The upcoming gelato shop will take over the approximately 500-square-foot Graves House space previously occupied by High-Pie, the whimsical hand-pie concept that operated there from 2022 until its closure earlier this year. The new outpost from the team behind An’s Dry Cleaning Gelato is expected to open as early as May, bringing small-batch Italian-style gelato to one of the most photographed food locations in North County San Diego.
The new shop will officially be called An’s Gate D5, continuing the company’s tradition of naming each location after the former use or theme of the building it occupies. The name reflects the brand’s fifth retail location, while the letter “D” is a nod to Chief Gelato Officer David Aguilera, the creative force behind the company’s constantly evolving flavor lineup.
Rather than leaning solely on the building’s Hollywood history, the Oceanside location will feature a 1970s- and 1980s-era airport theme, with customers entering through a mock “security” gate before lining up in stanchion queues to place their order at a flight check-in counter. Portions will be categorized as “carry-on” or “checked bag” sizes, and gelato flavors will be named after international destinations, such as “Milan,” a pistachio-based gelato. The interior will also feature nods to aviation culture, including a “departures” lounge concept and subtle Top Gun memorabilia.
An’s Gelato has become one of the region’s most talked-about dessert brands since launching its first shop in Normal Heights in 2018. The original location, cleverly named An’s Dry Cleaning, built a national reputation for its inventive flavors and whimsical naming conventions tied to the former uses of the spaces it occupies. The brand was named the #1 ice cream shop in America by USA Today in both 2024 and 2025, catapulting the company into national prominence and bringing long lines to its San Diego locations.
Each An’s Gelato shop carries a different concept. The Normal Heights flagship draws inspiration from the former dry cleaner that once occupied the building, with gelato flavors named after fabrics like Canvas and Gabardine. The company later opened An’s Hatmakers inside Del Mar Plaza and a Petco Park stand called An’s Athletic Field Services, referencing the work required to maintain a professional baseball field. Last year, the team debuted An’s Electronics Repair in Ocean Beach, themed around the building’s former life as a phone and computer repair shop.
The company was founded by David Aguilera, Kris Warren, Travis Bailey, and Jimmy Blalock, longtime friends whose backgrounds span hospitality, law, and international gelato consulting. Aguilera, who previously worked across Europe developing gelato programs, has created more than 600 flavors since the company launched, ranging from classic pistachio and stracciatella to experimental combinations developed in collaboration with local chefs and artisans.
At An’s Gate D5, the menu will follow the brand’s typical format of seven rotating small-batch gelato flavors plus a lighter “palate cleanser” sorbet, with new flavors debuting every few weeks. Because the Top Gun House location offers more kitchen space than some of the company’s earlier shops, the team is also exploring adding coffee drinks and affogatos, marking the first time the company may serve espresso alongside its gelato.
The Oceanside location will occupy one of the most distinctive spaces in San Diego County. Built in 1888, the Graves House is a compact Folk Victorian cottage that once served as a seaside residence before being immortalized in Top Gunas the home of Charlie Blackwood, the astrophysicist played by Kelly McGillis. The cottage was carefully restored and relocated several years ago as part of the redevelopment of Oceanside’s beachfront district surrounding the Mission Pacific Beach Resort.
The building later became home to High-Pie, a dessert concept created by hospitality group F10 Creative, which operates several restaurants in Palm Springs. High-Pie featured a rotating selection of sweet and savory hand pies displayed on a conveyor belt and decorated the tiny interior with Top Gun memorabilia. Despite its popularity with visitors, the business announced late last year that it would close its Oceanside location, leaving the historic cottage available for a new operator.
The transition comes amid continued transformation along Oceanside’s North Pacific Street corridor, which has rapidly evolved into one of North County’s most high-profile dining districts. Just steps away from the Top Gun House sits Valle, the Michelin-starred Mexican restaurant from chef Roberto Alcocer that has helped elevate Oceanside’s culinary reputation nationally.
With millions of visitors passing through the Oceanside Pier area each year, the location offers An’s Gelato one of the most visible storefronts in the region. The company’s founders say they were initially scouting locations in Encinitas before being encouraged by the operators of the Mission Pacific resort to consider the historic cottage overlooking the ocean.
An’s Gelato’s new Oceanside location will be situated inside the historic Top Gun House at 250 North Pacific Street near the Oceanside Pier in San Diego's North County. The shop is currently expected to open in late spring or early summer 2026, though an official opening date has not yet been announced.
For more information about the company and its existing locations, visit ansgelato.com.
Originally published on March 14, 2026.
