There is bad news for generations of Pacific Beach residents and longtime customers as Great News (1788 Garnet Ave.) will be closing its doors for good at the end of July – 38 years after it opened for business at Pacific Plaza. The cooking school officially closed on June 30.
“There were rumors that I lost my lease here but none of that is true. My landlords at Pacific Plaza have been great all of these years. I’ve decided to retire. It’s time,” Great News owner Ron Eisenberg said. Eisenberg also confirmed that he will not be moving the store to a new location nor does he know what business will be replacing Great News at its current location.
Great News officially opened on July 15, 1977. At that time Pete Wilson was serving his second term as San Diego’s mayor, the city’s population was still less than one million and Elvis Presley was still alive. This writer recalls buying an “Official 1982 National Football League Record and Fact Book” that year at Great News with former New York Jets quarterback Richard Todd featured on the cover.
Great News originally sold houseware, gifts and greeting cards. “Over the years we began to sell cookware instead of gifts or greeting cards until we opened the cooking school in 1996,” Eisenberg said. Then after five years of selling cookware, Great News expanded its business again and opened the cooking school. While it was a cooking school, Great News earned the San Diego A-List award for “Best Housewares” eight straight years starting in 2007 through last year in 2014.
“When we opened in 1977 I was just a kid,” Eisenberg said. “38 years in Pacific Beach have been good for everyone.” From now until the last day the store will be open (July 31) all items will be on sale.