Community remembers restaurant as cornerstone of Hillcrest movement

Por Antonio Rey | Editor SDUN

Community members, political leaders, employees and customers came to City Delicatessen & Bakery – affectionately known as City Deli or, for some, the cornerstone of Hillcrest – Tuesday, July 30 to honor and recognize the store’s 30 years of dedication to the neighborhood.

Owners Alan Bilmes and Michael Wright, who opened the store July 12, 1984, are retiring, and the restaurant’s new owners will transition the location into Harvey Milk’s American Diner, set for completion this month.

For many, City Deli’s closing is bittersweet, including Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins. For the past 30 years, the restaurant has been a personal – and political – center.

“There [are] just so many things that have happened here for me personally, but also for this community,” Atkins said to a group of approximately 90 who had gathered to say goodbye. “This is the heart and soul of Hillcrest. There’s no better place.”

It was fitting to have Atkins there July 30, along with other representatives of political leaders and groups in San Diego. Christopher Ward honored Bilmes and Wright with a proclamation from Sen. Marty Block; Anthony Bernal spoke for Council President Todd Gloria; and San Diego Democrats for Equality President Doug Case, as well as many former and current members of the LGBT Democratic club, attended as well.

“Not only City Deli started here, but the whole movement of Hillcrest [and] its notoriety,” Wright said. “We’re just very happy that we could be part of that … not just of the gay community, but of the straight community [as well].”

Gloria, who was in a closed City Council session, asked Bernal to bring a proclamation from the City declaring July 30, 2013 as City Deli day. Both Bernal and event organizer Mike Spradley reiterated Gloria’s desire to attend.

Hillcrest Town Council board chair Luke Terpstra thanked Bilmes and Wright with a Let’s Improve Our Neighborhood award from the Town Council. Terpstra then read a statement from longtime City Deli supporters Ann Garwood and Nancy Moors, who could not attend.

“We’re going to miss City Deli,” the women said in their message. “The restaurant has been an iconic fixture at the corner of Sixth and University for decades. Thank you Mike and Alan for being such a great example of how business and neighbors have worked together to make Hillcrest better.”

Wright served on the Hillcrest Business Association for several decades, and is a former two-term president of the organization. He was also one of the founding board members of the Uptown Parking District.

“Hillcrest is fortunate to have many restaurants, but there’ll never be another City Deli,” Garwood and Moors said.

Former and current employees all retold their own history with City Deli, with many working for Bilmes and Wright for over 15 years. Some, like many in the community, have been calling the restaurant a second home for the entire 30 years.

“It seems like it’s over so fast,” Bilmes said. “We get reminded of all the memories of people meeting here, business going on [and] social politics. It’s wonderful that we’ve been a hub for that. I’m sure it’s going to continue.”

Restaurateurs Tom Brown, Mike “Big Mike” Phillips and Frank Lechner will take over the space immediately to make the transition to Harvey Milk’s American Diner. In an interview for Gay San Diego, Phillips said they would expand on City Deli’s bakery selection while retaining some recipes. Bilmes and Wright remain on the building’s lease.

Atkins thanked the couple for passing the business on to owners who will continue to keep both the LGBT and Hillcrest communities in mind for the future.

Near the end of the speakers – before the group broke up and parties mingled, retelling personal stories of their connection to the restaurant – Bilmes said his own thank you.

“It’s been wonderful,” he said. “Thanks everybody for the memories.”