadena-based roaster’s earliest expansions outside Los Angeles and quickly became a gathering place for office workers, residents, and Padres fans alike. Founded by Steve Chang, Copa Vida built its reputation around the idea of coffeehouses as spaces for connection, offering everything from honor-system drip coffee and curated pour-overs to specialty teas and an artisan food menu across multiple service bars. The East Village closure followed the January 2025 shutdown of Copa Vida’s 101 Broadway location, marking the brand’s full exit from downtown San Diego amid ongoing challenges tied to office vacancies, high rents, and shifting foot traffic. While the East Village café is now dark, Copa Vida continues to operate other San Diego-area locations including UCSD, San Marcos, Torrey Ridge Science Center, and Del Mar, signaling a strategic pivot away from the city’s urban core while preserving its broader regional presence.
Copper Top Coffee & Donuts (4636 Mission Boulevard, Pacific Beach) – Copper Top Coffee & Donuts closed in September 2025, ending an eight-year run for the made-to-order doughnut and coffee concept that first launched in Hillcrest in 2017 before reestablishing itself in Pacific Beach. Known for its open-kitchen setup and fresh-fried, customizable doughnuts finished with housemade sauces and toppings, Copper Top built a loyal following around playful creations like the white chocolate–coconut “16 Candles” and the Elvis with peanut butter, raspberry jam, banana, and bacon, alongside espresso drinks, breakfast sandwiches, açaí bowls, and smoothies. The business relocated to Mission Boulevard after shuttering its original Hillcrest drive-thru, with the owner previously citing challenges balancing made-to-order doughnuts with a drive-thru model. In announcing the closure, Copper Top shared that its final weekend of service would run limited morning hours, offering regulars a last chance to visit before the shop went dark. The closure marked the quiet end of a small, neighborhood-focused brand shaped by early mornings, long hours, and a cult following for fresh doughnuts in San Diego’s beach communities.
Crab Hut (1007 Fifth Avenue, Suite 101, Downtown San Diego) – Crab Hut closed its downtown San Diego location in August 2025 after 15 years in the Gaslamp Quarter, ending a long run for one of the city’s most recognizable Cajun-style seafood boil destinations. The Fifth Avenue outpost opened in mid-2010 in the former Fuddruckers space and became a go-to for messy, spice-heavy seafood feasts built around Dungeness crab, lobster, shrimp, crawfish, mussels, and house-made Cajun sauces served communally and eaten by hand. Founded in 2007 by Kim Phan, Ky Phan, and Quan Le, Crab Hut drew inspiration from Southern seafood boils the owners encountered while living in Houston, as well as family traditions rooted in South Vietnam, where communal seafood meals flavored with garlic, lemongrass, and citrus were central to gatherings. While the downtown closure trims the brand’s footprint, Crab Hut continues to operate its original Kearny Mesa location on Convoy Street and a Mira Mesa outpost, keeping the concept alive elsewhere in San Diego. The owners also remain active locally through Kingfisher Cocktail Bar & Eatery in Golden Hill, a nationally recognized Vietnamese-French restaurant. Closed August 2025.
El Borrego (4280 El Cajon Boulevard, City Heights) – El Borrego permanently closed in late December 2025, ending nearly 20 years as one of San Diego’s most beloved and culturally significant Mexican restaurants. Founded by Rosario Sotelo and her daughter Rodnia Navarro, the City Heights staple began in the mid-2000s as a humble weekend operation selling lamb barbacoa tacos from a driveway before growing into a destination known countywide for its Southern Mexican cuisine. El Borrego earned a devoted following for its labor-intensive lamb barbacoa rooted in Sotelo’s Guerrero heritage, along with chilaquiles, pozole verde, squash blossom quesadillas, huitlacoche, and an unusually inclusive menu that welcomed meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans alike. Beyond the food, the restaurant functioned as a community anchor, reflecting the owners’ commitment to City Heights through cultural preservation, immigrant entrepreneurship, and a deeply personal, family-driven approach to hospitality. The closure, announced via Instagram with gratitude for “20 amazing years,” came amid mounting pressures facing independent restaurants across San Diego and marked the loss of a rare institution whose influence extended far beyond its modest dining room. Closed December 28, 2025.
Crushed Brunch Restaurant (967 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach) – After a decade as one of Pacific Beach’s most recognizable all-day brunch destinations, Crushed announced its closure in early 2025, marking the end of a long-running neighborhood staple. Founded in October 2014 by siblings Andrew and Amy Ballester, Crushed built a loyal following around its beachy, high-energy atmosphere, inventive comfort-driven brunch dishes, and party-forward drink program highlighted by oversized punch bowls and playful cocktails. The restaurant became synonymous with weekend brunch culture in Pacific Beach, blending laid-back coastal vibes with a celebratory dining experience that kept the space buzzing for years. A second location opened in North Park in 2022 but closed less than a year later, leaving the original Garnet Avenue outpost as the brand’s final chapter. The 2,300-square-foot space, previously home to Ciro’s Pizza, was listed for sale following the closure and later reopened as Spitz Mediterranean Street Food, underscoring the rapid turnover reshaping San Diego’s dining corridors. Closed January 2025.
The Dog Society (6331 University Avenue, Rolando) – The Dog Society permanently closed in early 2025, ending a nearly three-year run as one of San Diego’s most ambitious dog-centric social concepts. Opened in February 2022 inside a converted 8,500-square-foot former furniture store, the Rolando venue combined canine daycare, boarding, grooming, and training with a dog-friendly bar, café, and indoor-outdoor social space that featured a beer garden, games, and community events. Owner Sara Broetje confirmed the closure was driven by the inability to secure a workable lease renewal alongside rising operating costs, calling the decision unavoidable despite strong community support. The shutdown occurred in phases, with the bar and café closing February 16 and all dog services ending March 2. While the business ceased operations at the Rolando location, Broetje publicly expressed hope that The Dog Society could potentially reopen in a new location in the future, marking the closure as a pause rather than a definitive end to the concept.
East Village Asian Diner (628 S. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas) – East Village Asian Diner closed permanently on August 31, 2025, ending a more than decade-long run as one of Encinitas’ most distinctive neighborhood restaurants. Founded in 2010 by chef-owner Daniel Bohlen, the casual diner developed a devoted following for its Korean- and Japanese-influenced menu filtered through a Southern California lens, most notably the Monk’s Stone Pot, a sizzling bibimbap-style rice bowl served in a hot stone vessel. Bohlen, a graduate of New York’s French Culinary Institute, drew on his Korean heritage and his wife’s Japanese background to create a menu that balanced comfort, consistency, and creativity, complemented by playful touches like anime screenings and robot-themed decor. The restaurant weathered shifting dining trends and the pandemic era largely unchanged, becoming a reliable staple for locals, even after a short-lived Hillcrest expansion shuttered years earlier. The Highway 101 space did not remain vacant for long following the closure: it was taken over by Corner Pizza, the North County pie shop from restaurateur Mario Guerra and partners, which opened its Encinitas location later in 2025, marking the brand’s fourth San Diego County outpost and ushering in the next chapter for the longtime coastal address.
Edgewater Grill (861 West Harbor Drive, Seaport Village) – Edgewater Grill closed in January 2025 after nearly four decades as one of Seaport Village’s most recognizable waterfront restaurants, marking the end of a long-running chapter in downtown San Diego dining. Opened in the early 1990s, Edgewater became a staple for tourists and locals alike with its broad, crowd-pleasing menu of seafood and American classics paired with sweeping views of San Diego Bay. Its closure came amid the continued redevelopment and repositioning of Seaport Village, as the nearly 9,700-square-foot bayfront space was slated for conversion into a new San Diego outpost of the iconic Gladstone’s seafood restaurant brand. While bittersweet for longtime patrons, the transition signaled a broader shift toward nationally recognized, destination-driven concepts along the waterfront. Edgewater Grill served its final guests prior to dinner service on January 13, 2025, closing out a legacy that spanned generations of visitors, family meals, and waterfront memories.
