Sholeh Abounasseri calls herself an artist at heart, a dreamer with a huge imagination. Part of that imagination always led her back to a vision of opening a wine bar—a place where she could nurture her creative streak while offering her local community a place to gather and connect.
“I’ve waited 10 years for this,” she says in a light, dreamy tone that immediately triggers a calming effect. Listening to her lay out a vision of creating an oasis in busy North Park sounds like an idyllic, poetic ode to the area, which makes sense. The wine bar she’s about to open is called Rumi, in honor of the lauded 13th-century Persian poet.
“If you’ve read any of his poems, being drunk on the wine of life—I don’t even think he drank in reality, you know,” she says. “But I think the parallel of it to being drunk on the joy of life, or the connections, when we fall in love and all of those things, so it’s kind of that for me.”
Rumi will open at 2937 Lincoln Avenue in North Park in late June or early July, by Abounasseri’s best estimate. It’s the first food-and-beverage concept she’s ever opened, which she admits has been a more arduous journey than she anticipated. “I used to run marathons, so I feel like I’m in mile 22 now,” she jokes.
Originally from Iran, she opened Our Story boutique and charm bar in November 2023, next door to Rumi’s future location. Rumi’s small footprint, only around 700-square-feet, seats around 48 people both indoors and outdoors. There’s no kitchen, so no prepared foods, but Abounasseri plans to serve various chocolates to pair with tea and wine that can be consumed on-site or purchased for takeaway.
She says the wine selection will be dictated more by whims than specific geographical designations. “Smaller wineries… women-owned wineries,” she says, adding that she also plans to carry local, organic wines and whatever strikes her fancy. “It’s how I run my store too. When I like it, I’m passionate,” she says. “So that’s my goal—to find some passions and niches, like smaller, more passion projects.”
Rumi may be her first foray into the food and drink world, but she’s all in. “It’s not for a short run,” she promises. In fact, she’s so confident what she’s building will be a success that she signed a three-year lease. “I feel like in life, you pick and choose what comes to you to a huge degree,” she explains. “I wanted the community… [so] I’m going to be there for the community.”
San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events
Beth’s Bites
- An’s Gelato, which earned the title of the number one ice cream in America in 2024, finally opened its newest location in Ocean Beach last month, dubbed An’s Electronics Repair. In-the-know gelato lovers won’t be fooled by the misleading name—after all, that’s been their (successful) schtick since opening An’s Dry Cleaning in 2018, followed by An’s Hatmakers in Del Mar and An’s Athletic Field Services at Petco Park. Here’s hoping the next outpost is An’s Hiking Gear near Cowles Mountain, or perhaps An’s Paddleboat Rentals near Lake Murray?
- Changes are afoot at La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club (and no, it’s not a pickleball takeover). The resort tapped Ananda Bareño as the next executive chef, taking over the kitchens at the storied Marine Room and The Shores Restaurant. The whole property is undergoing a gigantic $60-million renovation, so an infusion of fresh talent seems well-timed. I’m particularly interested in her new spring menu at The Marine Room that features a “refined” caviar service and lamb chops with citrus labneh and mint chimichurri—yes, please to all.
- It’s not an exaggeration to say The San Diego Food Bank is doing some of the most important work making San Diego a better place for all. Their mission of fighting hunger and food insecurity helps 400,000 per month on average, and you can assist their mission at the 13th annual San Diego Food Bank Gala on Saturday, May 3. Proceeds go directly to the Food Bank’s programs for local youths facing hunger, and participating chefs include superstars like Evan Cruz (Cohn Restaurant Group), Ricardo Heredia (Intercontinental San Diego), Adrian Mendoza (Knead), Amanda Palomino (Kitchens for Good), Dante and Daniel Romero (Two Ducks), Travis Swikard (Callie), and more. Grab a ticket (and your checkbook) for a delicious evening of doing good.
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