Word on the Street
Moxy Hotel proposed for East Village
San Diego could soon join New York and San Francisco in getting one of the first Moxy Hotels in the country.
A boutique hotel line from Marriott that launched in Europe in 2013, Moxy is changing the notion of what a budget hotel can be, and according to Marriott is “just like home… but with a bartender.” Lobbies are designed to mimic living rooms to encourage socializing, and self-service food and beverages are available 24/7.
J Street Hospitality has chosen a vacant lot on Sixth Avenue between E and F streets in the Gaslamp Quarter for the proposed eight-story, 126-room hotel, which is scheduled to open in 2017. Plans are currently being reviewed by Civic San Diego.
Tracking Turnover
Longtime La Jolla restaurant relocates
After some will-they, won’t-they about the fate of Alfonso’s, a Mexican restaurant that has been on La Jolla’s Prospect Street for 44 years, on Wednesday the owner announced definitive plans to relocate the restaurant to Solana Beach.
Alfonso’s name will remain on the new storefront, a 4,400-square-foot space in the Beachwalk Shopping Center on Highway 101.
“We explored many options around the county and ultimately decided on Solana Beach because of the outdoor seating, iconic Highway 101 address, and most importantly the onsite parking; one important element missing from our La Jolla Location,” Jorge Fierro, son of founder Alfonso Fierro, said in a statement. The same food and margaritas from the La Jolla restaurant will be found at the new location, which will have plenty of outdoor seating, Fierro added.
Local agents with the firm JLL helped facilitate the move.
Alfonso’s Leaves La Jolla for Solana Beach, New Hotel Planned for the Gaslamp
Apartments and a new bar will replace the old Flame night club on Park Boulevard. | Photo courtesy of Location Matters
Apartments and a new bar will replace the old Flame night club on Park Boulevard. | Photo courtesy of Location Matters
Iconic night spot gets new life
The building that once housed The Flame, a gay nightclub and Hillcrest institution for three decades, was recently sold to a developer who plans on transforming the landmark Park Boulevard property into a mixed-used space.
James Nicholas of Clownfish Partners, who purchased the site for $1.9 million, said six apartment units will be added to the 7,800-square-foot building, along with a central courtyard and a refurbished 2,000-square-foot lounge. Location Matters facilitated the sale, and Paul Ahern is working with Nicholas to find a new tenant to occupy the bar/lounge space.
Nice Digs
Alfonso’s Leaves La Jolla for Solana Beach, New Hotel Planned for the Gaslamp
Iboss transformed the former SAIC data center in Sorrento Valley into its new headquarters. | Photo courtesy of Goldin Solutions
Iboss transformed the former SAIC data center in Sorrento Valley into its new headquarters. | Photo courtesy of Goldin Solutions
Playing at work
A local tech company expanded its presence in Sorrento Valley with a new headquarters.
Alfonso’s Leaves La Jolla for Solana Beach, New Hotel Planned for the Gaslamp
Talk about making an entrance: Employees can head to the first floor for lunch or a meeting via this playground slide that was installed in the office. Spokesperson Cori Cagide said the fun workspace reflects the company’s culture, and it was designed based on employee’s requests and feedback. | Photo courtesy of Goldin Solutions
Cybersecurity firm iboss spent $6 million renovating the former data center for SAIC on Campus Point Drive and transformed it into a research center that also looks like a fun place to work. At the 43,000-square-foot facility, 120 employees have access to an expansive kitchen, treadmill workstations, and a playground slide that descends from the second floor down to the first. The company showed off its cool new space with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday.
The company is studying new malware and viruses that threaten computer networks, and said in a statement it plans to hire 100 to 150 additional tech workers over the next 18 months. It also recently partnered with UCSD’s Supercomputer Center on creating an internship program.
Petco’s new home
Over in Rancho Bernardo, Petco unveiled its 300,000-square-foot new headquarters (that’s huge) on Wednesday. The company turned a former manufacturing plant into a corporate center where employees have a gym and are encouraged to bring their dogs to work.
Say what?
A new apartment complex on 13th Street in the East Village will be ready to start renting units when it opens in November—at prices that sound better suited to New York City’s East Village.
The cheapest studios available are going for $2,073 per month for 550 square feet. Rent for one-bedrooms starts at $2,191.
That’s significantly higher than the county’s average rent, which is $1,301 for a studio and $1,401 for a one-bedroom.
Amenities for the so-called EV Lofts will include “European-style” cabinets, roll-up louver doors, a lobby with custom art installations, and a roof deck.
Would you pay that much rent to live here? Tell us in the comments!
Alfonso’s Leaves La Jolla for Solana Beach, New Hotel Planned for the Gaslamp
San Diego is in the works to get its first Moxy Hotel, Marriott’s new line of boutique properties. | Image courtesy of Marriott