Flap Your Jacks (3020 University Avenue, North Park) – Flap Your Jacks permanently closed in September 2025 after five and a half years as one of North Park’s most distinctive brunch destinations. The interactive, do-it-yourself pancake restaurant opened in March 2020, just days before pandemic shutdowns, yet managed to survive the most turbulent period in modern hospitality while building a loyal following among families, groups, and weekend brunch crowds. Founded by brothers Ilan and Marcos Wornovitzky alongside hospitality veteran Raul Esses, the 4,200-square-foot space became known for its griddle-at-the-table concept, allowing guests to flip their own pancakes using housemade batters like buttermilk, red velvet, banana bread, and peanut butter, with extensive toppings, syrups, and vegan and gluten-free options. The restaurant’s playful design - including a syrup-drip exterior and a ceiling installation of hundreds of hanging spatulas - made it a visual landmark on University Avenue, while a broader menu of chilaquiles, Benedicts, sandwiches, cocktails, and juices helped round out its appeal. The owners announced the immediate closure via social media, thanking the community for years of support and memories, prompting an outpouring of nostalgia from patrons who described the restaurant as a “core memory” spot for birthdays and celebrations. No official reason for the closure was disclosed, and no replacement concept has been announced, leaving a notable vacancy in one of San Diego’s most competitive dining corridors.
Fisher’s Seafood House (555 West Beech Street, Little Italy) – Fisher’s Seafood House closed its San Diego location in early 2025, ending a brief run of less than two years for the upscale Mexican seafood brand’s first and only U.S. outpost. Founded in Mexico City in 1989 as a four-seat restaurant, Fisher’s expanded into a major mariscos group with more than 20 locations across Mexico and a vertically integrated seafood processing facility supplying its restaurants. The San Diego location opened in May 2023 in the 8,700-square-foot space formerly occupied by the short-lived Roma Urban Market on the edge of Little Italy, offering a refined take on Mexican seafood with ceviches, aguachiles, seafood tacos, and raw-bar-style dishes. The closure was not announced in advance and no official reason was disclosed, but its exit added to the growing turnover in Little Italy and underscored the difficulty even established international brands face when entering San Diego’s high-rent, highly competitive dining market. Closed early 2025.
The Fish Pit Sushi Bar (5780 El Cajon Blvd, College Area) – The Fish Pit Sushi Bar closed in spring 2025 after nearly a decade in business, ending its run in controversy after owner and chef Zach Stofferahn accepted prepaid reservations for multiple “final dinner” seatings that were later canceled without refunds to at least some customers. The casual sushi spot near San Diego State University, which opened in 2016, had built a loyal following for its approachable sushi, poke bowls, BYOB policy, and fan-favorite Pit Nachos, often marketed as a neighborhood-friendly alternative to pricier omakase counters. In late April, Stofferahn announced what was framed publicly as a temporary closure tied to out-of-state projects, promoting paid farewell omakase and pop-up events. However, some diners later reported that seatings were canceled and payments were never returned, casting a shadow over the restaurant’s exit and angering longtime supporters. The Fish Pit ultimately shuttered without a clear reopening plan or any response from Stofferahn, leaving behind unresolved customer complaints and an acrimonious end to what had once been considered a local hidden gem.
Fred’s Mexican Cafe / Casa de Fred’s (2470 San Diego Avenue, Old Town) – Fred’s Mexican Cafe permanently closed in September 2025 after 25 years as one of Old Town San Diego’s most recognizable and tourist-driven dining institutions. Opened in 1999, the restaurant became known for its lively patio, oversized margaritas, Taco Tuesdays, and approachable Mexican-American fare that catered to both visitors and locals in the heart of the city’s historic district. Ownership announced the closure citing a combination of rising operational costs, a sharp decline in tourism, and regulatory hurdles that stalled a planned remodel intended to reinvigorate the space. Despite attempts to reinvest, the project never moved forward, ultimately making continued operation unsustainable. Fred’s was the last remaining San Diego outpost for the brand, which had previously shuttered locations downtown and in Pacific Beach, leaving only sister restaurants in Huntington Beach and Kihei, Hawaii. The closure marks another significant loss for Old Town’s traditional restaurant lineup and underscores the mounting financial pressures facing long-standing, tourism-dependent eateries. Closed September 2025.
The Friendly (1344 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach) – The Friendly closed its Pacific Beach location in mid-2025 after a three-year run, quietly ending the brand’s expansion into San Diego’s beach dining corridor. The PB outpost opened in 2022 as the third location for the cult-favorite smash burger and pizza concept founded by the late Brandon Zanavich, bringing its no-modifications policy, Dirty Flat Top burgers, thin-crust pizzas, and casual tavern energy to Garnet Avenue. While no formal reason for the closure was announced, the decision was reportedly underway prior to Zanavich’s sudden passing in May 2025, a loss that reverberated throughout San Diego’s food community. The space did not sit vacant for long. It was taken over by Mission Bagel, the popular food truck concept founded by Gabe Rubin, which soft opened its first brick-and-mortar shop later in 2025. Mission Bagel brought classic New York–inspired bagels and schmears to Pacific Beach, marking a clean shift from burgers to bagels and positioning the former Friendly location as part of San Diego’s rapidly evolving bagel renaissance.
Half Door Brewing Company (903 Island Avenue, East Village) – Half Door Brewing Company closed its East Village location in May 2025 after nearly a decade as one of downtown San Diego’s most distinctive and beloved brewpubs. Founded in 2015 by siblings Stacy and Dan Drayne—whose family also owns The Field Irish Pub in the Gaslamp—the Irish-style brewery operated out of a historic two-story house overlooking Petco Park, earning a loyal following for its intimate porch seating, house-brewed beers, and community-driven atmosphere. Brewmaster Dan Drayne became known for his experimental, small-batch approach, rarely repeating beers and producing styles ranging from dry Irish stout and red ale to IPAs and Berlinerweisse, while the kitchen incorporated those beers into dishes like fish and chips and beer-braised short ribs. The closure followed the sale of the lease and pending liquor license transfer to Anaheim-based Villains Brewing Company, which ultimately took over the space and reimagined it as a villain-themed brewpub and restaurant later in 2025. Half Door poured its final pints on May 11, 2025, closing the chapter on a rare residential-style brewery that helped define East Village’s pre- and post-game drinking culture for nearly ten years.
Harland Brewing (3720 Paseo Place, Carmel Valley / One Paseo) – Harland Brewing will close its One Paseo tasting room in October 2025, ending a six-year run as one of the original food-and-beverage anchors of Del Mar’s high-profile One Paseo development. The location opened in 2019 during the complex’s initial launch, positioning Harland alongside national names like Shake Shack and Salt & Straw as part of a curated “lifestyle hub” vision that has since undergone significant turnover. Harland confirmed the closure as a strategic shift rather than a contraction, citing plans to open a far more ambitious, full-service restaurant and taproom in 4S Ranch in the former Ponce’s Mexican Restaurant space by late 2025. That project builds on the brewery’s expanding culinary identity, including its Scripps Ranch production facility and kitchen and the South Park café-style taproom, with food led by veteran chef Scott Cannon. While One Paseo continues to reshuffle its dining lineup with both closures and new arrivals, Harland’s exit marks another notable departure from the development’s original roster. At the same time, the brewery’s growth trajectory appears firmly intact, with industry chatter pointing to at least one additional San Diego County location under consideration for 2026, signaling Harland’s continued evolution from a craft brewery into a multi-location, hospitality-driven brand.
