La Jollans hungry to dig into some eggs Benedict are in for a surprise if they’re heading for the historic yellow cottage on Fay Avenue: it is now the color of a nickel. The 105-year-old cottage, a popular spot for breakfast and lunch, underwent a two-month renovation to become accessible to people with disabilities. The patio was leveled and new tables enable a wheelchair to slide underneath. A lift now transports wheelchairs to the second level for people to use the ADA-compliant bathrooms. The cottage was under construction for a month and then closed for another month so the owners decided to renovate from top to bottom. The restaurant is a historical site formerly named the Columbine Cottage that was built in 1904 and moved from Prospect Street to its current location on Fay Avenue in 1914. “When you do one thing, you have to close, so we decided to make the place great — that is, caught up to 2010,” said Jason Peaslee, a partner with owners John and Laura Wolfe, former locals who now live in Boston. Hawkins Construction of La Mesa was contracted to remove the logs the cottage had rested upon and replace them with new support posts. The electrical circuits and plumbing were replaced. The building was even moved 20 inches. Appliances were replaced with energy-efficient devices. David Robinson Design Inc. of Bird Rock redesigned the patio with nickel-colored furniture and large, overhead umbrellas. Peaslee declined to disclose the cost of the renovation. “It cost a lot,” he said. Peaslee raved about his experience with Hawkins Construction and said even the city was helpful during the permitting process. “This is as smooth as it gets,” Peaslee said. The Cottage will continue its practice of offering breakfast and lunch during the winter and opening the restaurant for dinner in the summer. Peaslee expects to host more special events, however, since the patio has been revamped. Whether or not residents warm to the new color is yet to be seen. “People are sort of freaking out [about the color],” Peaslee said. “People have told me, ‘The yellow cottage had better come back.’” The Cottage is located at 7702 Fay Ave. For more information, call (858) 454-8409.








