by Hoa Quach
At the end of this month, three men with more than 45 years of industry experience plan to unveil The Rabbit Hole at the Adams Avenue Street Fair after just six weeks of preparation.
The trio — Mark Huber, David Schiffman and Brendan Huffman — purchased the space that was previously known as Heights Tavern, which closed mid-August.
“We’re working around the clock,” said Huffman, 39. “I probably work in my sleep. We’re trying to turn it around pretty quick.”
The Rabbit Hole, which Huffman described as a “community-driven” business, was named after the rabbits that apparently inhabited the Normal Heights area before it was developed.
The eatery, located at 3377 Adams Ave., will be similar to other local restaurants owned by Huffman, including Wonderland in Ocean Beach and Downtown’s Bootlegger.
“We’ll make sure it’s staffed locally, food is grown locally and people who live in the area are treated like they are gold,” Huffman said. “We’re selling an experience and we’re going to sell it for a good value.”
The 3,900-square-feet space that the three men have invested more than $1 million in will be complete with historic photos, one-of-a-kind murals by Sean Dietrich and 40 to 45 employees.
“We’re excited about Adams Avenue,” Huffman said. “I think the area needs a spot with good food that can mix entertainment. There are only a few spots that people really gravitate too. We want to enhance the area.”
Huffman said the comfort-food-themed-menu items will include build-your-own mac-n-cheese, sloppy joes, overstuffed sandwiches and salad bowls with quinoa. He also plans to offer local craft beers to cater to San Diego’s obsession with brews.
“It’s going to be comfort food with a twist,” Huffman said. “Anything you can find at your grandma’s house, you can find here.”
But the new restaurant came with its challenges.
In fact, as of Sept. 17, 41-year-old Schiffman — who was originally sought by the Heights Tavern owners to offer consulting services — said the sale was still in escrow.
“My biggest challenge was working out the final deal points for the purchase,” Schiffman said. “Due to the issues within the current ownership of Heights Tavern it made it a challenge at times to get them all to agree.”
Huber, 30, concurred.
“When you buy a bar or restaurant, you aren’t just buying property. You are buying someone’s dream and you have to be sensitive to that while also making sound business decisions,” Huber said. “It’s tough.”
Fulfilling the wants of the community was also a challenge, said Huffman. He was unexpectedly overwhelmed when he solicited feedback from residents through a local blog.
“The thread ended up going viral,” he said. “People expect a lot from us because they take a lot of pride in this area. We can’t just be some place that opens the door. Rabbit Hole requires a little more love and attention but that’s been a good challenge.”
Despite the obstacles, the three men agreed Normal Heights is a community they wanted to be a member of.
“I can’t think of any reason not to invest in Normal Heights,” Huber said. “Normal Heights is such a great area and is still a bit of a hidden gem from the rest of San Diego. The mix of cultures, the laid back vibe, the artistic glow that touches every corner of town, the small-town feel while only miles from the heart of Downtown, and then there is the venue itself.”
But Huffman, who works around the clock at the venue itself, said he just wants the community to know it’s a homegrown effort to open The Rabbit Hole.
“We’re really grassroots,” Huffman said. “We’re not some corporation opening a restaurant. We’re just a couple of guys who have been in the business and we’re excited to be in Normal Heights.”
For more information about The Rabbit Hole, visit its Facebook Page at Facebook.com/rabbitholesd.
—Hoa Quach is a writer in San Diego. Contact her at hoawrites.com.