Harley Gray Kitchen & Bar (902 West Washington Street, Mission Hills) – The longtime Mission Hills neighborhood staple permanently closed in December 2025 after a 12-year run, marking the end of a deeply personal chapter for owner John Ealy and a significant shift along the city’s historic Restaurant Row. Opened in 2014 in the former Gathering space and named after Ealy’s nieces, Harley Gray became known as an approachable all-day restaurant with salads, sandwiches, shared plates, brunch, and a lively bar program that fostered a fiercely loyal local following. Proudly gay-owned, the restaurant evolved into a welcoming hub for the LGBTQ+ community, allies, and neighborhood regulars, with longtime staff forming a core part of its identity. The closure followed the sale of the property to Merritt Powell and his wife Hailey, the owners of La Puerta Mexican Restaurant, who confirmed plans to replace Harley Gray with an entirely new, Mission Hills–specific bar and restaurant concept rather than an extension of their existing brand. Ealy retained ownership of the Harley Gray name and framed the decision as a deliberate transition after fulfilling his vision for the restaurant, as he shifts focus to other ventures including The Anvil Gym and future projects. Harley Gray served its final guests on December 19, 2025, closing a chapter woven into more than a decade of everyday life, celebrations, and community in Mission Hills. Closed December 19, 2025.
Hawthorn Coffee (3019 Adams Avenue, North Park) – Hawthorn Coffee closed its North Park café in March 2025 after nearly 10 years in business, citing an inability to secure a lease renewal under workable terms. Founded in 2015 by Kevin Redmond and his son Dylan, Hawthorn emerged as an early “third wave” coffee shop on Adams Avenue, known for its carefully sourced beans, slow-bar brewing methods, and community-first approach. The café featured coffee from Foxy Coffee Co. and Flying Goat Coffee, organic teas from Mad Monk Tea Shop, and pastries from local bakeries including Bread & Cie and Black Magic Bakery, quickly becoming a neighborhood staple for morning regulars and remote workers alike. In a farewell message, ownership said a proposed rent increase “far surpassed” their existing structure and made continued operation in the space untenable. While the North Park location has since been taken over by Little While Café, Hawthorn’s owners have said the brand is not finished and are actively searching for a new home. Closed March 29, 2025.
Henry’s Pub (618 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter) – After a 25-year run as one of the Gaslamp Quarter’s longest-standing neighborhood pubs, Henry’s Pub permanently closed in spring 2025, clearing the way for New Orleans–based frozen daiquiri chain Fat Tuesday to take over the high-profile Fifth Avenue space. Opened in 2000 by owner Kai Niemi, Henry’s built a reputation as a rare Gaslamp hybrid: family-friendly by day, nightlife hub by night, with live music, pub brunch, and cult-favorite menu items like the #cluckmoo. SanDiegoVille first reported the impending closure and Fat Tuesday takeover in early April 2025, a claim initially denied by ownership. The pub ultimately shuttered weeks later, with its final weekend overshadowed by a viral incident involving a Henry’s employee and a street vendor, prompting a public apology from the business after it had already closed. Fat Tuesday, founded on Bourbon Street in 1984 and backed by Garnett Station Partners, then moved forward with its first-ever California location at the site, marketed as the brand’s largest outpost nationwide. The 3,600-square-foot venue features a full kitchen, 30 TVs, frozen cocktails, DJs, and a day-to-night format aimed squarely at Gaslamp foot traffic. The transition marks a symbolic shift from a locally rooted pub to a corporate nightlife concept, reflecting the broader transformation underway in downtown San Diego’s bar scene. Henry’s Pub closed May 2025.
Hooters (1400 Camino De La Reina, Suite 115, Mission Valley) – Hooters closed its Mission Valley location in August 2025, marking the end of the brand’s once-prominent presence in central San Diego and leaving just a single remaining Hooters operating in San Diego County. The Mission Valley outpost, which had served as one of the chain’s last footholds in the city, shuttered amid a broader national contraction for the legacy sports bar brand, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier in 2025 as it grappled with mounting debt, declining sales, and shifting consumer attitudes toward its decades-old “breastaurant” model. Founded in 1983 and once boasting hundreds of locations worldwide, Hooters had previously closed San Diego-area restaurants in downtown, Pacific Beach, Rancho Bernardo, Oceanside, and Plaza Bonita. The Mission Valley closure underscored the brand’s continued retreat from major urban markets, even as company leadership publicly insisted the chain would survive through franchising and restructuring efforts. With its departure, only the San Marcos location remains open in the county, signaling the end of an era for a concept that was once a ubiquitous part of San Diego’s casual dining and sports bar landscape. Closed August 25, 2025.
Jenny Wenny Cakes (Carmel Mountain Ranch) – Jenny Wenny Cakes permanently closed in April 2025 after more than a decade as a beloved San Diego bakery specializing in custom cakes and handcrafted desserts. Founded in 2010 by Jenny Williams after a career change from the pharmaceutical industry, the business began as a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society fundraiser before evolving into a full-scale bakery known for wedding cakes, celebration desserts, macarons, cookies, and meticulous full-service event setups. Jenny Wenny Cakes moved into its Carmel Mountain Ranch brick-and-mortar space in 2015, where it built a loyal following rooted in quality ingredients and attention to detail. Williams announced the closure via Instagram, citing the end of a 15-year chapter and a desire to move on to new endeavors, while thanking customers, staff, and collaborators for their support. The 1,200-square-foot permitted bakery space, fully equipped with ovens, mixers, refrigeration, and fixtures, was simultaneously listed for lease, marking both the end of a long-running small business and the transition of its turnkey kitchen to a new operator. Closed April 5, 2025.
La Clochette Café & Bakery (4680 Cass Street, Pacific Beach) – La Clochette Café & Bakery closed its Pacific Beach location in January 2025, ending a five-year run as a neighborhood favorite for French-inspired coffee, pastries, and breakfast-and-lunch fare. Originally founded in La Jolla in 2015 and later backed by Hommage Bakehouse, La Clochette relocated to Cass Street in late 2019, where it became a community fixture known for its relaxed atmosphere and European-style menu. The owners cited ongoing economic challenges in announcing the closure, which followed mounting legal and financial issues tied to Hommage Bakehouse, including lawsuits and default judgments related to unpaid financing obligations. Despite the Pacific Beach shutdown, the business continued operating its Mission Valley location in Civita, which became its primary outpost, while the owners shifted focus toward new ventures, including the Basque-California fusion restaurant CTZN in Solana Beach. The former La Clochette space was quickly slated for reuse, with The Barista Botanist organic café announcing plans to take over the Cass Street storefront, signaling another rapid transition along Pacific Beach’s competitive dining corridor. Closed January 12, 2025.
La Familia Restaurant & Bar (6333 Mission Gorge Road, Mission Gorge) – La Familia Restaurant & Bar, the short-lived follow-up to Salud Tacos from owners Vincent “Vinny” Becerra, Ernest Becerra, and Angelina Luna, abruptly closed in May 2025 after just six months in business in the former longtime Tio Leo’s space. The restaurant opened in November 2024 with ambitions of blending Salud-style street tacos with classic Mexican entrées, craft cocktails, brunch service, and a lounge-style bar atmosphere, but ceased operations without a public announcement; its phone line was disconnected and social media accounts were taken offline. The closure followed a March 6, 2025 shutdown by the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality for multiple violations, including major vermin issues, improper food holding temperatures, inadequate warewashing facilities, and sanitation concerns, after which the restaurant was allowed to reopen. La Familia’s launch had been partially supported through financing facilitated by San Diego nonprofit Accessity, adding to the surprise surrounding its sudden disappearance. The shutdown marked another setback tied to the Salud Tacos orbit, following the 2024 closure of Salud’s original Barrio Logan location, and left the large Mission Gorge space vacant once again. Closed May 2025.
