A Hillcrest mainstay expands its reach into the community

Morgan M. Hurley | Contributing Editor

Urban MO’s, the center of MO’s Universe — a group of San Diego LGBT-themed restaurant-bars that also includes Baja Betty’s, Gossip Grill and Hillcrest Brewing Company — is currently undergoing an expansion that will add 1,000 square feet to its patio.

Though the patio bar has already been closed off to make room for the new space, the restaurant, inside bar and dance floor will remain open throughout construction, which is scheduled to be complete no later than Dec. 26.

Once part of the popular Hamburger Mary’s chain, Urban MO’s (short for homos), located at 308 University Ave. in Hillcrest, opened in 2006 with a new name and a new brand that has since expanded to the three other locations.

“We are world famous for our drinks, and our hearty burgers are consistently voted amongst the best in San Diego,” stated Chris Shaw, president of MO’s Universe, in a press release. “It’s no wonder over 50 percent of our staff has been employed with our company for over 15 years and we now have a two-year wait for new hires.

“This expansion will bring our iconic and flagship concept to the forefront of Hillcrest’s evolution, providing guests with an open and inviting space that guests can look out from — much different from the 1990s when we first opened,” Shaw said.

In 2011, the restaurant undertook its first renovation since the name change, ushering in new flooring, street-side seating with sliding garage-door style windows along University Avenue, a floor-to-ceiling door to separate the patio from the restaurant, and new tables and other furnishings, as well as new sidewalks and landscaping.

Current construction has already knocked down the eastern walls of the patio and demolished the existing patio bar. What were formerly five parking spaces on the MO’s side of the alley adjacent to Peet’s Coffee and Tea have also been torn up, and four will soon be part of the property’s expansion.

A larger, rectangular bar will grace the new patio area, becoming the focal point and offering patrons seating on every side. Additional outdoor seating and cabanas will also be installed, as well as a urinal-only men’s bathroom to service the space. Patio guests have always had to trek to the other side of the restaurant to use “the facilities” or opt for seasonal “porta potties” installed by staff during the winter months.

A separate smoking area on the alley side of the patio will also be established, allowing non-smokers to eat comfortably and enjoy the new patio in a smoke-free environment, while still offering tables and space for smokers, too.

In addition to the expanded patio, the property’s main building will be outfitted with a partial second story, which will house new office spaces and act as the company’s headquarters.

Parking issues have always been on the forefront of Shaw’s mind, considering the shrinking options with ongoing development in the area and shifting changes to Uptown’s bike and parking plans over recent years.

Shaw said by next spring, the lot next to MO’s, which runs from the alley to Third Avenue, where a residence and offices spaces currently reside, will be leveled and paved with 15 pay parking spots. Those added to the eight recently installed there when a garage was removed will bring the total number to 23. Hillcrest Partners LLC will manage the lot.

“It was important to make parking a priority due to the potential loss of 51 parking spaces on the east end under the SANDAG Bike Plan,” Shaw said. “A group of business owners including myself met with the Mayor’s office, SANDAG, and [Council President] Todd Gloria’s staff to express our 100 percent support behind the Transforming Hillcrest plan, as it currently stands, including the one-way zone which may impact my business, Urban MO’s.

“I understand there may be some changes after engineers take a solid look at the proposal, which reduces the loss to 15 spaces in east Hillcrest,” Shaw continued. “However, the potential loss of up to 91 parking spaces is very unacceptable. No community can sustain a loss of that magnitude. I’m confident that our expansion, which includes 23 new parking spaces in addition to the spaces the Frost Plan has saved is win-win for everyone.”

Shaw also recently announced he’d signed a new 25-year lease on the property, and stated that the expansion “marks an investment” in the company. The lease had previously been reported as 20 years, but Shaw said with the construction for both expansion and the additional parking, he opted for five more years.

Gossip Grill, another “planet” in MO’s Universe, also expanded earlier this year. The popular women’s restaurant and bar nearly tripled its footprint after moving from its previous location of nearly five years at the corner of Normal Street and University Avenue to a new space a few blocks west, near the corner of University and Vermont avenues. The move has already proved to be a great success for the company.

Matt Ramon, who started working for Shaw as a host at Hamburger Mary’s 23 years ago, worked his way up to bar back and bartender, and has been Urban MO’s general manager and co-owner for five years.

“It’s really great to be creating a space that will offer another 25 more years of adventures and memories for the LGBT community,” Ramon said during a phone interview.

Ramon gave a few glimpses into what patrons can expect from the new patio, explaining how open the new space will be from all sides. He said plans call for a new wooden ceiling with a roof structure sturdy enough to protect from rain, but high enough to allow any seat at the new bar a view to the streets of Hillcrest from any angle.

He said the open-air aspect of the new dining and drinking area will not only create a better atmosphere and allow more interaction with the outside community, it will give the space more of a “true patio feeling.”

“We are signaling the broader foundational changes the brand is making to evolve the guest experience for our local community, while also planning for the future,” stated Eddie Reynoso, the company’s marketing and public relations director, in the press release.

Some other recent changes Reynoso said that have taken place in recent years include a new, simplified food menu that puts more focus on quality significant upgrades to the sound and lighting systems, new approaches to service, and even a new web redesign.

The new website, recently unveiled at urbanmos.com, is offering updates of the construction process, so the community can follow along and feel involved. Reynoso said they encourage patrons to come take their own photos and share updates on social media using the hashtag, #MOsExpansion.

—Morgan M. Hurley can be reached at [email protected].