Brightly colored gourmet donuts and cheese-stuffed beef patties are about to become a few of Pacific Beach’s favorite things, thanks to Alex and Tori Gould, owners of AG Industry Concepts and founders of the Liberty Station burger joint Stuffed!
The couple has just expanded their burger business to a new location on Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach. Additionally, the couple is opening up a uniquely-themed donut shop next: Frat Boy Donuts. Stuffed!’s official opening was Sunday Oct. 22 and Frat Boy Donuts opened the following day. Stuffed! is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Frat Boy Donuts is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Stuffed!’s new location offers the same signature burgers and sandwiches that their customers have grown to love, with a few new additions. Alex says that after doing some research into what the locals would be interested in, he decided to make the menu a little more “beach-friendly,” by putting a fried fish sandwich on the menu. Customers can also look forward to a new buffalo chicken sandwich and Mac Dog, a half-pound all-beef hot dog covered in mac ’n’ cheese. The Liberty Station Public Market’s Stuffed! holds a certain appeal with its hustle-and-bustle atmosphere, but the Garnet location has its own space, creating a more traditional-feeling restaurant. High-top table bars against large opened-out windows allow the establishment to feel spacious, while letting customers enjoy the fresh coastal air.
When customers first walk in, their attention will likely be drawn to the large spray paint mural decorating the wall, a piece done by artist Eric Cox. Exclamations such as “Zaaap,” “Booom” and “Pow Pow” are painted on the ceiling and walls in a style akin to comic book speech bubbles.
But as the vibrant, hot pink colors in the Frat Boy Donut store right next door in Suite B will show, burgers were not enough for the Goulds. After doing some research, Alex says they discovered a lack of gourmet donuts, or “glamorous donuts” as the shop’s chef calls them, in the PB area.
Wanting to meet the needs of the locals, the Goulds opened up Frat Boy Donuts, a concept prompted by the college community known to frequent PB.
“We’ve been getting great feedback” says Alex. “A lot of locals are popping their heads in, introducing themselves. I’m overwhelmed with the amount of positive feedback.”
According to Alex, there was some concern about whether the term “Frat Boy Donuts” would be seen as too polarizing, or would hold a negative connotation, but says that instead it has proved to be a good conversation starter.
True to its name, Frat Boy Donuts offers a collection of fraternity/sorority-themed pastries, including one called “Netflix and Chill,” a donut with popcorn, pretzels, caramel and chocolate. Another donut has beer jelly made from a stout, according to Alex. All of the donuts and pastries are original creations by chef Francis Laureano. He is known for his work at Bottega Louie in LA, and more locally, Crafted in Liberty Public Market. “We want to take a moment to consider our food, our donuts, and to have a laugh a little bit about what we’re doing,” says Laureano. “We don’t want to be too overly serious about it. We want to have something eccentric, fun, relatable and something that will definitely keep you wanting to come back.”
The boldly-colored interior of the shop is intended to grasp the attention of people walking by, Alex says, but the décor adds a special touch to the theme of the store.
Merchandise shelves, keg barrels cut in half and the “I, state your name…” quote in neon lights on the wall is, as Alex puts it, an “homage” to the 1978 comedy film “Animal House.”
“It’s definitely a wonderful place to be seen,” says Laureano.
Whether you’re feeling burgers or donuts, the thought and detail put into both of the Goulds’ establishments make them prime spots to get in your Instagram picture of the day. Stuffed!
Where: 1380 Garnet Ave.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Info: stuffedsd.com, 858-263-4164 Frat Boy Donuts
Where: 1380 Garnet Ave.
Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Info: fratboydonuts.com, 858-263-4158.