Wednesday, December 23, 2015

El Callejon closing

Long-time local favorite Mexican restaurant El Callejon has lost its lease and is leaving Moonlight Plaza at the end of January. The restaurant will reportedly open a new location in the Rancho Santa Fe village.

HT: EU commenters.

40 comments:

  1. The Leucadia Pizza folks are probably not pleased.

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  2. Must have Puntas Oscar before they close.

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  3. Another pizza joint is opening up there? Talk about saturation; there is no comparable retail competition clause in the leases or are the properties owned by different entities?
    The 7-11 off Encinitas Blvd was vacated months ago and still sits empty - no rent is better than a paying tenant? That center is marginal as is - the Taco Bell is the lightweight anchor business.

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    1. I heard that center has anew owner who is planning a redesign.

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    2. Maybe 3-story mixed use -- is that still in the council's draft initiative?

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    3. Taco Bell is next door, genius.

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    4. 12:13PM Stuff your ugly face there a lot, do you?

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    5. 9:31, sorry. Can't have 3 stories anymore without public approval or the citizens can sue the city.

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    6. Yeah, I miss that 7-11. And what a cold and stupid move by the new landlord getting rid of that enterprising family ran business, then doing nothing. I'll bet they've flushed over $70K down the toilet so far. Happy upscaling!

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  4. I need a margarita before they leave....

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  5. This is the result of the up-zoning of the 101 by the council, Pedr Norby and the other's who have profited and will benefit from the rezoning.

    Many people are still unaware that most of the 101 from Hansen's to La Costa Blvd has been re-zoned for Pacific Station lot line to lot line zoning, for stack and pack high density UN Agenda 21 "rail corridor" Micro-units.

    Local business are run out of town and chains move in. Prices are raised on goods and services and locals are moved out.

    Used to be Subway on the 101 with footlong sandwiches for $5. Kicked them out, moved in Lobster West that flies in Lobster's ( right- no carbon footprint there) and charges an arm and a leg.

    Used to be a Subway in Cardiff on San Elijo- Mike Paeske kicked them out- now we can buy $ 10 bread heavy sandwiches at Seaside Market.

    Cardiff , El Camino real and Olivehain are all slated for the same up-zoning thanks to "floating" zones Blakespear, Kranz and Lisa " I got my pension, now let let me tell you how to think" Shaffer.

    Vote no on the Housing Element

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    1. 9:37,

      Just a few problems with your post.

      1.). Apostrophe followed by an s is possessive, not plural. The exception is "it's," which means "it is."

      2.) Subway may have local franchise owners, but hardly qualifies as a local business, when you are decrying national chains. Besides, their sandwiches suck. Seaside, on the other hand, is an actual local business, and their food is excellent, if a bit pricey.

      3.) Rezoning has nothing to do with El Callejon's move. From what we know so far, the building is not being rebuilt for the new tenant.

      4.) The business replacing El Callejon is not a national chain. It's a locally owned business.

      I love El Callejon, and I'm really bummed they are being forced out. But you may need to have your mess adjusted.

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    2. El Callejon created a lot of their own mess, which is why the landlord wanted them out. So, in this case, even though I liked their food, I do understand why they are going. If I were the landlord I would have probably asked them to leave as well.

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    3. Pedr Norby has nothing to do with Encinitas now. He's worked in C-bad for several years.. Must be the silly season on the blog. For the record, I will mess El Callejon. Had many a good time there. I guess it's more fun to hate on them now that they're moving.

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    4. "Nothing to do with Encinitas now" is a highly questionable statement, as Norby's legacy lingers. He's not been gone that long and no doubt still has tentacles attached to Encinitas through his contacts.

      Norby was a huge proponent of the Leucadia Streetscape, envisioning "roundabouts as a unifying theme for Encinitas" when pushing it.

      We all know he was captured on video recommending "4-5 stories tall" while "facilitating" the ERAC's plans for Encinitas' growth. At one point, he even said he was violating the rules of a facilitator by pushing an idea/agenda, but that didn't stop him from continuing.

      Norby may be in Carlsbad now (where he lives), but don't turn your back.

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    5. Can't blame Peder for being ambitious. God knows people like him built the pyramids. And I'm sure he realizes now more than ever that most of us here in Encinitas don't want 4-5 story buildings wherever - unless it would be something unique, needed and non-hideous (and of course win majority approval). If not for Peder downtown Encinitas would probably have decayed further; the library would be on Quail Gardens Drive; the ENCINITAS sign would still only be on 1928 postcards and the Arts Alive banner program would be random ads for wealthy corporations. Oh yeah, and LEGOLAND would still be in Denmark.

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    6. Everyone knows that aliens built the pyramids

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  6. Why is it that gentrification erodes the quality of life and drives out the small businesses that locals value?

    It seems to improve the quality of life for those whose pensions are funded by downgrading Encinitas.

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  7. In this case, I don't see it as gentrification. Basically one Mexican food establishment is moving out, and a Pizza place is moving in. How is this gentrification?

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    1. Pizza overdose.

