According to a recently filed application with the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality, Dub's Chicken Shack is planning to open at 4354 Highway 78, occupying the approximately 2,200-square-foot restaurant that housed Jeremy's on the Hill until its closure earlier this year. Permit documents indicate the new restaurant expects to employ approximately 15 people.
The incoming concept is owned by Randall White, who formed DUB'S Chicken Shack as a California corporation in March 2026. White brings decades of restaurant management experience to the venture. According to his LinkedIn profile, he spent more than 15 years with Dave & Buster's, including nearly nine years as general manager of the company's Torrance location, where he oversaw a team of more than 130 employees and managed a business generating approximately $13 million in annual revenue. Prior to that, he spent a decade as general manager for Buca di Beppo in San Diego County, where he led one of the brand's highest-volume restaurants. White also studied Restaurant, Culinary and Catering Management at The Culinary Institute of America.
While few details have been released about the menu or overall concept, the restaurant's name suggests a focus on chicken, representing a significant departure from the upscale farm-to-table cuisine that made Jeremy's on the Hill a destination dining experience.
The change follows the February 2026 closure of Jeremy's on the Hill after 17 years in business. Founded in 2008 by chef Jeremy Manley and his mother Teresa Stilson-Keller, the restaurant earned a devoted following for its seasonal, locally sourced California cuisine, extensive wine program, and deep ties to the Julian community.
Jeremy's on the Hill became one of San Diego County's most acclaimed rural restaurants, attracting diners from throughout Southern California while helping establish Julian as more than simply an apple pie destination. The family-run restaurant was also known for its community involvement, providing meals to local schools, supporting wildfire relief efforts, and partnering with nearby farms to source fresh ingredients.
The closure left many wondering what would become of the highly visible Highway 78 property, one of the region's best-known restaurant locations. Dub's Chicken Shack now appears poised to fill that vacancy, though it remains unclear when the restaurant expects to open or what diners can expect beyond its chicken-focused branding.
Dub's Chicken Shack is planned for 4354 Highway 78 in Santa Ysabel, the longtime home of Jeremy's on the Hill. For more information, visit dubschicken.com.
Originally published on August 5, 2026. Information first reported by Katie Porter of WhatNow.