La Pastaia (3055 Clairemont Drive, Bay Park) – La Pastaia closed in August 2025 after a two-year run in San Diego’s Bay Park neighborhood, bringing an end to the Sicilian-led, handmade pasta concept opened in June 2023 by Priscilla Scardina and Maria Lo Cascio. The restaurant replaced the former Farmer’s Table and quickly built a following for its house-made pastas, Neapolitan-style pizzas, and Italian entrées rooted in family tradition, with Scardina’s childhood pasta techniques and Lo Cascio’s Venetian-influenced dining room design shaping the experience. The team announced the closure with an emotional farewell, thanking guests for turning the space into “more than just a restaurant — a home,” before serving final plates on August 23. The address did not remain vacant: the space has since reopened as Romanella Cucina Romana, an Italian concept from restaurateur Vincenzo Loverso that officially debuted in October 2025, marking the next chapter for the long-shifting Bay Park restaurant site.
Las Cuatro Milpas (1851 Logan Avenue, Barrio Logan) – A claim previously labeled as "fake news" when reported in October 2024, San Diego’s historic Mexican restaurant closed following service on Christmas Eve 2025, bringing an abrupt and deeply emotional end to one of the city’s most iconic culinary institutions. Founded in 1933 by Petra and Natividad Estudillo, Las Cuatro Milpas operated for more than nine decades as a cornerstone of Barrio Logan, renowned for its handmade tortillas, chorizo, rice, beans, and rolled tacos served from a no-frills, cash-only counter that drew daily lines and multigenerational loyalty. The closure followed the sale of the property for approximately $2.275 million to Iglesia del Dios Vivo Columna, Inc., the parent organization of La Luz del Mundo, after years of mounting financial pressure including tax liens and a temporary health department shutdown earlier in 2025. Although earlier reports suggested the restaurant might continue operating under new ownership, staff confirmed that December 24 likely marked its final day of service. The loss of Las Cuatro Milpas represents not just the disappearance of a restaurant, but the erasure of a living cultural landmark that helped define San Diego’s Mexican food identity for nearly a century. Closed December 24, 2025.
Lia’s Lumpia (2219 Logan Avenue, Barrio Logan) – Lia’s Lumpia closed its Barrio Logan brick-and-mortar in late 2025, ending the restaurant chapter of one of San Diego’s most visible Filipino food concepts amid mounting operational challenges and a reported decline in foot traffic tied to fear of ICE enforcement in the neighborhood. Founded by mother-and-son team Lia and Chef Spencer Avery-Santos Hunter, the business evolved from a popular food truck into a permanent home in 2022 alongside Milagro’s Modern Filipino, earning local and national attention for its Filipino soul food, including inventive dishes like mac-and-cheese lumpia. While the restaurant also faced regulatory hurdles in 2025, including temporary health-department closures, sources close to the business say anxiety surrounding potential immigration raids significantly impacted customer turnout in Barrio Logan. In announcing the closure, the owners said they are refocusing on catering, manufacturing, and special events, returning to the model that originally built the brand. Lia’s Lumpia will continue to appear at festivals, private events, and through select partnerships, but the Logan Avenue dining room is now dark—marking another loss for Barrio Logan’s independent restaurant scene during a period of heightened economic and social strain. Closed November 2025.
Liberty Call Distilling (1985 National Avenue, Suite 1117, Barrio Logan) – Liberty Call Distilling will permanently close its Barrio Logan tasting room on July 20, 2025, bringing an end to the San Diego chapter of the local craft spirits brand after more than a decade in business. Founded in 2013 in Spring Valley by Marc Lord and Bill Rogers, Liberty Call built a following for its small-batch bourbon, rum, gin, and whiskey before expanding in June 2020 into a full-service distillery, bar, and restaurant at Mercado del Barrio. The concept blended house-made spirits with food-driven programming like Steak Night, Wing Night, and members-only events, positioning Liberty Call as both a producer and neighborhood gathering space. In recent years, the business faced mounting challenges, including the short-lived Shore Duty restaurant in Coronado, which opened in August 2024 and closed less than four months later, and the quiet listing of the Barrio Logan operation for sale late in 2024. In a farewell message to customers, the founders thanked the community for its long-running support and invited patrons in for final events and last pours before closing. The July 20 shutdown officially ends Liberty Call’s physical presence in San Diego’s hospitality scene.
Little Italy Food Hall (550 W Date Street, Little Italy) – The Little Italy Food Hall permanently closed in February 2025 after nearly seven years as a centerpiece of Piazza della Famiglia, with vendors and employees allegedly given only a few days’ notice before the shutdown. Operated by Grit & Grain Collective, the modern food hall debuted in 2018 and housed a rotating lineup of curated vendors alongside a full bar, later expanding across the piazza with the opening of Basta, a full-service Italian restaurant that replaced Graze by Sam The Cooking Guy in mid-2024. The closure followed a period of upheaval that included Sam “The Cooking Guy” Zien publicly severing ties with the group and exiting the restaurant industry entirely, despite earlier assurances that the concepts would continue operating. Both the food hall and Basta were quietly shuttered without a public explanation, even as the combined spaces had been listed for sale and later for lease. In a subsequent development, the vacant food hall space was taken over by veteran food hall operator Berke Bakay - known for Windmill Food Hall and Miramar Food Hall—who announced plans to redevelop the 4,685-square-foot venue into a new, yet-to-be-named multi-vendor dining concept designed by BASILE Studio, signaling a reset rather than an end for the high-profile Little Italy location.
Little Miss Brewing (multiple locations across San Diego County) – Little Miss Brewing permanently closed all nine of its San Diego County locations in March 2025, bringing an end to one of the region’s most aggressive craft beer expansion stories after nearly a decade in business. Founded in 2016 by Greg and Jade Malkin, the brewery began in Miramar with a World War II–themed concept and rapidly grew into the county’s most geographically widespread independent beer operation, at one point operating 10 locations. Its footprint included a headquarters in Logan Heights and taprooms in East Village, Chula Vista’s Eastlake, Escondido, Kearny Mesa, La Mesa, Lakeside, Normal Heights, Poway, and even inside Balboa Park’s San Diego History Center, with Little Miss notably opening the first dedicated craft beer venue in Lakeside. Despite its reach, the company struggled amid a tightening craft beer market, rising costs, and shifting consumer habits. After unsuccessful fundraising efforts, ownership opted to shutter all locations at once and begin liquidating brewing equipment and fixtures. The mass closure marked one of the largest brewery collapses in San Diego history and underscored the growing challenges facing even well-established, highly visible craft beer brands. Closed March 14, 2025.
LOLA 55 (7720 El Camino Real, Carlsbad) – Michelin-recognized modern taqueria LOLA 55 closed its Carlsbad location in August 2025, ending a short-lived North County run that lasted less than two years. The Carlsbad outpost marked the brand’s first major expansion beyond its original East Village flagship and brought LOLA 55’s elevated take on Mexican street food - rooted in handmade tortillas, responsibly sourced ingredients, and refined technique - to a suburban dining corridor. In announcing the closure, the company cited challenges unique to the Carlsbad location, while emphasizing that the decision allowed the team to refocus on core and future projects. Founded in 2018 by Tijuana native Frank Vizcarra, LOLA 55 continued operating its downtown flagship and La Jolla-area spinoff while pushing forward with an ambitious expansion, including a full-service Liberty Station location and a broader evolution of the brand beyond fast-casual tacos. The Carlsbad closure underscored the growing difficulty of sustaining chef-driven concepts outside San Diego’s most dense urban and destination neighborhoods, even as the LOLA 55 name continued to gain national recognition.
