The new location marks a significant step forward for Lucca, which opened its original shop at 600 B Street in 2024. Tucked into a below-street-level courtyard beneath a downtown office tower, the compact sandwich counter quickly built a following among office workers and in-the-know locals drawn to its focaccia-based sandwiches and Italian ingredients. The expansion to East Village places Lucca in a far more visible and pedestrian-heavy corridor, positioning the brand to reach a broader audience that includes residents, tourists, and Padres game-day crowds.
Lucca’s menu centers around Italian-style sandwiches served on house-baked, focaccia-like bread inspired by Tuscany’s schiacciata. Signature offerings include the Firenze, layered with mortadella, stracciatella cheese, pistachios, pesto, and arugula, and the namesake Lucca sandwich, featuring bresaola, truffle cream, parmesan, and arugula. Other options span classic and regional Italian combinations like prosciutto and mozzarella, spicy salami with artichokes, and porchetta with pesto, alongside a selection of Italian sodas, coffee drinks, and light accompaniments.
The move into 905 J Street comes on the heels of the closure of Copa Vida’s East Village café, which shuttered in 2025 after roughly a decade in operation. Located within the Diamond View Tower overlooking Petco Park, the café had long served as a gathering place for coffee enthusiasts, remote workers, and baseball fans. Its departure reflected broader shifts impacting downtown San Diego, including reduced office occupancy and evolving consumer patterns.
Lucca’s arrival signals a continued reshuffling of East Village’s ground-floor retail landscape, as operators look to capitalize on the area’s dense residential base and event-driven foot traffic. Sandwich-focused concepts, in particular, have seen a resurgence in urban markets, offering quick, high-quality options that appeal to both daytime workers and evening crowds.
While an official opening date has not yet been announced, Lucca confirmed it will continue operating its original 600 B Street location during the buildout of the East Village shop. The expansion suggests confidence in the concept’s early success and hints at potential future growth within San Diego’s competitive fast-casual dining scene.
Lucca Italian Sandwich Shop’s new location will open at 905 J Street in San Diego’s East Village, in the former Copa Vida café space near Petco Park. For more information, visit @eatlucca on Instagram.
Originally published on April 7, 2026.
