Public filings indicate that Chelsea Marlene Coleman and Rae Ellen Gurne, partners in Coleman Gurne LLC, have applied for a pending Type-41 on-sale beer and wine license for Nana Fran's at 3750 30th Street in North Park. While Coleman has not yet commented on the project, the name appears to be a tribute to her grandmother, Frances "Fran" Hay, a World War II U.S. Marine Corps Reserve veteran and former legal officer. Although neighborhood speculation has suggested the business could be a bakery, the pending beer and wine license points toward something more substantial than a traditional bread and pastry shop.
The location occupies the approximately 3,000-square-foot corner storefront formerly home to Pâtisserie Mélanie. It also sits on the very same block as Mabel's Gone Fishing - just one storefront separates the two businesses - creating what could become an even larger hospitality footprint for Coleman and Gurne along one of North Park's busiest restaurant corridors.
Coleman and Gurne have steadily built one of San Diego's most respected hospitality groups over the past decade. After opening The Rose Wine Bar in South Park in 2010, the pair expanded with Bodega Rosette, a boutique bottle shop specializing in natural wines and small-batch gin, before debuting Mabel's Gone Fishing in late 2022.
Named after Coleman's dog, Mabel's Gone Fishing quickly became one of San Diego's most celebrated restaurants, earning recognition from the Michelin Guide with a Bib Gourmand designation and later landing on Esquire magazine's annual list of America's Best New Restaurants. The seafood-focused restaurant and bar has developed a devoted following for its Iberian-inspired menu, extensive gin program and thoughtful wine selection.
If Nana Fran's indeed includes a bakery element, it would also represent something of a return to familiar territory for Coleman and Gurne, whose portfolio also includes Secret Sister Bakery alongside The Rose in South Park. Secret Sister sells an array of pastries, cakes, breads,and offers breakfast and lunch sandwiches, quiche and salads. Nana Fran's may likely offer a similar yet expanded menu format.
"Nana Fran's is an homage to my grandmother who was a whip-smart matriarch and party-thrower," explained Coleman. "We hope this location will be an extension of our company's and Nana Fran's brand of living room hospitality. At Fran's we will highlight some of the things my grandmother grew to love over 96 years of nomadic resettling with her family in tow. We will continue our mission to cook everything from scratch using heritage techniques and our 150+ year old sourdough starter, Keiffer."
The North Park storefront itself carries considerable history. Pâtisserie Mélanie permanently closed earlier this year after less than two years in business despite widespread praise for its Parisian-style pastries. The bakery's brief lifespan followed years of construction delays that became the subject of ongoing litigation against SDG&E and a contractor, with the owners alleging that utility and construction issues caused millions of dollars in damages. Many North Park residents considered the closure one of the neighborhood's most unfortunate restaurant losses. Many are hopeful the new tenants experience a far smoother path to opening than their predecessors.
The North Park storefront itself carries considerable history. Pâtisserie Mélanie permanently closed earlier this year after less than two years in business despite widespread praise for its Parisian-style pastries. The bakery's brief lifespan followed years of construction delays that became the subject of ongoing litigation against SDG&E and a contractor, with the owners alleging that utility and construction issues caused millions of dollars in damages. Many North Park residents considered the closure one of the neighborhood's most unfortunate restaurant losses. Many are hopeful the new tenants experience a far smoother path to opening than their predecessors.
Originally published on June 27, 2026.