Lucha Libre Gourmet Taco Shop (3016 University Avenue, North Park) – Lucha Libre Gourmet Taco Shop closed its North Park location in early 2025, ending nearly a decade-long run for the wrestling-themed taquería in one of San Diego’s most competitive dining corridors. Founded in 2008 by brothers Jose Luis, Maurilio, and Diego Rojano-Garcia, Lucha Libre built a cult following with its playful lucha libre décor and bold Mexican dishes, gaining national attention after a 2010 appearance on Man vs. Food. The North Park outpost, which opened in 2015, became part of a broader expansion that included locations in Mission Hills, Petco Park, Carlsbad, and later Pacific Beach. In a farewell message shared on social media, the owners thanked the community for “10 unforgettable years,” framing the closure as the end of a chapter rather than a full retreat, while teasing future plans. With the North Park location shuttered, Lucha Libre refocused its operations on its original Mission Hills restaurant and its newer Pacific Beach shop, signaling a strategic consolidation as the brand looked ahead to its next phase. Closed January 2025.
Matteo (3015 Juniper Street, South Park) – Buona Forchetta founder Matteo Cattaneo’s nonprofit bakery and restaurant permanently closed in late December 2025, ending a once-celebrated charitable concept amid escalating federal scrutiny of the broader Buona Forchetta restaurant group. Opened in early 2020 in the former Rebecca’s Coffee space, Matteo was marketed as a 100 percent for-charity Italian bakery and breakfast spot, with profits pledged to support local public schools and arts programs. Named after Cattaneo and positioned as a values-driven counterpoint to his rapidly expanding for-profit empire, the South Park café became a neighborhood gathering place while also raising periodic questions about the transparency and structure of its charitable operations. The closure followed a turbulent year for Buona Forchetta, including a highly publicized May 30, 2025 Homeland Security Investigations raid on its flagship South Park restaurants as part of an ongoing federal worksite enforcement investigation alleging labor and immigration violations. While no criminal charges had been filed as of year’s end, the investigation, employee detentions, and subsequent fundraising controversies cast a long shadow over the group. Matteo quietly served its final customers on December 28, 2025, closing one of the company’s most symbolically important projects and marking a retreat from the philanthropic narrative that once defined the concept. Closed December 28, 2025.
Miguel’s Cocina 4S Ranch (10514 Craftsman Way, 4S Ranch) – Miguel’s Cocina permanently closed its 4S Ranch location in November 2025, ending a 15-year run for the Brigantine Restaurant Group outpost that first opened in summer 2010. Once a busy neighborhood staple, the restaurant never fully recovered from the October 2023 E. coli outbreak that sickened at least 35 diners, hospitalized seven, and was later linked to the death of 87-year-old Korean War veteran John Christ Ferber. Despite temporary closure, deep cleaning, staff retraining, and reopening, the reputational damage proved lasting, with multiple lawsuits still working their way through the courts in 2025. The closure cleared the way for actor Mark Wahlberg’s Mexican restaurant concept Flecha Cantina, which took over the space in a rapid conversion and began operating in late 2025. The shuttering marked one of the most high-profile fallout cases from a foodborne illness outbreak in recent San Diego history and the end of Miguel’s presence in 4S Ranch. Closed November 4, 2025.
Mr. Tempo Cantina (701 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter) – Mr. Tempo Cantina closed its doors inside downtown San Diego’s troubled Theatre Box complex in late 2025, marking another high-profile collapse within the increasingly vacant nightlife property. Once promoted as a high-energy cantina anchoring the multi-level entertainment hub, Mr. Tempo’s exit came amid escalating legal chaos surrounding Theatre Box, including lawsuits, regulatory action, and allegations of severe financial distress. In December 2025, Jorge “Mr. Tempo” Cueva, on behalf of Tempo Universe LLC, filed a sweeping civil lawsuit against the Theatre Box ownership group and related entities, alleging fraud, misrepresentation, conversion, breach of fiduciary duty, civil extortion, and other claims, following an earlier unlawful detainer case that was ultimately dismissed. Around the same time, unverified social media reports claimed the operators departed owing nearly $1 million in unpaid rent and were seen removing property from the building, allegations that have not been independently confirmed and were not publicly addressed by either party. Mr. Tempo’s closure followed the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s revocation of Theatre Box’s shared liquor license, effectively shutting down alcohol service across the entire complex after repeated nuisance violations and law enforcement incidents, as well as heightened scrutiny following a fatal August 2025 shooting and multiple pending lawsuits. The shutdown further destabilized Theatre Box, which has since seen other concepts shutter, leaving the future of the property - and planned projects like the long-announced Laya restaurant - increasingly uncertain. Closed late 2025; no confirmed relocation announced.
Northside Shack (Point Loma, North Park, Oceanside) – Northside Shack ultimately closed all of its San Diego County locations by late 2025, bringing an end to the health-focused juice and açaí bowl brand after more than a decade in business. Founded in Point Loma in 2014 by Pamela Olvera, Northside Shack grew into a local favorite known for customizable açaí bowls, unlimited toppings, and a loyal neighborhood following, later expanding to North Park and Oceanside. In January 2025, the company initially shut down all three locations amid severe financial strain tied to post-COVID loan obligations, monthly repayments of roughly $13,000, and more than $350,000 in losses connected to construction defects and disputes surrounding the Oceanside buildout at the Freeman Collective. After a planned sale fell through, Olvera reopened the remaining locations mid-year in an effort to stabilize the business and recoup losses, openly acknowledging the move as a temporary measure rather than a turnaround. By the end of 2025, Northside Shack ceased operations permanently, closing all branches and listing the business for sale without securing a buyer, marking a bittersweet conclusion for a once-thriving, community-driven San Diego wellness brand that struggled under rising costs, construction setbacks, and sustained economic pressure.
Oscar’s Mexican Seafood (703 Turquoise Street, Pacific Beach) – Oscar’s Mexican Seafood permanently closed its original North Pacific Beach location in May 2025 after 14 years in business, marking the end of the mariscos shop where the brand was founded in 2011 by owner Juan Bernardo Montes de Oca. The closure followed the landlord’s decision not to renew the lease, bringing to an end a location that helped define San Diego’s modern seafood taco scene and earned national recognition including a spot on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S. and a feature on Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods. Shortly after vacating the space, Oscar’s publicly warned customers that the landlord was attempting to open a knockoff version of the restaurant at the same Turquoise Street address, cautioning patrons not to be misled by signage suggesting the business would reopen. The warning echoed similar past copycat situations tied to former Oscar’s locations, including the Ocean Beach space that became Mike’s Taco Club. While the original PB storefront is now dark, the brand continues to operate elsewhere, including its Hillcrest location and its recently remodeled Pacific Beach outpost at 746 Emerald Street, which reopened in 2025 after an extensive renovation and now serves as the company’s flagship presence in the neighborhood.
Pernicano’s Ristorante (9932 Mercy Road, Rancho Peñasquitos) – Pernicano’s Ristorante closed in September 2025 after nearly 50 years in business, marking the end of one of San Diego’s most enduring family-run Italian restaurants. The Rancho Peñasquitos location, a longtime anchor of the Canyonhill Center, served generations of locals with old-school red-sauce Italian comfort food, from pizzas and baked pastas to pork chops and classic weeknight favorites, becoming a fixture for birthdays, team dinners, and family celebrations. The restaurant traced its roots to the mid-1940s, when George and Isabelle Pernicano opened their original Hillcrest eatery and helped introduce pizza to San Diego, building a culinary legacy that once spanned multiple locations countywide, including the historic Hillcrest complex and the Turquoise Street outpost near Pacific Beach. As other Pernicano’s locations closed over the years and redevelopment reshaped parts of the city, the Rancho Peñasquitos dining room remained a steady holdout until its farewell announcement, which thanked guests for “48 wonderful years” of memories and support. While this closure ended a cherished chapter for North County diners, the Pernicano family continues to operate its El Cajon restaurant, preserving the name and legacy beyond the Rancho Peñasquitos shutdown. Closed September 26, 2025.
