The Poway outpost was one of Swagyu’s earlier suburban expansions following the brand’s initial success in Imperial Beach. Opened in early 2021 as part of the chain’s first growth phase, the location served as a North County anchor and catered heavily to families, commuters, and late-night diners.
In early 2025, the restaurant became the target of two burglaries within a matter of months, including a March break-in in which a safe containing weekend cash was stolen shortly after closing. At the time, management acknowledged significant financial losses and temporarily closed for repairs.
Swagyu Burger was founded in 2020 by San Diego chef Steve Brown as a high-end smash burger concept rooted in Wagyu beef, indulgent toppings, and bold branding. The original Imperial Beach shop quickly gained attention for its over-the-top burgers and social-media-fueled marketing, helping propel the brand into rapid expansion. Additional locations followed in Poway, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, La Mesa, Little Italy, and beyond San Diego County, including Newport Beach and Garden Grove.
However, the expansion was uneven. Several locations closed within a short time frame, including Pacific Beach and Little Italy, while others were listed as “temporarily closed” before disappearing entirely from the company’s website. Planned openings in Encinitas and South Oceanside never materialized due to lease disputes and lawsuits. Even the Imperial Beach flagship experienced a prolonged closure before reopening under new management.
By late-2024, Swagyu entered a new chapter when ownership shifted away from Brown toward a group of investors led by Sinaloa businessman Juan José Arellano Hernández and entities tied to his Grupo ARHE conglomerate. Brown publicly confirmed his exit from the burger chain, citing creative and philosophical differences with the brand’s new franchise-driven, corporate direction. Under the new structure, Swagyu began positioning itself as a nationwide franchise while simultaneously branching into additional restaurant concepts in downtown San Diego, including El Prieto taco shop and Bobby’s Pizza, both sited adjacent to the flagship Swagyu East Village near Petco Park.
The Poway location’s closure underscores the uneven nature of Swagyu’s transition. While the brand has invested heavily in downtown San Diego and announced ambitious plans for dozens of future locations, its suburban and neighborhood-focused stores have steadily disappeared. The Poway site, once a key piece of Swagyu’s regional strategy, now joins La Mesa, Pacific Beach, and Little Italy as casualties of the chain’s restructuring.
As of publication, Swagyu Burger has not publicly announced the Poway closure, nor has signage been posted indicating a reopening or replacement concept at the Twin Peaks Road address. SanDiegoVille reached out to Swagyu for comment on the closure but did not receive a response.
With its Poway doors now closed, Swagyu’s remaining presence in San Diego continues to concentrate downtown, La Jolla and in Imperial Beach, leaving questions about whether the brand’s future lies in broad local appeal or in high-visibility, corporate-driven destinations.
Swagyu Burger was founded in 2020 by San Diego chef Steve Brown as a high-end smash burger concept rooted in Wagyu beef, indulgent toppings, and bold branding. The original Imperial Beach shop quickly gained attention for its over-the-top burgers and social-media-fueled marketing, helping propel the brand into rapid expansion. Additional locations followed in Poway, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, La Mesa, Little Italy, and beyond San Diego County, including Newport Beach and Garden Grove.
However, the expansion was uneven. Several locations closed within a short time frame, including Pacific Beach and Little Italy, while others were listed as “temporarily closed” before disappearing entirely from the company’s website. Planned openings in Encinitas and South Oceanside never materialized due to lease disputes and lawsuits. Even the Imperial Beach flagship experienced a prolonged closure before reopening under new management.
By late-2024, Swagyu entered a new chapter when ownership shifted away from Brown toward a group of investors led by Sinaloa businessman Juan José Arellano Hernández and entities tied to his Grupo ARHE conglomerate. Brown publicly confirmed his exit from the burger chain, citing creative and philosophical differences with the brand’s new franchise-driven, corporate direction. Under the new structure, Swagyu began positioning itself as a nationwide franchise while simultaneously branching into additional restaurant concepts in downtown San Diego, including El Prieto taco shop and Bobby’s Pizza, both sited adjacent to the flagship Swagyu East Village near Petco Park.
The Poway location’s closure underscores the uneven nature of Swagyu’s transition. While the brand has invested heavily in downtown San Diego and announced ambitious plans for dozens of future locations, its suburban and neighborhood-focused stores have steadily disappeared. The Poway site, once a key piece of Swagyu’s regional strategy, now joins La Mesa, Pacific Beach, and Little Italy as casualties of the chain’s restructuring.
As of publication, Swagyu Burger has not publicly announced the Poway closure, nor has signage been posted indicating a reopening or replacement concept at the Twin Peaks Road address. SanDiegoVille reached out to Swagyu for comment on the closure but did not receive a response.
With its Poway doors now closed, Swagyu’s remaining presence in San Diego continues to concentrate downtown, La Jolla and in Imperial Beach, leaving questions about whether the brand’s future lies in broad local appeal or in high-visibility, corporate-driven destinations.
