Who hasn’t daydreamed of one day opening a coffee shop slash record store slash plant shop slash creative community hub? (It can’t possibly just be me.) Rather than simply fantasizing about it, a trio of local musicians and coffee experts are manifesting that Millennial dream.
Seancarlo Ohlin, Jonas Reichert, and Christopher Darton had watched fellow musicians and creators leave San Diego in pursuit of what they considered more culturally rich destinations. “We’ve been in the San Diego scene for a really long time,” Ohlin says. “There were all these really cool experiences that we were having [touring] in other cities, and we didn’t feel like we had that in San Diego. And so this is kind of an attempt to bring some of that here.”
Members of the trio have worked, variously, at Coffee & Tea Collective, Dark Horse Coffee Roasters, and Modern Times’ coffee side, so it’s no surprise that java was a major part of their tours. “We would bring a French press with us,” Ohlin says. “That eventually turned into us bringing a V60 pour-over set-up and having a scale and a grinder. We would be the ones brewing for people on the road.”
Courtesy of Fuzz Coffee
After hosting pop-ups during the pandemic, they launched Fuzz Coffee & Records as an e-commerce store in 2021. As buzz grew, they took over a small space at Seahive Station makers market in Liberty Station, slinging vinyl and selling bags of beans. Now, the next step: a small, industrial retail space and coffee bar inspired by Japanese coffee shops, opening in the heart of North Park this June.
North Park’s not short on coffee spots, but Ohlin thinks the vinyl-meets-java concept will set Fuzz apart. “We know there’s an audience for what we do,” he says. And he’s adamant about one thing—it’s not a listening bar. “A lot of people are expecting that, and there is a lot of that going on around San Diego right now. It’s very cool, but our focus is pressing records and selling records.”
Fuzz will offer a traditional espresso menu using a Decent Espresso machine, which Ohlin says allows baristas to control each pull to an infinitesimal degree (even more than the more commonly used La Marzocco machines), plus a small but curated tea program and a few “fun drinks,” like a Fernet-inspired latte. (I’m skeptical, but intrigued.) It’ll sell vinyl records—including ones from Fuzz’s own label—focused on bands in the psych, garage, and dream pop genres. The trio’s label puts out five to 10 records a year, each paired with an exclusive coffee release.
The best part: Ohlin’s an ordained minister and offers up Fuzz nuptials. “If you want to get a shot of espresso and get married after, I can do that,” he laughs. If there are limits to the multi-hyphenate concept, I haven’t found them yet.
Gerry Torres, owner of City Tacos and Tour de Tapas, will open his latest restaurant in the former Barrio Dogg space at 2234 Logan Avenue by the end of the year. The concept, called Fonda del Barrio, will be “a vibrant and immersive dining experience,” Torres says. “[It] will transport diners to their favorite pueblo mágico [or “magical town”], drawing inspiration from culturally rich regions like Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende, San Cristóbal, and Tlaquepaque.” He’s planning “super old-school” Mexican favorites on partner and executive chef Eduardo Baeza’s menu, plus Latin-inspired cocktails, Mexican beers, and non-alcoholic options. Sounds like a legit addition to the neighborhood to me.
Courtesy of Civico 1845
Beth’s Bites
Civico 1845 is hitting its double-digit birthday this year. To celebrate, on June 3, the Little Italy eatery will launch “10 Years of Calabrifornia,” an event that my computer’s spellcheck hates but my stomach is going to love. Five local chefs will each create a signature collaborative dish using traditional Calabrian ingredients, and with names like Travis Swikard (Callie), Enea Sintoni (Ambrogio15), Brad Wise (Trust Restaurant Group), and Accursio Lota (Trattoria Cori Pastificio) lined up, it’s a guaranteed romp through the most delicious region in southern Italy.
Speaking of birthdays, Wildcoast turns 25 this year! Led by founder and former mayor of Imperial Beach Serge Dedina, the local nonprofit focuses on protecting our oceans and marine habitats through conservation and education initiatives. Support the org at its annual Baja Bash fundraiser on June 14. Featuring San Diego and Baja chefs like Javier Plascencia (Animalón, Finca Altozano, Jazamango), JoJo Ruiz (Lionfish, Temaki, Serea), William Eick (Matsu), Kelli Crosson (The Lodge at Torrey Pines), Karen Krasne (Extraordinary Desserts), Nic Webber and Jacob Jordan (24 Suns), José Cepeda (Quixote), and David McIntyre (Lana), plus live music and drinks, it’s your chance to help save the ocean and ensure you have a delicious evening.
It’s three-for-one birthday Bites today, and Cucina Urbana is last but not least with a sweet 16. All through June, the Italian icon (and one of California’s first Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants) will offer a $16 “throwback” menu Sundays through Wednesdays with wine, pizzas, meatballs, and more. Best of all, this deal is across all Cucina locations in Southern California, so you’ll get the same steal whether you’re in Del Mar, Bankers Hill, or Orange County. (But why go to OC when you can be in SD? Evergreen question.)
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Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
