For San Diegians, caring for our people and planet is not just an idea, it’s a crucial component woven into the fabric of our lives. Residents volunteer, donate proceeds, create initiatives focused on DEI, use environmentally conscious products, organize beach clean-ups, and much more. The business community is not only following suit, but using its platform to lead by example.
As trust in businesses continues to evolve,Better Business Bureau® Pacific Southwest (BBB) is proud to celebrate its one-year anniversary of the BBB4Good Trustmark. Launched to meet the rising consumer demand for purpose-driven businesses,BBB4Good has empowered consumers to choose local companies that support causes and positively impact their communities.
In its inaugural year, BBB4Good has received interest from over 150 businesses doing positive work in the community, and of those, a prestigious 12 are in San Diego County. In addition to their mission:
Liquid Blue: Commits to environmental sustainability and carbon-neutral travel through a variety of efforts and donations to 1% for the Planet.
Optima Office: Serves the community through various volunteer efforts including helping to end food insecurity, donating accounting and HR services to those in need and providing student scholarships.
The Rug Mine: Empowers Afghan women artisans creating quality wool rugs, provides humanitarian aid, preserves cultural heritage and sources cruelty free, sustainable wool for rugs.
Identity Recon: Supports the unsheltered population, advocates for cultural competency in the workplace, and donates career transition and business services to military and veteran service members.
Extreme Power Gym: Provides life skills and support to veterans, military service members, and those affected by unfavorable situations through volunteerism and Muay Thai principles.
At Home Nursing Care: Donates and volunteers time to local charities to support the health of the community and provides tuition scholarships to support those obtaining home health aide, nursing assistant and CPR training.
Surf Education Academy: Ensures surfing access to all and volunteer efforts with local nonprofits.
At Your Home Familycare: Commits to volunteerism with organizations that support health and equal opportunities for seniors, disabled adults, veterans and persons with developmental disabilities and for offers long-term career opportunities in marginalized communities.
Mirimar Kitchen and Bath: Supports local animal rescues and animal welfare groups to help prevent pet overpopulation and the euthanasia of animals.
Surrogate Alternatives, Inc.: Aids LGBTQ+ individuals and couples in achieving parenthood, while advocating for diverse family structures’ acceptance and legal recognition.
Seaside Landscape & Design: Offers sustainable landscaping practices, including drought-tolerant planting, xeriscaping, water conservation, native plant promotion, and the replacement of lawns with artificial turf and hardscape solutions and for providing sustainability education through local organizations, schools, and community initiatives.
“Trust in business extends beyond delivering products and services with integrity; it encompasses contributing to social well-being and fostering positive impact,” shares Kryistyna Hook, Senior Director of Brand Strategies & Social Impact for BBB Pacific Southwest. “As we mark the first anniversary of honoring businesses with the BBB4Good Trustmark, we are thrilled to see the program’s success in elevating those committed to a higher purpose.”
BBB4Good builds uponBBB Accreditation, ensuring that purpose-driven businesses meet rigorousBBB Standards for Trust andBBB4Good Standards of higher purpose, community engagement, authentic marketing, and social and/or environmental impact substantiation. Consumers can easily identify BBB4Good Verified Businesses by the display of the BBB4Good Trustmark on their profiles on bbb.org and websites.
“There are consumers that also want to vote with their dollars. They want to vote for companies that do the right thing,” said Scott Stephens, founder of the San Diego-based World’s Most Traveled Band, Liquid Blue. “You can have great customer service and a great product and that’s wonderful. But beyond that, what are you doing? Are you doing something that benefits the greater society? And that’s what BBB4Good is all about.”
(Credit: Liquid Blue Band, BBB permission to use)
“Family and community are at the top of our list of core values. So, when those are my filters for how I make business decisions, we’re designed to make a positive impact,” said Surf Education Academy founder Sean Brody. “In short, becoming a BBB4Good Verified Business in San Diego truly shows that we care about our community.”
(Sean Brody of Surf Education Academy and student Quinn, photo credit Trent Padillo, BBB permission to use)
BBB4Good has played a crucial role in recognizing businesses addressing important social issues while providing products and services. By spotlighting these efforts, BBB is fostering trust and guiding consumers toward businesses that align with their values.
Businesses interested in earning BBB4Good Verification can apply at bbb.org/bbb4good.
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Studio S
AUGUST 28, 2026
The Art of Slowing Down at Little Frenchie
Inspired by the effortless charm of French cafés, this taste of France on Orange Avenue invites guests to embrace the simple pleasure of taking their time.
Strolling down Orange Avenue on a sunny afternoon, you’ll hear the hum of beach cruisers rolling by and visitors making their way toward the Hotel del Coronado. Dogs pause to greet one another on the sidewalk, palm trees sway overhead, and for a moment, you’re convinced you’re living inside the postcard from the gift shop you just passed.
Then the scene shifts. Towering white columns, black café awnings and gold-trimmed windows frame Little Frenchie, where woven bistro chairs spill onto the sidewalk and servers deliver bubbling crocks of French onion soup. The scent of caramelized onions and melted Gruyère is practically an invitation to ask, “How long for a table for two?”
