For decades, unless you were going to the mall, Target, IKEA, Qualcomm Stadium (now the sleek Snapdragon Stadium), or the sand and gravel quarry weirdly positioned across mega-prime Mid-City real estate, there wasn’t much reason to hang out in Mission Valley.
But over the past few years, the neighborhood has transformed. For example, I’d actually call Mission Valley a neighborhood now, albeit one with nary a single-family home within its borders. Still, condos and townhouses totally count towards total neighborhood points, as do new restaurants, parks, bike lanes, a brand-new elementary school, and eventually, a sprawling San Diego State University expansion.
Much of the new housing and retail sits in that former quarry, which closed to make way for the massive Civita housing development. Those 230 acres have been in nonstop build mode since 2010, with thousands of these new housing units, restaurants, and retail already open. But to carbaholics and pastry fanatics, the best is yet to come.
La Clochette, the French bakery launched in 2015 by siblings Willy Wu Jye Hwa and Karine Beers, will open a second location in the Civita development in mid-June at the Purl Apartments.
“Choosing Civita Park for our new location felt like a natural fit,” says Wu Jye Hwa, pointing to the rapidly increasing housing density and central location. He explains that while the food menu at Civita will be a little smaller than at their Pacific Beach location, to cater to the more grab-and-go demand, they plan to introduce a multi-roaster coffee program to increase the drink menu.
“This initiative allows us to spotlight an exceptional range of coffee artisans from San Diego, from small to bigger roasters,” explains Wu Jye Hwa. “Each is selected for their distinctive approach to brewing and their commitment to quality.” Signature lattes like rose lavender, ube caramel, and elderflower will still be available, as will other specialty coffees, teas, and more.
Beers and Wu Jye Hwa were born and raised in Madagascar and say that embracing diversity and community is a cornerstone of La Clochette’s operations. They hope it’s more than a place for a great cup of coffee or French-inspired dishes like duck brandy tartine or beignets—it’s a symbol of unity. I say it’s a symbol of progress. Mission Valley keeps growing up, and I’m excited to see what’s still to come.
San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events
Julian Beer Company Throwing its First Festival
This Saturday, May 18, Julian Beer Company is throwing its first-ever, one-day festival from noon to 6 p.m. The Hillside Rendezvous will feature music from Sol Seed and The Resinators, lawn games, live art, and, of course, craft beer. It sounds like a great excuse to check out the mountain town just an hour from San Diego, and if you buy your ticket ahead of time, you save $5!
Beth’s Bites
My last meal will be a loaf of freshly baked sourdough bread slathered in warm Irish salted butter or a smorgasbord of Korean comfort foods. (I haven’t decided yet. I hope there’s still time.) While deciding which direction to take, I must stop by Honeyjam Korean Chicken & Beer, which soft opens on Monday, May 20, at Towne Center Drive in University City. Korean pub food? Beer? Soju cocktails? Keep talking…
It took a while, but as of May 7, Tarantula Hill Brewing Company is officially the brewery-in-residence at Draft Republic San Marcos. The 28,000-square-foot entertainment hub has a bowling alley, golf simulator, over 30 TVs, cornhole, shuffleboard, and now, former Pure Project brewer Tyler Potter heading up the brewhouse.
CH Projects’ Middle Eastern concept Leila just named Wesley Johnson executive chef. He’s worked in Zahav in Philadelphia, Tusk, and Café Castagna in Portland, to name a few kitchens, so it’s safe to say we’ll be in good hands when doors open this summer.
Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected].
