King & Queen Cantina opened in the fall of 2017, taking over the bi-level Little Italy space at 1490 Kettner Boulevard that had previously housed Bracero Cocina and then an offshoot of Bonita's Romesco Mexican restaurant. The concept was launched by restaurateur Jorge Cueva, better known in local hospitality circles as Mr. Tempo, a veteran operator with decades of experience in restaurant development.
Originally described as offering a menu similar to Cueva’s Tempo Urban Kitchen concepts, with tacos, flatbreads, burgers, and shareable bar plates, King & Queen quickly became a Little Italy nightlife destination, blending casual dining with a lively bar scene. Despite early popularity, the restaurant ran into community friction. In November 2023, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) issued a 25-day suspension of its liquor license following multiple excessive noise complaints from neighbors, marking the second disciplinary action for the same issue. Enforcement stemmed from amplified music on the patio, which was contrary to conditions tied to the restaurant’s license.
At the time, the restaurant framed its temporary closure on social media as “remodeling,” though official notices confirmed the ABC action. The 25-day suspension, however, did not permanently strip the business of its license, and there was industry speculation the brand would rebound once conditions were met. That rebound never fully came.
A handwritten sign now posted on the restaurant’s front door reads simply: "King & Queen Cantina Permanently Closed - Thank You!" The closure leaves a high-profile vacancy in one of Little Italy’s main hospitality corridors, just as residential development and foot traffic have made nightlife venues increasingly competitive. Attempts to reach King & Queen Cantina ownership for additional context were not successful prior to publication.
The closure of King & Queen comes as Mr. Tempo Cantina, located inside the sprawling Theatre Box complex at 701 Fifth Avenue in the Gaslamp, also ceased operations in late 2025. Once marketed as a multi-level nightlife and dining hub, Theatre Box instead became known for repeated regulatory issues, closures, and controversies.
Mr. Tempo Cantina and all bars inside Theatre Box lost the building’s shared liquor license in late 2025 after ABC enforcement actions and repeated nuisance conditions tied to the property. The suspension left the venues unable to serve alcohol, effectively hamstringing their business models. SanDiegoVille has previously reported on multiple health closures at the Gaslamp site tied to vermin violations in 2025, as well as a fatal shooting at Cielo Rooftop Lounge inside the building in August 2025.
Legally, the situation at Theatre Box has become even more complex. Civil litigation between Mr. Tempo’s operating entity and the building’s landlord is underway, resulting in its permanent closure in December 2025, with claims and counterclaims filed in San Diego Superior Court, reflecting deeper disputes over rent, operations, and business control.
The permanent closure of King & Queen Cantina thus marks a significant turn for a brand that once aspired to build a neighborhood restaurant footprint across downtown and Little Italy. It underscores broader challenges faced by sit-down bars and nightlife venues in urban San Diego, from regulatory scrutiny and community pushback to intense competition and shifting footprints in the post-pandemic dining landscape.
With both King & Queen and Mr. Tempo now dark, questions remain about what will occupy these once-buzzy addresses and how downtown San Diego’s nightlife ecosystem will evolve in their wake.
King & Queen Cantina was located at 1490 Kettner Boulevard in San Diego's Little Italy. Mr. Tempo Cantina operated at 701 Fifth Avenue in the Gaslamp Quarter.
Originally published on February 18, 2026.
Originally described as offering a menu similar to Cueva’s Tempo Urban Kitchen concepts, with tacos, flatbreads, burgers, and shareable bar plates, King & Queen quickly became a Little Italy nightlife destination, blending casual dining with a lively bar scene. Despite early popularity, the restaurant ran into community friction. In November 2023, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) issued a 25-day suspension of its liquor license following multiple excessive noise complaints from neighbors, marking the second disciplinary action for the same issue. Enforcement stemmed from amplified music on the patio, which was contrary to conditions tied to the restaurant’s license.
At the time, the restaurant framed its temporary closure on social media as “remodeling,” though official notices confirmed the ABC action. The 25-day suspension, however, did not permanently strip the business of its license, and there was industry speculation the brand would rebound once conditions were met. That rebound never fully came.
A handwritten sign now posted on the restaurant’s front door reads simply: "King & Queen Cantina Permanently Closed - Thank You!" The closure leaves a high-profile vacancy in one of Little Italy’s main hospitality corridors, just as residential development and foot traffic have made nightlife venues increasingly competitive. Attempts to reach King & Queen Cantina ownership for additional context were not successful prior to publication.
The closure of King & Queen comes as Mr. Tempo Cantina, located inside the sprawling Theatre Box complex at 701 Fifth Avenue in the Gaslamp, also ceased operations in late 2025. Once marketed as a multi-level nightlife and dining hub, Theatre Box instead became known for repeated regulatory issues, closures, and controversies.
Mr. Tempo Cantina and all bars inside Theatre Box lost the building’s shared liquor license in late 2025 after ABC enforcement actions and repeated nuisance conditions tied to the property. The suspension left the venues unable to serve alcohol, effectively hamstringing their business models. SanDiegoVille has previously reported on multiple health closures at the Gaslamp site tied to vermin violations in 2025, as well as a fatal shooting at Cielo Rooftop Lounge inside the building in August 2025.
Legally, the situation at Theatre Box has become even more complex. Civil litigation between Mr. Tempo’s operating entity and the building’s landlord is underway, resulting in its permanent closure in December 2025, with claims and counterclaims filed in San Diego Superior Court, reflecting deeper disputes over rent, operations, and business control.
The permanent closure of King & Queen Cantina thus marks a significant turn for a brand that once aspired to build a neighborhood restaurant footprint across downtown and Little Italy. It underscores broader challenges faced by sit-down bars and nightlife venues in urban San Diego, from regulatory scrutiny and community pushback to intense competition and shifting footprints in the post-pandemic dining landscape.
With both King & Queen and Mr. Tempo now dark, questions remain about what will occupy these once-buzzy addresses and how downtown San Diego’s nightlife ecosystem will evolve in their wake.
King & Queen Cantina was located at 1490 Kettner Boulevard in San Diego's Little Italy. Mr. Tempo Cantina operated at 701 Fifth Avenue in the Gaslamp Quarter.
Originally published on February 18, 2026.
