Mission + Garnet, a new 4,000-square-foot food court with six eateries under one roof sharing a kitchen, is scheduled to debut this week in Pacific Beach.
The new multi-concept establishment replaced the former Denny’s which was closed after being damaged by a fire in 2018.
Restaurants on the current roster include Spitfire, known for its north-of-the-border tacos; Head Lettuce, chopping up fresh salads and healthy eats; Checkered Churros, home of the waffle/churro hybrid; Harvey Carvers, a new restaurant serving whole meat sandwiches; Earlybird Breakfast Burritos, serving its namesake entrée all day; and Scotty Dogs, elevating the local hot dog experience.
“We were looking to expand,” said Scott Slater (above), owner of food franchises he is expanding from La Jolla, redeveloping the corner lot at Garnet Avenue and Mission Boulevard in the heart of PB’s business district. “We wanted to get six brands in here sharing a kitchen and, with six revenue streams, we were able to make a go of it.”
The idea, noted Slater, is to give customers broader menu choices, everything from hot dogs served from a cart to Mexican cuisine including tacos and breakfast burritos, to whole meat sandwiches along with vegetarian and healthier menu items.
Opening hours for the new PB food court are 7 a.m.-3 a.m. daily seven days a week serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Slater noted his business model with several restaurants under one roof with the same kitchen is “the first one I know of.” He added, “These are designed to be standalone brands, not relying on each other. But at the same time, that one kitchen will eventually have nine or 10 brands, and will be able to execute all nine or 10 of those menus.”
Asked what has changed in the local food market exiting COVID quarantine times, Slater answered: “Prices. The minimum wage has gone up to $16 an hour. Our cost of doing business has skyrocketed and our energy bills are through the roof.”
Added Slater: “As far as service is concerned, our business volume, COVID really hasn’t affected anything, we’re back to pre-COVID levels. It is just that the cost of doing business is materially so much higher.”
Slater added construction of Mission + Garnet got bogged down somewhat by delays due to difficulties in getting concrete and steel through the supply chain.
Mission + Garnet is not only a multi-faceted eatery but an anytime-of-day venue. “If it’s late at night, or you’re on your way to the beach, you walk up and it’s quick casual service,” Slater said adding, “We’re going to have a little fruit car out front. We’ve got a lot of space to be creative and have fun with it. This is a marquee intersection in San Diego. Our hashtag is going to be meet me at Mission + Garnet.”
The half-century-old Denny’s at 800 Garnet Ave. closed for repairs and remodeling following a suspected arson-set kitchen fire in October 2018. That fire caused an estimated $850,000 in damages. The restaurant never reopened, as Denny’s franchisee Jeff Jones was unable to renew his lease.
Slater said Mission + Garnet is currently hiring staff for all positions. He said 40 employees of the approximately 70 needed have already been hired. People can apply at missiongarnet.com.
MISSION + GARNET
What: Spitfire tacos, Checkered Churros, Harvey Carvers, Head Lettuce, Scotty Dogs, and Earlybird Breakfast Burritos.
Where: Corner of Mission Boulevard and Garnet Avenue.
Contact: www.missiongarnet.com
