By Frank Sabatini Jr.

The food court at Westfield Mission Valley mall will be shut down by the end of May to eventually accommodate a single-use restaurant tenant to be announced. The new tenant will utilize the entire space occupied by seven food and beverage vendors, all of which received 30-day termination notices in mid April.

“We’re closing out the existing tenants because their leases are expiring,” the mall’s general manager Izamar Hook said, adding that the food court will be remodeled to also include an area called “the Westfield family lounge.”

The notices, however, came as a shock to the business owners, some of whom insist their leases hadn’t expired.

“I have a lease that is still good for 15 more months,” said Khem Kharel of Monsoon Express. “They broke the agreement and gave no reason.”

The owners of Café Soleil said their lease doesn’t expire until June 15. The coffee shop has operated inside the mall for 11 years.

“It was such a last-minute notice that we have to get a storage area for our equipment until maybe moving to a different location,” said Al Marzan, who runs the business with his wife, Norma Medina. “We put so much money into remodeling the shop last year,” he adds.

In an email sent to Mission Valley News from Westfield regarding the lease agreements, it states: “Although the company does not comment on confidential matters such as lease terms and conditions, we are always looking to refresh and revitalize the food offerings at our center. We look forward to announcements of exciting new arrivals in the coming weeks and months.”

The other vendors that received termination notices are Charley’s Grilled Subs, Sarku Japan, Deep Dish, Great Khan’s Mongolian Festival, and Tanganyika Grill.

After sitting empty for nearly a year, End Zone Sports Bar & Grill in North Park has reopened under new ownership with a refreshed interior featuring flat screens and whimsical wall art. A front patio was also added, although it only allows for eating until the bar receives its permit for outdoor alcohol consumption. There are 24 beers on tap, mostly local crafts, along with low-alcohol spirits. The food menu features salads, tacos, burgers, pizza, filet mignon and salmon. In addition, breakfast is available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and happy hour is offered from noon to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday ($1 off drafts, and $2 off mixed drinks). 2859 University Ave., 619-677-2928.

—Frank Sabatini Jr. can be reached at [email protected].