Phileas Fogg’s Bar & Restaurant (11385 Poway Road, Suite 100, Poway) – Phileas Fogg’s Bar & Restaurant, the British-style pub that became a Northeast County favorite, closed in October 2025 after 17 years in business. Opened in 2008 by Newcastle, England native Brian Buirds, the Poway pub brought classic English hospitality to the suburbs with hearty comfort food like fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and curries, alongside an extensive selection of international beers and wines. Inspired by Around the World in Eighty Days, the space was anchored by a hand-painted mural depicting Phileas Fogg’s global journey and became a gathering place for soccer watch parties, live music, and community celebrations. Known for its welcoming, neighborhood-pub atmosphere and Buirds’ hands-on approach, Phileas Fogg’s built a loyal following over nearly two decades. Its closure reflects the mounting pressures facing long-running independent restaurants, marking the end of one of Poway’s most character-rich dining institutions. Closed October 24, 2025.
Plant Power Fast Food (5842 Hardy Avenue, College Area) – San Diego–born vegan fast food chain Plant Power Fast Food abruptly closed its San Diego State University–area location in late August 2025 after its lease expired, ending a six-year run that began in 2019 in the former Den by Denny’s space. The counter-service outpost, which catered heavily to students and the surrounding Rolando community, was one of the brand’s few non–drive-thru locations and became a late-night staple for plant-based comfort food near campus. Founded in 2016 by Mitch Wallis with co-founders Zach Vouga and Jeffrey Harris, Plant Power rose quickly from its Ocean Beach flagship to nearly a dozen locations statewide before recent contractions, including closures in Carmel Mountain Ranch and Anaheim. The SDSU shutdown drew criticism after employees alleged they were informed only on the final day, though the company cited lease expiration as the reason. Plant Power continues to operate elsewhere in San Diego County and across California, but the SDSU closure underscores the challenges facing even early leaders in the vegan fast-casual sector. Closed August 2025.
Quimérico Café (345 S. Coast Highway 101, Suite J, Encinitas) – Quimérico Café, the Tijuana-based brunch and coffee concept known for its colorful, Baja-inspired dishes, closed its North County San Diego outpost in late 2025 after just a few months in business. The café opened in July 2025 as the brand’s U.S. debut, bringing items like matcha pancakes, banana-bacon French toast, and vibrant chilaquiles to Encinitas’ crowded brunch corridor. Founded by Diego González in Tijuana in 2019, Quimérico had quickly become a standout breakfast destination south of the border and expanded north in partnership with Tyche Food & Beverage Consulting. In a brief social media message announcing the closure, the café thanked the Encinitas community, offered beverage-only service with a small discount during its final week, and suggested the shutdown was not the end of its San Diego ambitions, hinting that a new location may be forthcoming. No specific reason for the abrupt closure was provided. Closed October 2025.
Red Fox Steakhouse & Piano Bar (2223 El Cajon Boulevard, North Park) – The Red Fox Steakhouse & Piano Bar abruptly closed in May 2025, stunning longtime patrons and staff after employees were allegedly terminated without notice following a meeting on May 12. The closure came just over three years after the storied steakhouse reopened in a purpose-built space across from its longtime home beneath the Lafayette Hotel, where it had operated for decades as one of San Diego’s most atmospheric dining rooms. Famous for its dim lighting, red leather booths, nightly piano music, and classic steakhouse fare, The Red Fox traced its origins to Tudor-style woodwork and stained glass dating back to a 16th-century pub in Surrey, England, later installed beneath the Lafayette in the late 1950s. After closing in 2020 due to the pandemic and relocation plans, the restaurant reopened in March 2022 under owner Jim Demos with a painstaking recreation of its historic interior. Despite the relaunch, the business shuttered again in 2025 amid uncertainty, conflicting messages about a possible reopening, and allegations from staff that they were dismissed without warning. The closure marked another major loss for San Diego’s legacy dining scene, leaving the future of one of the city’s most iconic piano bars unresolved. Closed May 12, 2025.
Red House Pizza (4615 Park Boulevard, University Heights) – Red House Pizza closed in September 2025 after 13 years as a beloved neighborhood fixture in San Diego’s University Heights. The restaurant first opened in 2012 under founder Shanan Spearing and quickly established itself as a cozy, creative hangout known for inventive pizzas, flatbreads, and a welcoming community vibe anchored by its iconic red façade. Ownership transferred in 2021 to Amanda Alix, who carried the restaurant through its later years while preserving its loyal following and reputation for blending comfort food with experimentation. Red House became especially known for its inclusive menu, offering extensive vegan and gluten-free options alongside indulgent classics, with dishes like the Bangkok pizza earning national recognition when PETA named it one of the Top 10 Vegan Pizzas in the U.S. in 2024. Praised locally for its signature crust, gorgonzola flatbreads, and approachable happy hour, the closure marked the end of a 13-year run that made Red House a cornerstone of University Heights’ dining scene, as regulars gathered one last time to support the staff and say goodbye to a neighborhood favorite.
Roma Norte (789 W Harbor Drive, Unit 155, The Headquarters at Seaport) – Roma Norte closed in August 2025 after just over a year in business, marking a short-lived chapter for the Mexico City–inspired cocktail bar operated by the team behind Puesto. Conceived as a precision-driven mixology concept focused on technique, agave spirits, and minimalist presentation, Roma Norte drew early attention in San Diego’s bar scene and even earned a James Beard Award semifinalist nod. Despite the acclaim, the standalone cocktail bar struggled to build sustained traffic in the historically challenging Seaport/Headquarters corridor, where nightlife concepts have long faced difficulties converting destination visits into regular patronage. Rather than reposition or relocate the bar, Puesto’s ownership opted to shutter Roma Norte and fold the space back into its neighboring restaurant for private dining and events, while shifting strategic focus toward future projects. The closure coincided with the group’s development of Ikaria, a large-scale Eastern Mediterranean restaurant planned to open in La Jolla in 2026, signaling a pivot away from niche cocktail concepts toward broader, full-service dining destinations. Closed August 30, 2025.
Sandpiper Wood Fired Grill & Oysters (2259 Avenida de la Playa, La Jolla Shores) – Sandpiper Wood Fired Grill & Oysters closed in November 2025, ending a four-year run for the La Jolla Shores restaurant from George Hauer and chef-partner Trey Foshee of George’s at the Cove. Opened in 2021 as a reboot of the short-lived Galaxy Taco, Sandpiper was positioned as a neighborhood-focused California grill centered on oysters and a wood-fired hearth, but struggled to gain lasting traction in a location removed from La Jolla Village’s heavier foot traffic. Industry chatter about its closure circulated for months before the team ultimately opted not to renew the lease. Foshee later pushed back on framing the project as a failure, citing the high costs of operating in the Shores, the challenges of the pandemic, and his decision not to commit to another long-term lease as he approached his 60th birthday. With both Galaxy Taco and Sandpiper now shuttered at the address, the closure marked a rare miss for one of San Diego’s most respected restaurant teams and left the La Jolla Shores space vacant once again. Closed November 1, 2025.
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Woodstock’s Pizza (1221 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach) – Woodstock’s Pizza closed its Pacific Beach location in September 2025 after 15 years as a staple of the Garnet Avenue strip. Opened in 2010, the PB outpost became known for its folded-crust pizzas piled high with toppings, late-night slices, and a casual, student-friendly atmosphere that resonated with both locals and transplants. In announcing the closure, the company thanked the Pacific Beach community for years of loyalty and highlighted its long-standing commitment to giving back, noting that the location donated roughly 1.5 to 2 percent of net sales annually to local schools, nonprofits, and community causes while employing and training hundreds of students and residents. Founded in 1977 in Corvallis, Oregon, Woodstock’s arrived in San Diego decades earlier with its San Diego State University location, which opened in the 1980s and remains a campus institution today. While the Pacific Beach closure marked the end of a long-running neighborhood chapter, the company emphasized that the brand continues elsewhere, with the SDSU location celebrating its 40th anniversary and leadership signaling interest in future opportunities to reinvest in San Diego.
