Downtown San Diego’s thriving nightlife scene gets a new venue this month with the opening of Lucky D’s, at 804 Market St. Named for owner David Egan, the bar and grill won’t be hosting live entertainment, but it will still qualify as a rock ’n’ roll bar. Egan is a major fan of classic rock, so the restaurant’s focal point will be a 17-foot floor-to-ceiling mural featuring icons of rock music. “It’s a way to pay homage to the legends he listened to growing up,” explained Lucky D’s general manager Marc Canzoneri. Though plans call for Lucky D’s to open its doors by mid-August, the grand opening won’t take place until September. Designed as a comfortable, casual getaway from the bustle of Downtown, the venue includes 10 televisions to watch sports and a menu with good bar fare from burgers to wings. However, it’s the wall that dominates. Originally intended to include just the eatery’s name, it was soon expanded to include a Led Zeppelin theme, complete with Icarus, the group’s label mascot, and a stairway to heaven leading up to the logo. Other artists, including Bob Marley, The Who and Jim Morrison, ring the painting. Although the restaurant will be known for its classic rock background music and artwork, don’t count on seeing menu items named after famous musicians. “That sort of thing is too gimmicky,” Canzoneri confirmed. The mural is the work of artist Donna Setterlund, who also designed Lucky D’s logo and even made the signs used in house. A veteran painter and graphic artist who has worked on many murals throughout California, she says accuracy and attention to detail is important. “I like to think outside the box,” she said. “Once I had the guitar motif for Lucky D’s name, I went bonkers with ideas to expand the rock ’n’ roll theme of the place.” It was a monthlong process from design to execution. “Visually,” Setterlund said, “Led Zeppelin was the initial focus of the mural, complete with their flying man overlooking the scene, but from there all bets were off and imagination took over.” Though time consuming, she considered the research effort a labor of love. “Above all, this mural is a celebration on the history of music,” Setterlund remarked. “I spent a lot of time finding the right images and performers, but it was important to get things correct.” A fan of the artists she is painting, she feels it is important to preserve and spotlight older music for future generations. “Today’s music culture is changing so rapidly,” she said. “We wanted to emphasize some of the older artists who have made a big impact and are still relevant decades after their initial hits.” Setterlund noted that the mural already has had an effect on Lucky D’s’ surroundings. “I’ve been here creating this while construction has been going on around me,” she said. “It’s a great environment, and the workers choose their own music, but I’ve noticed that as the artwork has progressed, what’s being played onsite has slowly changed. Listening habits have been adapted based on the painting,” she commented. Ironically, The Beatles is among the groups not included in the mural. “We just ran out of room,” Setterlund joked. “There are so many people we would like to include but only so much room to do it effectively.” Future plans for Lucky D’s include an expansion into the basement, with the resulting new lounge giving ample room to add a few more music icons. “A steady stream of people have been stopping by and looking at the work in progress. The most common thing I hear is, ‘Why isn’t So-and-So included?,” she laughed. “I always respond with, ‘They’re being added next.’” Lucky D’s is located at 804 Market St. Downtown. It’s open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. to all ages. The number is (619) 550-5825.