Tracking Turnover
Italian concept replaces Chad White’s former East Village restaurant
The space that Chad White left behind when he closed Común Kitchen & Tavern is being transformed into an Italian restaurant.
Salvucci’s Ristorante will open in May on the corner of Tenth Avenue and J Street, and is the newest culinary concept from RMD Group, the company behind Fluxx nightclub, Rustic Root, and Don Chido. The restaurant is named after the grandparents of an RMD partner, and the menu will be based on family recipes: handmade gnocchi, whole branzino cooked in parchment paper, and pizzas like the “fig and pig,” made with smoked bacon, figs, and fontina.
It’s exciting to see how the company that brought a fun rooftop bar decorated with topiary to the Gaslamp will redesign the space. Mike Georgopoulos, partner at RMD Group, said in an email that the design elements will be centered around family photos, and that they’ve removed the self-serve craft beer station that was an attraction at Común. “Although all of our RMD venues have a great focus on craft beer, Salvucci’s curated beverage program will specifically focus on Californian and Italian wines,” he said.
Last fall, there were three high-profile, back-to-back restaurant closures on this block in the East Village, but Georgopoulos said this isn’t a concern and that Salvucci’s is well-suited for the neighborhood. “In all of the cases that we are aware of, the neighborhood supported the restaurants—that was seen in each one’s top-line revenue,” he said. “The trick in the restaurant business is to balance that top-line revenue with the costs associated with running a restaurant. We believe we can do that.”
Along with the recent opening of Oscars Mexican Seafood next door and the sale of the former Table No. 10 space to The Patio Restaurant Group, is a restaurant revival on its way for this pocket of the East Village?
“East Village was significantly lacking in fast casual, that and more bar-centric concepts seems to resonate more in the area vs. ‘Top Chef-style’ dining,” said Mike Spilky, president of real estate firm Location Matters.
“The RMD Group has a reputation of being great bar operators, and I can only guess that their concept will be rich with a unique drinking program and an atmosphere to boot,” Spilky said. “Not sure I would use the word revival just yet, but it looks as though things are headed in the proper direction.”
Word on the Street
East Village Gets New Italian Restaurant; Open Houses to See This Weekend
The space for an 8,000-square-foot restaurant at the new airport rental car center is still up for grabs. | Photo courtesy of San Diego County Regional Airport Authority
The space for an 8,000-square-foot restaurant at the new airport rental car center is still up for grabs. | Photo courtesy of San Diego County Regional Airport Authority
Restaurant space atop the airport’s rental car center still not leased
At the end of 2014, the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority announced it was making room in its massive rental car center for a spacious restaurant with views of the runway and its own dedicated elevator. Even though a similar dining concept at the Lexus dealership in Escondido has been successful, when the 530,500-square-foot rental car center opened in January, there were no takers.
The airport authority recently sent out invitations to members of the media for an event at the rental car center on Monday. The invitation says: “Unveiling of a new destination space,” so I initially thought a restaurant tenant was going to be announced. However, I received confirmation that the nearly 8,000-square-foot space is still available.
Why are no restaurateurs looking to take on the project? Would you visit a drinking and dining establishment here? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
House Hunting
Take a break from browsing design photos on Pinterest and go peek inside people’s homes (legally!) to see what they’ve done with the interior, yard, and remodeling projects. You can also discover how much it costs to live in certain neighborhoods around the county. Right now, the average home price in San Diego County is $549,000, according to according to the National Association of Realtors.
East Village Gets New Italian Restaurant; Open Houses to See This Weekend
This Clairemont home has been extensively remodeled. | Photo by Big Block Realty/Screenshot from Redfin
This Clairemont home has been extensively remodeled. | Photo by Big Block Realty/Screenshot from Redfin
Close to the median price is this one-story home in Clairemont, one of this year’s hot neighborhoods. It has an open floor plan and a covered patio, and it’s clear the previous owner invested a lot in upgrading the kitchen and master bath. See it on Saturday, March 26, from 1 to 4 p.m.
East Village Gets New Italian Restaurant; Open Houses to See This Weekend
You could live in Del Mar for much less than the neighborhood’s median home price. | Photo by Berkshire Hathaway HomeService/Screenshot from Redfin
You could live in Del Mar for much less than the neighborhood’s median home price. | Photo by Berkshire Hathaway HomeService/Screenshot from Redfin
We found a deal in Del Mar: A three-bedroom, three-bath townhouse for $595,876. When the average listing price for a home in Del Mar is $2 million, this property is definitely worth a look. See it on Saturday, March 26, from 1 to 4 p.m.
East Village Gets New Italian Restaurant; Open Houses to See This Weekend
This Del Sur home has a clear view of Black Mountain Ranch. | Photo by Keller Williams SD Metro/Screenshot from Redfin
This Del Sur home has a clear view of Black Mountain Ranch. | Photo by Keller Williams SD Metro/Screenshot from Redfin
Over in Del Sur, $665,000 can get you a two-story home that overlooks Black Mountain Ranch. The eco-friendly home is fitted with rooftop solar panels and a tankless water heater. See it on Saturday, March 26, from 1 to 4 p.m.
News Bites
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Real estate consultants and developers are showing a huge interest in the chance to makeover Seaport Village.
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Costa Verde Center in UTC is getting a major makeover, and new plans could include a hotel.
East Village Gets New Italian Restaurant; Open Houses to See This Weekend
East Village’s Común Kitchen & Tavern is being transformed into an Italian restaurant. | Photo by Sam Wells