Zel’s Del Mar (1247 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar) – Zel’s Del Mar closed in February 2025 after 15 years as a cornerstone neighborhood bar and restaurant in the heart of Del Mar Village. Opened in 2009 by Greg Glassman and Jennifer Powers, the restaurant was named in honor of Greg’s grandfather, Zelig “Zel” Camiel, a longtime Del Mar figure affectionately known as the town’s unofficial “Mayor.” Over its run, Zel’s became a true community living room, known for live music, loyal regulars, and signature touches like curated tequila, mezcal, and bourbon selections alongside weekly staples such as Grilled Cheese Mondays. The owners announced the closure as a bittersweet but intentional decision tied to family priorities, thanking staff, musicians, and patrons for shaping the venue’s deeply personal atmosphere. The space did not remain dark for long - it was taken over by Coral Del Mar, a Southeast Asian–influenced coastal bar and restaurant from longtime local hospitality professionals, which opened later in 2025 following a light remodel, marking the next chapter for the longtime Del Mar Village address.
Saltwater Seafood & Steak (565 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter) – After nearly five years in business, Saltwater Seafood & Steak closed its doors in early 2025, ending the restaurant’s run inside one of the Gaslamp Quarter’s most historically significant dining spaces. Opened in early 2020 by Sicilian-born restaurateurs Vincenzo Loverso and Alessandro Minutella under the San Diego Dining Group, Saltwater replaced the longtime Blue Point Coastal Cuisine, which had operated at the address for 24 years under the Cohn Restaurant Group. The concept aimed to modernize the space with a surf-and-turf focus, blending premium steaks, seafood, and polished service in a high-profile downtown location that faced extended pandemic-era challenges shortly after opening. Rather than shutter permanently, ownership opted for a full reset, closing Saltwater to make way for Romanissimo Cucina Italiana, a Roman-inspired Italian restaurant that debuted later in 2025. The transition marked another notable shift in the evolving Gaslamp dining landscape, where legacy spaces continue to cycle through reinvention rather than vacancy. Closed January 6, 2025.
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Serpentine Cider (8101 Miralani Drive, Miramar) – Serpentine Cider closed its original Miramar tasting room and restaurant in November 2025, placing the future of the San Diego cidery in serious doubt. The shutdown followed a brief county-ordered closure by the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality due to a major vermin violation and facility maintenance issues; although the business passed a reinspection the following day and was cleared to reopen, ownership instead announced the space would remain closed “until further notice,” citing uncertainty about the company’s path forward. The Miramar location had served as Serpentine’s flagship since its early days in the Miralani Makers’ District, pairing dry, fruit-forward ciders with a full kitchen and event programming. The closure came just months after the cidery quietly shuttered its North Park tasting room near the Lafayette Hotel, leaving Serpentine with no public-facing locations by the end of 2025. Founded in 2017 by wildlife biologists Sean Harris and Lish Omlid, Serpentine was an early local leader in craft cider, but with both taprooms now dark and no reopening timeline announced, the brand’s operational status remains unclear. Closed November 2025.
Smash And Stack (956 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach) – Smash And Stack, the alien-themed smash burger eatery helmed by chef Joel Bautista, quietly closed in late September 2025 after operating for only a few months along Pacific Beach’s hyper-competitive Garnet Avenue corridor. The concept debuted in June 2025 with a playful space-themed aesthetic and a menu built around crispy smash burgers, waffle fries, and novelty desserts, aiming to fuse fine-dining technique with fast-casual comfort food. Despite Bautista’s Michelin-level background and the restaurant’s distinct branding, Smash And Stack struggled to gain traction in a saturated burger market that already included Irv’s Burger, Haole Shack, and multiple bar-driven competitors - pressure that intensified when Los Angeles import For The Win opened directly across the street weeks later. The restaurant shuttered without a formal announcement, removed its social media presence, and left a handwritten “for lease” sign on the door, marking another ultra-short-lived Garnet Avenue experiment. The space has since been taken over by Taconora, a Sonoran-style taquería focused on fire-grilled meats and handmade flour tortillas, which is slated to open in early 2026. Closed September 2025.
Sprinkles Cupcakes (La Jolla; formerly Fashion Valley & Little Italy ATMs) – Sprinkles Cupcakes permanently shut down all locations nationwide on December 31, 2025, ending the run of one of the most influential dessert brands of the 2000s and closing San Diego’s lone remaining storefront in La Jolla along with its once-iconic cupcake ATM machines at Fashion Valley Mall and in Little Italy. Founded in 2005 by Candace Nelson in Beverly Hills, Sprinkles helped ignite the gourmet cupcake boom with dense, bakery-style cupcakes in flavors like red velvet, strawberry, ginger lemon, and s’mores, later becoming nationally famous for its 24-hour cupcake ATMs introduced in 2012. Nelson sold the company to private equity in 2012 and confirmed the abrupt closure via Instagram, calling the end of the brand “surreal” and not how she envisioned her legacy. Employees across the country reported receiving little notice ahead of the shutdown, sparking backlash online over sudden layoffs. At its peak, Sprinkles operated more than 20 locations across multiple states and Washington, D.C., and was still publicly promoting future expansion weeks before closing. The disappearance of the La Jolla store and local cupcake ATMs marked the end of Sprinkles’ 15-year presence in San Diego and symbolized the collapse of a once-dominant dessert trend amid shifting consumer habits and mounting pressures in the retail dining landscape. Closed December 31, 2025.
Starbucks (multiple locations, San Diego County) – Starbucks is closing at least a dozen San Diego County stores as part of a nationwide restructuring that will shutter roughly 400 underperforming locations across the U.S. and Canada. The local closures span neighborhoods from Pacific Beach and Bankers Hill to Poway, Scripps Ranch, Mira Mesa, El Cajon, Santee, Chula Vista, and Carlsbad, with affected sites including Genesee Plaza; Convoy Street & Raytheon Road; Bernardo Center Drive; Carlsbad Boulevard & Grand Avenue; Pomerado Road & Twin Peaks; Aviary Drive & Scripps Ranch Boulevard; Mira Mesa Boulevard & Camino Santa Fe; Main Street & Magnolia Avenue; Santee Trolley Stop; Bonita Road & I-805; Garnet Avenue & Mission Bay Drive; and Laurel Street & Fifth Avenue. While the company has not released a single official list, multiple outlets confirmed the shutdowns via store calls and online listings, with some locations already clearing equipment and posting farewell notices. CEO Brian Niccol said the cuts target coffeehouses that can’t deliver the expected customer experience or a viable path to profitability, alongside broader cost reductions that include corporate layoffs, even as Starbucks plans to renovate more than 1,000 stores and continue opening new units in higher-performing markets. Closures announced September 2025.
Taquería Tijuanazo (406 University Avenue, Hillcrest) – Tijuana-born Taquería Tijuanazo closed its flagship San Diego outpost in Hillcrest in late 2025, ending a brief but closely watched run along University Avenue as the brand pivoted toward a planned relocation in Little Italy. The taquería, which opened in late 2024, entered the San Diego market with strong recognition from its roots in Tijuana and Los Angeles, aiming to capitalize on the region’s appetite for authentic border-style tacos similar to the success of operators like Tacos El Gordo and Tacos El Franc. While praised for its faithful execution of Tijuana street food staples—including carne asada grilled over open flames, adobada shaved from the trompo, suadero, and specialty items like taco aztecas and crispy cheese “fantasmas”—the Hillcrest location struggled with the realities of the neighborhood, including higher operating costs, intense competition, and inconsistent foot traffic for a late-night, high-volume taquería model. In announcing the closure, the company framed the move as a strategic reset rather than a retreat, confirming plans to reopen in Little Italy, where heavier pedestrian flow and a more tourism-driven dining scene are seen as a better fit for the concept. Closed December 2025; relocation to Little Italy planned for early 2026.
