Here We Grow!
by Trish Watlington, president, Mission Hills Business Improvement District
Wow it’s June already and we’re half way through 2015. June will bring us Father’s Day and Flag Day, graduations and promotions and the Town Council’s June 19th kick-off of the Mission Hills Summer Concerts in the Park.
On June 10, in Sacramento, the California State Assembly will celebrate California Small Business Day 2015 with a Salute to Small Business. Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins solicited and received nominations for outstanding businesses within her 78th Assembly District. We congratulate our associate member Mission Hills Nursery, who was acknowledged as an outstanding small business. The Palafox family has been a backbone of Mission Hills for many years, and we’re so very happy to see them receive this recognition.
As I consider all that has happened within the Mission Hills Business Improvement District over the past six months, the stand-out event is the amount of economic development taking place in our BID. In their monthly update, the City of San Diego reported more than 500 businesses have chosen to locate within our Mission Hills BID boundaries; small home businesses, larger bank branches and supermarkets, restaurants and shops and a variety of businesses in-between. We have more choices than ever before in our fine historic neighborhood. We are growing.
We celebrate the six-month anniversary of Pizza e Birra, a casual eatery focusing on stone oven pizza and craft beer on tap, a great addition to our bustling International Restaurant Row on India Street.
For everyone who enjoyed last month’s sneak peek taste of Rita’s Italian ice and custard sandwiches, you will soon be able to indulge in “ice, custard and happiness.” Rita’s Italian Ice is located at 768 West Washington. Rita’s, welcome to Mission Hills.
We are thrilled to have two new and adorable coffee shops – Kettle and Stone and Heartwork Coffee Bar, each serving a different “neighborhood” within our BID neighborhood, keeping us well caffeinated and ready for anything.
We also welcome the long awaited Haggen Food and Pharmacy to 422 West Washington Street. In December the 81-year old Washington state based grocery store purchased 25 Albertsons and Vons stores in San Diego County. Haggen plans to “include more organic produce, higher quality meat and seafood, healthier salads and more bakery items,” in its Mission Hills store. To date, Haggen has committed to keeping on the familiar staff everyone already knows.
On good authority, I learned that the site of the former City Wok will be a full service dental practice. A lot of interior remodeling has been on full-view and the anticipation of welcoming a new neighbor is growing. And right across the street The Red Door is getting a facelift and planning to celebrate its sixth anniversary.
Whether it’s floral design, farm fresh produce, personal care, housewares, knickknacks or food, Mission Hills is undergoing a business renaissance.
With all this growth the BID will be revisiting our Public Right of Way permitting process to help all the new businesses stay on the right side of the City of San Diego’s code compliance department as well as helping the neighborhood maintain its special charm. If you have any questions about benches, planters, signs or other sidewalk amenities you can reach out to our Executive Director, Susan McNeil Schreyer at MissionHillsBID@gmail.com.
Finally, look up and check out all those banners supporting the San Diego County Fair and featuring our very own Mission Hills business celebrities. As I am writing this we’re laying the groundwork for an all neighborhood competition with an awesome grand prize. Visit MissionHillsBID.com to get all the details of our Business Improvement District contest and how you can win. I promise we’ll definitely make it worth your while.
“To be successful, you have to have your heart in your business, and your business in your heart.” – Thomas Watson, Sr.
Category: Local News
