On Croce\u2019s Facebook page, owner Ingrid Croce and her husband Jimmy Rock wrote on Jan. 25:<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026 We have found that live music isn\u2019t the draw that we hoped and needed it to be. The piracy and devaluation of music has been such a major blow to us that we can no longer afford to support live music on our own. And it wouldn\u2019t be Croce\u2019s without live music.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the end, Croce\u2019s Park West was fabulous \u2026 the food, the ambience, the hospitality, the live music and our wonderful guests, who have become like friends and family. It was everything we wanted it to be! We feel it was a success.\u201d<\/p>\n The new owner of the space is Harry\u2019s Bar & American Grill, formerly\u00a0located in the UTC area.<\/p>\n Bully\u2019s East<\/a><\/strong> in Mission Valley will celebrate its 45th anniversary on Feb. 5 with a party at the restaurant and sports bar. The first 250 people showing up after 4 p.m. will get a free 45th anniversary shot glass. Other bling will include 45th anniversary T-shirts and hats. A \u201cU-Call It\u201d cash bar will include draft beer specials, red and white wines, and an array of tequila, whiskey and bourbon. Tray-passed appetizers will be served from 5 to 8 p.m. with samples of their new appetizers and entrees. Bulley\u2019s East was named Best Steak House, Best Business Brunch and Best Happy Hour in the 2015 Best of Mission Valley awards. 2401 Camino Del Rio South, 619-291-2665, bullyseastsd.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Coming into the space that formerly operated as Sally & Henry\u2019s Doghouse Bar and Grill<\/strong> in Hillcrest is Spitz<\/a><\/strong>, a hip eatery spotlighting Mediterranean street food that\u2019s due to open by early February. The concept is the brainchild of college buddies Bryce Rademan and Robert Wicklund, who launched their first location several years ago in Los Angeles after Rademan spent a semester in Spain. They\u2019ve since opened other outlets in the region. The menu features everything from crispy garbanzo beans and \u201cstreet cart\u201d French fries to a colorful variety of doner-inspired wraps and sandwiches made with beef, lamb, chicken or falafel. A full bar and patio will be incorporated into the operation, which will serve lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. 3515 Fifth Ave., eatatspitz.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n de Rubio<\/a> <\/strong>has announced that it will begin using only \u201call-natural\u201d chicken raised without antibiotics as well as nitrate-free bacon across its entire menu at all locations beginning this spring. As part of its \u201cMade with a Mission\u201d effort, the 33-year-old chain is also intent on removing artificial flavors and colorings contained in some of the foods (flour tortillas, fire-roasted corn and a few desserts) while exploring sources for sustainable fish and hormone-free beef. Those changes are slated for late 2017. rubios.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n San Diego\u2019s burgeoning brew scene has come to include Bitter Brothers Brewing<\/a><\/strong>, a 3,200-square-foot facility that opened recently in Bay Park by siblings and craft beer enthusiasts Bill and Kurt Warnke from Detroit, and Monica Andresen, formerly of Waters Fine Catering<\/strong>. The project launched with eight types of beer in the offing. They include session IPA, porter on nitro, hefeweizen, dunkelweizen and a pomegranate Berliner Weisse. Food trucks roll in on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons. 4170 Morena Blvd., 619-961-6690<\/em>.<\/p>\n An offshoot of Evolution Fast Food<\/strong> in Bankers Hill had its soft opening Jan. 25 in Ocean Beach under the name PlantPower Fast Food<\/a><\/strong>. Launched in part by Evolution\u2019s founder, Mitch Wallis, the eatery will serve vegan and mostly organic versions of fast food favorites such as burgers, crispy chicken sandwiches and tacos using tempeh and other plant-based ingredients. The newly built structure, which will open in a few weeks, features indoor\/outdoor seating plus drive-up ports resembling those at Sonic. 2204 Sunset Cliffs Blvd<\/em>., plantpowerfastfood.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n A fast-casual restaurant specializing in carne asada opened Jan. 21 in Downtown. Touted as an authentic Guadalajaran eatery, Pipirins<\/a><\/strong> gives customers a taste of the seasoned beef seared over open flames rather than on a flat grill for achieving what its native Guadalajara owners describe as \u201ccampfire flavor.\u201d Everything is cooked to order, including other meat dishes such as chicken and strip loin asado. 531 Broadway, Suite B, 619-795-6960<\/em>.<\/p>\n Restaurateur Tracy Borkum will open Cucina Sorella<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0in the heart of Kensington this spring, in the space where she previously operated Kensington Grill for 20 years, and more recently Fish Public. The new venture will feature a \u201cpasta-forward\u201d menu incorporating the Southern California twists seen at her other restaurants, Cucina Urbana in Bankers Hill, and Cucina Enoteca in Del Mar, Newport Beach and Irvine.<\/p>\n Aside from hand-crafted pasta dishes, there will be polenta boards, antipasti, and sweet and savory share plates. Borkum\u2019s executive chef, Joe Magnanelli, will oversee the menu. The restaurant will also feature a designated area for cooking classes. 4055 Adams Ave., cocinaurbana.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Ingrid](\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Ingrid-Croce-Jimmy-Rock-Facebook-300x294.jpg\")
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