Taquería Tijuanazo (406 University Avenue, Hillcrest) – Tijuana-born Taquería Tijuanazo closed its flagship San Diego outpost in Hillcrest in late 2025, ending a brief but closely watched run along University Avenue as the brand pivoted toward a planned relocation in Little Italy. The taquería, which opened in late 2024, entered the San Diego market with strong recognition from its roots in Tijuana and Los Angeles, aiming to capitalize on the region’s appetite for authentic border-style tacos similar to the success of operators like Tacos El Gordo and Tacos El Franc. While praised for its faithful execution of Tijuana street food staples—including carne asada grilled over open flames, adobada shaved from the trompo, suadero, and specialty items like taco aztecas and crispy cheese “fantasmas”—the Hillcrest location struggled with the realities of the neighborhood, including higher operating costs, intense competition, and inconsistent foot traffic for a late-night, high-volume taquería model. In announcing the closure, the company framed the move as a strategic reset rather than a retreat, confirming plans to reopen in Little Italy, where heavier pedestrian flow and a more tourism-driven dining scene are seen as a better fit for the concept. Closed December 2025; relocation to Little Italy planned for early 2026.
The Tin Fish Imperial Beach Pier (10 Evergreen Ave, Imperial Beach) – The Tin Fish ended its nearly decade-long run at the end of the Imperial Beach Pier, with the building taken over by Jaeseung Gwak, who opened a new concept called Imperial Beach Kitchen in the same 1,558-square-foot space. Opened on the pier in 2016 and operated by Edward Kim since 2018, The Tin Fish became known for seafood tacos, fish and chips, and one of the most distinctive dining settings in San Diego, perched at the tip of California’s southernmost pier with sweeping Pacific Ocean views. The exit followed a broader contraction of the brand, including the 2022 closure of its longtime Gaslamp Quarter location and the short-lived Santee Lakes outpost, leaving Oceanside as its only remaining San Diego-area restaurant.
Village Vino (4095 Adams Avenue, Kensington) – Village Vino, the longtime neighborhood wine bar that helped define Kensington’s laid-back, community-driven dining scene, closed in November 2025 after 13 years in business. Originally opened in 2012 by founder Rita Pirkl as an approachable wine haven focused on small, family-owned producers, the bar became a beloved gathering place for locals before being taken over in 2015 by John Crisafulli of BTS Hospitality, who preserved its intimate, welcoming character. Known for its rotating list of more than 40 wines by the glass, over 100 bottles, and simple accompaniments like flatbreads and charcuterie, Village Vino earned repeated accolades, including multiple San Diego Magazine “Best Wine List” awards. In a farewell message, the team thanked the Kensington community for turning the bar into more than a business, calling it a place of celebrations, friendships, and shared rituals. The closure marked the loss of one of Adams Avenue’s most personal and enduring neighborhood institutions. Closed November 15, 2025.
Wienerschnitzel (multiple locations, San Diego County) – Wienerschnitzel, the decades-old hot dog chain famous for its A-frame buildings and chili dogs, quietly closed two longtime San Diego locations, raising fresh questions about the brand’s stability amid mounting pressure on legacy fast-food concepts. The Pacific Beach outpost at 2669 Garnet Avenue, a mid-1960s-era location that had operated for nearly 60 years, and the Santee shop at 9650 Mission Gorge Road have both shuttered, while the Point Loma location on Rosecrans Street has remained temporarily closed with a delayed reopening timeline. Founded in 1961 by John Galardi, Wienerschnitzel once grew into one of the largest hot dog chains in the world, but shifting consumer tastes, rising labor and operating costs, and increased competition have steadily eroded its footprint. While the company still operates more than a dozen locations across San Diego County and over 350 nationwide, the loss of these legacy stores mirrors a broader contraction hitting even long-established chains, suggesting Wienerschnitzel may be reassessing older, underperforming real estate as it struggles to remain relevant in an increasingly unforgiving fast-food landscape. Closed January 2025.
Wilma’s Carousel Bar & Restaurant (2401 Kettner Boulevard, Suite B, Little Italy) – Wilma’s Carousel Bar & Restaurant permanently closed in March 2025 after just seven months in business, ending a short-lived run in San Diego’s Little Italy without prior public notice. Opened in August 2024 by SDCM Restaurant Group founder Matt Spencer in the former Wolfie’s Carousel Bar space, the venue reimagined the iconic circular carousel bar with a whimsical, French-inspired interior and a cocktail program modeled loosely after New Orleans’ famed Hotel Monteleone Carousel Bar. Despite early buzz, high-profile backing, and a prime location, Wilma’s shuttered abruptly, with its website and social media wiped and only a brief note left on the door. The 2,500-square-foot space was subsequently listed for sale by Next Wave Commercial, leaving questions unanswered about the closure and marking another rapid turnover in Little Italy’s competitive bar and restaurant scene. There are now rumors circulating that Consortium Holdings/CH Projects (Born & Raised, Morning Glory, The Lafayette) is eyeing the space, as well as the neighboring Camino Riviera unit. Closed March 2025.
Zel’s Del Mar (1247 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar) – Zel’s Del Mar closed in February 2025 after 15 years as a cornerstone neighborhood bar and restaurant in the heart of Del Mar Village. Opened in 2009 by Greg Glassman and Jennifer Powers, the restaurant was named in honor of Greg’s grandfather, Zelig “Zel” Camiel, a longtime Del Mar figure affectionately known as the town’s unofficial “Mayor.” Over its run, Zel’s became a true community living room, known for live music, loyal regulars, and signature touches like curated tequila, mezcal, and bourbon selections alongside weekly staples such as Grilled Cheese Mondays. The owners announced the closure as a bittersweet but intentional decision tied to family priorities, thanking staff, musicians, and patrons for shaping the venue’s deeply personal atmosphere. The space did not remain dark for long - it was taken over by Coral Del Mar, a Southeast Asian–influenced coastal bar and restaurant from longtime local hospitality professionals, which opened later in 2025 following a light remodel, marking the next chapter for the longtime Del Mar Village address.
If San Diego’s dining scene in 2025 told a complete story, it was one defined by contrast. On one side were dozens of ambitious openings, many of which we documented throughout the year - proof that chefs, operators, and investors still believe deeply in this market. On the other were closures that arrived faster, quieter, and more frequently than many expected, underscoring how thin the margin for survival has become even for well-known, well-loved concepts.
The churn isn’t slowing. As SanDiegoVille has already reported, more than 90 new restaurants are expected to open in 2026, signaling yet another wave of reinvention across nearly every neighborhood. At the same time, we’ll soon publish a comprehensive look at restaurants and food businesses that faced forced temporary closures, downgraded health scores, and public scrutiny from inspections in 2025 - a reminder that operational pressure didn’t stop at the front door.
Taken together, these stories reflect a dining ecosystem under strain - but not stagnant. In San Diego, endings and beginnings now arrive almost simultaneously. Longevity is no longer guaranteed. Reinvention is constant. And survival, more than ever, depends on timing, transparency, capital, and luck.
The churn isn’t slowing. As SanDiegoVille has already reported, more than 90 new restaurants are expected to open in 2026, signaling yet another wave of reinvention across nearly every neighborhood. At the same time, we’ll soon publish a comprehensive look at restaurants and food businesses that faced forced temporary closures, downgraded health scores, and public scrutiny from inspections in 2025 - a reminder that operational pressure didn’t stop at the front door.
Taken together, these stories reflect a dining ecosystem under strain - but not stagnant. In San Diego, endings and beginnings now arrive almost simultaneously. Longevity is no longer guaranteed. Reinvention is constant. And survival, more than ever, depends on timing, transparency, capital, and luck.
Originally published on January 2, 2026.