Su Casa Mexican and Seafood Restaurant, a 52-year-old establishment known for its margaritas and guacamole, closed Oct. 28 and will be demolished. 

Along with an adjacent two-story residential building at 350 Playa Del Sur, the restaurant at 6738 La Jolla Blvd. will be replaced by three mixed-use buildings totaling about 30,000 square feet. The new structures will have 16 housing units, 3,000 square feet of commercial space and a 28,884-square-foot subterranean parking garage.

“The project is in the [city] building department and moving along to completion through the city reviews, to show it matches the approved set from the coastal review,” said Claude-Anthony Marengo of Marengo Morton Architects in La Jolla, about the project’s status. 

The property was originally purchased in 1967 and converted into Su Casa by Marshall Pellar, the inventor of barbecue-seasoned potato chips. Initially named Mr. Lucky’s, Pellar sold the Su Casa building in 1985 to Moishe Chernovetzky, who has since resold the property for redevelopment.

“We have provided high-quality Mexican and seafood specialties for the last 52 years and been an enthusiastic part of the local community,” said a letter posted on Su Casa’s social media. “The restaurant, as well as the owner, is ready to retire. Thank you for making Su Casa Restaurant one of La Jolla’s most popular eating establishments. And thank you for your loyal patronage over the years.”

A plan to demolish the Su Casa restaurant was proposed by Marengo-Morton Architects and approved by the San Diego Planning Commission after two hearings in 2017.

For more information about Su Casa, visit sucasarestaurant.com.