Thank You For Choosing Mission Hills
By J. Daniel Geddis, Mission Hills BID President and Owner Team D&B at One Mission Realty
As I am writing this month’s column many of our businesses are again shut down under state and local mandates due to spikes in COVID-19 test results. Lax social distancing and lack of mask wearing have been mentioned as the reasons for the spike. Knowing we are all fatigued over these mandates, we still must follow them to flatten the curve and successfully re-open. Our businesses are depending on us for their survival.
Fortunately, with the urging of BIDs throughout San Diego, the City of San Diego’s Development Services Department is fast tracking Temporary Outdoor Business Operation Permits which allow restaurants and retailers to operate on sidewalks, in private parking lots, and in established parking spaces. Once an application is completed, the process is taking less than 72 hours to be approved. Many restaurants and retail stores in Mission Hills have applied and been approved. To learn more, please visit http://missionhillsbid.com/temporary-outdoor-business-operations-tobo-approved-by-san-diego-city-council-july-14-2020/
Beginning in August, Backbone Floral and Vintage owner and designer Jesse Zmuda, who celebrated this unique neighborhood treasure’s opening in February 2020, and daughter Billie, will be offering one of a kind tote bags created from Mission Hills’ school children’s hand painted Colors on Canvas banners. Bags will retail for $39. Proceeds will be shared between the mom who sewed each bag and the Mission Hills BID as we plan for a 2021 Colors on Canvas banner art contest. Please stop in to check out the totes. No two are the same: https://www.backboneco.com/.
My heartfelt thank you for continuing to choose Mission Hills for shopping, dining, sipping, relaxation, indulging and investing. Because of you, I have much to share about great things happening during these uncertain times.
One is the recent purchase of The Fort by A. L. Group, LLC. A.L. Group LLC is an operator of a private equity real estate investment holding company based in San Diego. The principals are brothers Alfonso Aldrete and Andres Aldrete. The Fort, designed and developed by architect Jonathan Segal, on the corner of Fort Stockton Drive and Hawk Street, consists of 29 residential units and at one time was the site of the Mission Hills Ford dealership. Segal reconstructed the site into a mixed-use project. The original dealership showroom is now home to the 3,600 square-foot award winning Fort Oak restaurant.
And, 1427 West Lewis was purchased by two sisters, Summer Wynn and Camille Wynn. They’ve created a new home for Dress Theory. Many residents and business owners may recall Dress Theory opened their first San Diego location at 1525 West Lewis in May 2014, and were there for two years. After four years in a nearby community, Dress Theory is back home. The Mission Hills BID is delighted to welcome store manager Rhiannon Marquis and her team members: Shannon Lambert, Megan Kanegai, and Madison Quintana. Lambert recently shared, “Dress Theory is the bridal destination for coolly elegant wedding dresses, brand discovery, and an unparalleled curation of unexpected and unforgettable gowns.”
Marquis added, “Dress Theory offers effortless wedding dresses for brides who want to feel confident, comfortable, and really, really cool.”
I have heard from friends with discerning taste and a keen fashion sense, Dress Theory has long provided an unforgettably intimate and inviting wedding dress shopping experience.
The Rigdon Apartment Building, located on West Lewis from 1605 to 1615 ½, comprising six residential and six commercial units, is in escrow. The building was designed by master architect Nathan Rigdon in 1912 and has been owned by the Willman family for the last 80 years. We are all hearing rumors and are hopeful the close of escrow will happen soon.
At 4020 Goldfinch Street, local resident Merritte Powell is expanding his original La Puerta Mexican food restaurant into Mission Hills, due to open this fall. His vision is for La Puerta becoming a hangout for people who want to be treated with a high level of hospitality while enjoying quality Mexican food and drinks in a fun atmosphere. Powell also shared, “Our Sinaloa inspired family recipes demand we make nearly everything on the menu fresh daily and never use artificial flavorings or enhancers.”
Chips and salsa happen to be one of my all-time favorite food combos, so wave hello to me when you stop in. Bienvenidos La Puerta!
Thanks for reading this monthly column. Please share it with a friend. For questions, comments, and suggestions, please contact Susan McNeil Schreyer, executive director, at MissionHillsBID@gmail.com.
Category: Business, Featured Articles, Local News, Restaurants
