![\"Nathan](\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Nathan-Tobiason2.jpg\")
<\/a>The result is a beverage that has a higher caffeine content and an oftentimes bold sweetness that isn\u2019t found in your standard cup of coffee.<\/p>\n
The San Diego native turned caf\u00e9 owner said he\u2019s always been a fan of what he calls \u201cthe diner culture.\u201d Tobiason also has an affinity for comfortable coffeehouses that are a great place to share a bite with friends. And when he learned a storefront in the Jonathan Segal-designed Mr Robinson building on the corner of Park Boulevard and Robinson Avenue was in need of a tenant, he decided to make his move.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m friends with the son of the guy who owns [the building where Refill is] and once I heard the spot was available, and saw the location, I just really wanted to pursue it,\u201d Tobaison said.<\/p>\n
The timeframe from Refill\u2019s inception to its opening date took months.<\/p>\n
The months-long process was not in vain; feedback to date has been more than positive.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been open just over a month, we love the neighborhood and we\u2019ve gotten a lot of positive feedback. There aren\u2019t really any coffee or caf\u00e9 options [southeast of Refill toward Balboa Park], which has also been really helpful,\u201d Tobiason said. \u201cIt\u2019s fun to have people come in and try a couple of the cold brews and to be able to expose people to different flavors. We have four on tap. We have a Ugandan French roast, which is very chocolatey, and we also have an Ethiopian cold brew that is much more fruity.\u201d<\/p>\n The fact that they have four cold brew coffees on tap isn\u2019t the only thing that differentiates Refill from some of the other neighborhood cafes. Another unique aspect of the space is that half of it is inside while the other 50 percent is outside. The indoor\/outdoor areas are separated by a big sliding glass wall, Tobaison said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe keep it closed on warmer days so we can have the air conditioning running and open on more reasonable days, which allows us to utilize San Diego\u2019s weather,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Refill may be in its infancy but the caf\u00e9 owner has high hopes for the future. \u201cIt is my hope that this cafe becomes a great meeting place for the residents of Hillcrest,\u201d Tobiason said. \u201cThe open design, great coffee and light fare make for a great place to gather.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>\u201cIt took a really long time. I think the initial plan really started in October and we didn\u2019t open until mid-July,\u201d he said, adding that the design, layout and furniture was both collaborative and extensive. \u201cI went to school for product design and sculpture, and I worked with local artist Phil Audia, who is in Little Italy. We met for months and planned out layout, furniture, tables, the metal bar and all of that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>