Peninsula business owners new and old shared information recently at a meet-and-greet breakfast.
The informal gathering, hosted by Harbortown Pub, included owners/operators of the West Side Tap House, Sushi Lounge, Union Bank and Tech Outfitters, as well as real estate agents representing Point Loma Bellamar mixed-use development plus Dan and Joy Patel of Cabrillo Inn & Suites, The Pearl Hotel and Matt Kalli of State Farm insurance and Clark Anthony Burlingame of the nonprofit Point Loma Association.
“We wanted to point out what new local businesses are doing and how we can work together as a team,” noted Jon Linney, of Union Bank, who chairs the Peninsula Community Planning Board.
Brief introductions and presentations were then made by attendees.
Katie Rooney, co-owner of the new Sushi Lounge, went first.
“I’ve lived here 17 years and my kids go to Sunset View (elementary),” Rooney said. “I’m very excited to be opening a business in my community.”
Noting two Sushi Lounges are already in North County, Rooney added her new business “wants to be involved in giving back to the community.”
Erin Eli, general manager of newly opened Tech Outfitters, said his firm has three lines of business focusing on “locally owned coffee shops, high-end, specialty-retail electronics and fixing tablets and smart phones.
“I never knew how many family members had broken phones until I got this job,” joked Eli, noting Tech Outfitters will be selling unconventional products not found elsewhere.
“We have ear buds we’re carrying that actually cancel out noise to protect people living with someone who snores,” he said.
Samuel Criales, Union Bank branch manager, said, “A huge part of my job is community involvement, and I’d like to help in any way I can.”
Criales said Union Bank prides itself on offering a more “personal touch.”
Natalie Richards, sales and event manager at The Pearl Hotel at 1410 Rosecrans St., said, “We strongly need to establish a presence here (the Point), especially with everything that’s been happening at Liberty Station.”
“We’ve been here almost 23 years now and have gone through three remodelings, one last year,” noted Dan Patel, operator of Cabrillo Inn & Suites at 1150 Rosecrans St.
Patel pointed out it’s increasingly “tough to do business” nowadays with Internet access, online competition and Yelp reviews.
Next up were Manisha and Mick Moore, co-owners of West Side Tap House, which had a soft opening recently, located at the corner of Scott and Rosecrans and offering 40 craft brews plus fusion food.
Noting he’s a fifth-generation San Diegan and a third-generation Point Loman, Moore said he wanted to help his Laotian wife “create her dream restaurant.”
“I’m basically just trying to create a yacht club without the membership,” said Moore of his business concept. “The idea is to be a little bit classy, but not too stuffy.”
Manisha Moore, a chef who previously had a juice bar in Old Town, said West Side will be serving more “global cuisine,” adding, “I’d like to also bring another restaurant down here onto Rosecrans, a really awesome Chinese-Shanghai place.”
PLA president Clark Anthony Burlingame said the nonprofit is concerned about “quality of life issues,” adding, “We want to work together with people on both sides of the Peninsula, especially when it comes to standing up to city hall.”
Longtime Peninsula insurance agent Matt Kalla talked about efforts at re-establishing a Business Improvement District in the area.
“We’d like to get business owners to work together to have a voice at city hall,” he said.
Matt Peckham of Flocke & Avoyer Commercial Real Estate discussed the new Bellamar mixed-use project noting it will offer “3,600 square feet or retail space with one or two new tenant businesses. We’re looking forward to opening, sometime around March 17 (2017),” he said.
All in attendance agreed that the Peninsula needs to reconsider its branding and image determining what kind of community it wants to be.