Positioned steps from the New Children’s Museum, Petco Park, the Convention Center and the San Diego waterfront, Pear Plum is being envisioned as a neighborhood gathering space that evolves throughout the day — operating as a daytime café and specialty coffee shop before transitioning into a more wine-focused evening atmosphere after sunset.
The concept comes from husband-and-wife team St. Elmo and Christina Crawford, who say they designed Pear Plum to fill what they saw as a missing niche in downtown San Diego: a polished but approachable café environment catering equally to families, professionals, dog walkers, tourists and neighborhood residents.
The business will occupy a space that has reportedly remained vacant for roughly three years, bringing new life to a stretch of downtown that continues to see growing residential density and increased pedestrian activity surrounding nearby parks and waterfront attractions.
While downtown San Diego is no stranger to coffee shops and wine bars, Pear Plum appears to be positioning itself as a more lifestyle-oriented concept centered on lingering, social gathering and daytime-to-evening flexibility. Early branding materials describe the project as “The Children’s Park Café,” signaling an intentional connection to the surrounding neighborhood and nearby family-oriented destinations.
One of the project’s defining elements will likely be its extensive wine program. St. Elmo Crawford is a member of the Court of Master Sommeliers, and the owners reportedly maintain a private wine collection exceeding 10,000 bottles. According to published materials, Pear Plum plans to offer wines spanning major global wine regions including Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Rioja, Barolo, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Santa Barbara and Oregon’s Willamette Valley, alongside select older vintages dating back to the 1960s and 1970s.
The café is also expected to feature proprietary house wines, including Cuvée Gia and Cuvée Aliesa, produced in partnership with Oregon-based Violin Wines.
In addition to wine, Pear Plum plans to emphasize a specialty coffee program aimed at both serious coffee enthusiasts and casual customers seeking a more elevated café experience downtown. Food offerings are reportedly being developed in collaboration with Lesa and Violette of The Handmade Chef Meal Prep Co., with an emphasis on farm-to-table ingredients, approachable daytime fare and kid-friendly menu options.
In a public statement, co-owner Christina Crawford described the inspiration behind the project as creating a space where parents could relax while remaining connected to the energy of downtown and nearby family spaces.
“Pear Plum was born from a simple idea: what if the best spot near the park wasn’t just for the kids?” Crawford stated. “I wanted somewhere I could take my daughters to play, let the dogs run, hear great music in the background, and sit down with a really beautiful glass of wine, or a perfect coffee, while I actually caught my breath.”
Public records indicate Pear Plum, LLC filed a federal trademark application for the PEAR PLUM brand in November 2025 covering café, coffee shop and wine bar services, suggesting the project has been quietly in development for some time.
Pear Plum is currently targeting a January 2027 opening at 101 Island Avenue in downtown San Diego. For more information, visit pearplum.com.
Originally published on May 15, 2026. Information first reported by Joey Reams of WhatNow.