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    2. Pizza is not moving in. Yes, Wade owns a pizzeria but has other concepts. This will be Asian inspired with Ramem, etc and is still locally owned.

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  8. I'm not sure what the whining is about. The people here are supposed to be all about temperance downtown. I admit it, I love El Callejon on many accounts, but most of all that their margaritas are doubles!!!!!!! At least! Blue Ribbon has nice pizza and salads, but I only have a glass or two of wine. If you want less drinking, be happy about this change.

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  9. Who the fuck cares. El C….. had shitty food and there marg; were ok.


    bring on something better...

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  10. Their margaritas kicked Ass! Haven't been there in awhile, but they were always potent and tasty. Can't name a N. County location with better margs....

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  11. I've only eaten at El Calljon a few times, but liked the food and loved the ambience from murals inside and out to appropriate Fiestaware plates. And for whatever reason(s), I'm sorry to see them go. But the main bad here is on Blue Ribbon Pizza for entertaining the thought of moving next door to Leucadia Pizzeria. You just don't create direct competition like that so closely. It works against both businesses. Some may argue it would be better for both. Perhaps if there was enough parking it could, but in this case of course there is far from adequate parking. Especially if Blue Ribbon decides to deliver and park their fleet of cars there too. Reminds me of the joke "What did the prostitute give her sister? - The other side of the street." So bad on Blue Ribbon, you lost my support. But bad on the landlord secondly for not having the courtesy of offering the spot to just about any other kind of restaurant or synergistic business.

    As far as Agenda 21 goes, when Leucadia's specific plan was adopted 15 years ago or so, it did change the entire corridor to mixed use business / residential. Indeed, another live/work loft is planned for the north-east corner of Europa St / N 101. So as far as the housing element goes, we must keep their feet to the fire on Prop A rules so that things remain human scale - wherever within Encinitas that out of touch developers will plan to cram.

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    1. There is way too much pizza, and landlords better be careful or they may end up with failing restaurants. Cardiff is going to have "Best Pizza" in the VG's strip mall, adjacent to Bestawan. Add to that Winesteals, East Coast Pizza, Seaside Market (they will cook their pizza for you), and a new Italian place where Subway used to be. Plus, Cicciottis and Postitano for Italian. Pizza/Italian overload!

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    2. That's like saying Little Italy and NY's 46th St. can have only one Italian/pizza place in order to make the business successful.

      Both LP and BR serve largely different customer bases. LP is for the families on a semi-budget who have the kiddies along to act up and throw food on the floor, and for the customer interested in very standard and (for them) recognizable fare. BR is for adults who are interested in a more unique approach to their food.

      To each his own. The only downside I foresee is LP losing business to people who want more than the average.

      LP has a huge delivery business, which will not go away or be eclipsed by BR.

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    3. Blue ribbon is NOT moving their location! The owners are opening a new concept there. NO PIZZA

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  12. We've got too many pizza places, and most of them suck. URBN is a welcome addition.

    I know we can't centrally plan it, but here's my personal top 10 list of what we don't have enough of, food-wise:

    1.) Good non-chain Chinese with takeout that doesn't also try to be an Italian restaurant.
    2.) a dumpling and/or dim sum house.
    3.) Malaysian chile crab joint.
    4.) a German bakery
    5.) a real NY bagel
    6.) another home for El Callejon
    7.) a permanent guaranteed home for local Mexican markets like El Napolito.
    8.) real smoked pulled barbecue
    9.) peri peri chicken joint
    10.) serious non-chain Thai food.

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    1. Have you eaten at China town (that also serves italian...agree wtf?!). I can vouch that the Chinese is actually damn good.

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  13. You forgot a fast-food vegan drive thru.

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    1. Urbn - the worst ever. Never going back. Best is that NY place in Cardiff.

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    2. The new pizza place near El Napolito is very good, I recommend it...QBR across from Encinitas Surfboards gets high marks as well.

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  14. Try Happy Hour pizza at Captain Keno's sometime.

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  15. Is Blue Ribbon moving into El Callejon space a done deal? Who is the property manager/landlord for Moonlight Plaza?

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  16. I thought Encinitas Undercover hated restaurants, night life and drinking???

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  17. Leechtag indited on US Treasury lawsuit for tax-fraud. http://www.pij.org/details.php?id=1280

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  18. Double Take (across from 7/11, the two shops next to Vallarta, and the three shops next to Filiberto's are also sitting empty on the 101 as well as the CRC space. Does anyone know the plans for these spaces? Is this all the same landlord?

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  19. The real story has to be $. They "lost their lease", doesn't explain it. The owner of An American Tavern is opening up an asian place and said he was approached by the property owner after "the lease was lost". I can only assume they wanted more rent than the "EL" was willing to pay. Otherwise why not renew???? What am I missing????

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  20. I am sorry to see the restaurant go but also sorry that I did not use my living social vouchers. I only recently (about a month or so ago), went to have dinner at El Callejon to use my $30 paid value that does not expire to find the restaurant shut down. I called Living Social to request deal bucks and they claim my $30 is ineligible. I would like to know who is responsible for refunding me the $30 either in cash or some form of credit?

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