That feeling of pulling up a chair and staying awhile is exactly what inspired Little Frenchie. French cuisine has a reputation for feeling a little intimidating, but the restaurant is rewriting that narrative with food and wine that feels approachable.
“Sometimes when you read a French menu, you come across words you can’t even pronounce,” David Spatafore, the owner of Little Frenchie, says. “We wanted to create a restaurant where people felt comfortable.”
Little Frenchie was designed to capture the spirit of the French sidewalk cafés that inspired it. Dating back to 1917, the space already carried the charm of a Parisian bistro, with architectural details that felt more at home on a European street corner than in Coronado. The team saw an opportunity to create a restaurant that matched the character of the space while filling a gap in the neighborhood.
The result is a French restaurant that honors tradition without taking itself too seriously.
At Little Frenchie, classic French techniques are at the heart of the menu, but there is always room for creativity. A cassoulet featuring Toulouse sausage and duck confit pays homage to the recipes and regions that inspired it, while a rich hot chocolate made with ingredients imported from France brings a taste of French café culture to Coronado.
The team loves finding unexpected ways to make familiar dishes feel new. A burger becomes a showstopper when it is finished tableside with melted raclette, while a French Dip gets elevated with prime beef and Wagyu makes its way into the burgers. Even Eggs Benedict gets a French twist, swapping the traditional English muffin for a buttery croissant. The GB&J, Little Frenchie’s take on a grilled cheese, brings that same playful approach with seasonal jam and French Brie layered into a comforting classic.
Nearly everything at Little Frenchie is made from scratch, with ingredients carefully chosen to match the restaurant’s standards. Even the bread receives special attention. Each morning, the team sends a car to Prager Brothers Artisan Bread to pick up freshly baked loaves, ensuring every element of the meal reflects the restaurant’s commitment to quality.
Wine is woven into the experience just as naturally as the food. Inspired by the effortless pairings found in French cafés and bistros, Little Frenchie’s by-the-glass selection invites guests to sip their way through different regions and discover new favorites without the pressure of knowing all the rules.
Growing up, Laika Nur, MD, Scripps Clinic sports medicine specialist, loved watching beach volleyball when the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour came to her hometown of Chicago. A talented volleyball player herself, she remembers sitting in the stands all day, and once, even got a couple autographs. Years later, Dr. Nur was attending a professional event focused on women’s sports, and the discussion turned to a new professional women’s volleyball league. The general manager and coaching staff for San Diego’s team, the Mojo, happened to be in attendance, and Dr. Nur took the opportunity to ask them if they needed a team doctor. Flash forward to the Mojo’s inaugural 2024 season, when Dr. Nur officially became the team physician. Click here to read more about Dr. Nur and how she incorporates lessons she learned on the court into her practice.
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Your feet and ankles probably aren’t something you give much thought to—until something goes wrong. Orthopedic surgeons at Scripps Clinic are on the leading edge of foot and ankle reconstruction, treating patients with sports injuries, deformities, traumatic injuries and other conditions. That includes repairing torn Achilles tendons with a minimally invasive procedure that shrinks the incision site to less than a centimeter, and performing advanced ankle replacement on some patients with ankle arthritis. Read more about Scripps’ innovations in foot and ankle care here.
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Mai Vue was just 34 weeks pregnant when she delivered her baby. Her pregnancy had been complicated, and she’d had a recent second trimester pregnancy loss, which led to her receiving specialized care from Sean Daneshmand, MD, a Scripps Clinic perinatologist who oversees high-risk pregnancies. Dr. Daneshmand and his team took care of Mai during her pregnancy, through the birth of her healthy baby girl and beyond. Mai was part of a program Scripps launched to provide support to new moms in the weeks and months after delivery. The postpartum program, known as Scripps Health’s Fourth Trimester Continuum of Care, provides care for women with high-risk pregnancies to optimize their health after childbirth and reduce the risk of complications in future pregnancies. Click here to learn more.
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It’s estimated that one in five people in the U.S. will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. When you factor in living in a sun-soaked city like San Diego and the outdoorsy lifestyle that comes with it, that figure can jump to as high as one in three, which makes early detection and intervention all the more important. Dermatologists at Bighorn Mohs and Dermatology Center are using innovative imaging methods and advanced surgical techniques to diagnose and treat skin cancer. For certain cancers in sensitive spots, like the face, dermatologists perform Mohs surgery, removing skin tissue layer by layer until reaching healthy, cancer-free tissue. They also use a process called immunohistochemistry to view tissue samples taken during Mohs surgery in far greater detail than previous methods. Read more about how Scripps is advancing skin cancer care here.
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When endurance athlete Isaac Sanchez learned he had cancer, he felt blindsided. He was healthy, surfed often and was training for an Ironman triathlon. But he had to put that on hold to undergo treatment. His physicians at Scripps Cancer Center developed a plan to treat the cancer in his tonsil and lymph nodes that included six-and-a-half weeks of near-daily radiation and weekly chemotherapy. He also worked with a Scripps Cancer Center dietitian to enhance his nutrition to promote strength and healing. Today, Isaac’s back to doing what he loves. Read more of his story here.
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