Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Do vacancies on University Avenue in Hillcrest signify too many eateries?

Contractor adds brick in The Wall while ephemeral eateries exit

The Wall concept rendering. “The Wall is searching for a hot new retail concept."
The Wall concept rendering. “The Wall is searching for a hot new retail concept."

The Hillcrest hood, with its high commercial rents and constant turnover, is hoping to fill some of its properties along the main drag of University Avenue. Realtors there often attempt to lease similar businesses, such as getting a new restaurant into a closed restaurant space.

The Wall as it looks now.

But SBMI Group has outlined a different approach after its purchase of the historic Argyle Building at 1253 University Avenue for $2.75 million. The building had an early history of housing women’s clubs. Most recently the lessees included Body Alchemist and Herbal Lust.

The old Filter locale has a 227-square-foot sidewalk patio.

The ongoing renovation by Level 3 Construction, Inc., reportedly costing $1.25 million, is creating The Wall. It will offer creative office and retail space on its two floors, comprising 10,680 square feet. Office spaces on the second floor will share a mezzanine; all tenants will have access to a communal lounge and an outdoor deck. Living green walls will be both in the lobby and on the building’s exterior.

Sponsored
Sponsored
Wine Steals was once ensconced here.

Brandon Blum, managing partner at SBMI, told the Reader: “The Wall is bringing cool new innovative companies to the area, and is searching for a hot new retail concept. With the success of Trust, many restaurants are now starting to follow suit in the area with new hip concepts.” But Blum explained that “it doesn’t have to be a restaurant. We have been approached with many great ideas.”

The former spot of Fido & Co., which relocated to North Park.

As for its upstairs offices, Blum provided a brochure showing typical rates: a 520-square-foot executive suite for $1,690, and a 975-square-foot “creative office” for $2,681 plus utilities.

Other commercial retail properties await future tenants. At 1295 University Avenue is the former venue of the well-rated Filter Coffee House. Nate Benedetto, principal at Next Wave Commercial Real Estate, Inc., previously brokered restaurants including Herb & Wood, Juniper & Ivy, The Crack Shack, and North Park’s Encontro. Benedetto is also the founder/publisher of URBANIST.

The old Filter locale has 12,925 square feet, with minimum divisible of 1820 square feet. There’s a 227-square-foot sidewalk patio, previously approved. An ADA-compliant restroom is already onsite.

At 1228 University Avenue is the former spot of Fido & Co., which relocated to North Park. [Behind that building, with an entrance on Cleveland Avenue, is shared-office space called Co-mmunity Creative Space.]

The 1228 location is being offered by Marc Karren, associate at commercial brokerage Location Matters Inc.. It contains 6414 square feet of divisible space plus a patio. So it’s possible they are scouting restaurateurs who might toss the dice.

The University Avenue Center building at 1243 University Avenue was formerly Wine Steals. [Another Wine Steals remains in Cardiff.] The broker is Athena Harman at Harman Realtors, Inc.

That property has 3750 square feet of space, divisible to 1631 square feet. There’s 50 feet of frontage on University Avenue, and 500 square feet of sidewalk-dining area. Parking is off the alley.

[Benedetto, Karren and Athena Harman were all asked to comment for this article, but haven’t responded.]

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Laurence Juber, Train Song Festival, Ancient Echoes: 10,000 Years of Beer

Events November 8-November 9, 2024
The Wall concept rendering. “The Wall is searching for a hot new retail concept."
The Wall concept rendering. “The Wall is searching for a hot new retail concept."

The Hillcrest hood, with its high commercial rents and constant turnover, is hoping to fill some of its properties along the main drag of University Avenue. Realtors there often attempt to lease similar businesses, such as getting a new restaurant into a closed restaurant space.

The Wall as it looks now.

But SBMI Group has outlined a different approach after its purchase of the historic Argyle Building at 1253 University Avenue for $2.75 million. The building had an early history of housing women’s clubs. Most recently the lessees included Body Alchemist and Herbal Lust.

The old Filter locale has a 227-square-foot sidewalk patio.

The ongoing renovation by Level 3 Construction, Inc., reportedly costing $1.25 million, is creating The Wall. It will offer creative office and retail space on its two floors, comprising 10,680 square feet. Office spaces on the second floor will share a mezzanine; all tenants will have access to a communal lounge and an outdoor deck. Living green walls will be both in the lobby and on the building’s exterior.

Sponsored
Sponsored
Wine Steals was once ensconced here.

Brandon Blum, managing partner at SBMI, told the Reader: “The Wall is bringing cool new innovative companies to the area, and is searching for a hot new retail concept. With the success of Trust, many restaurants are now starting to follow suit in the area with new hip concepts.” But Blum explained that “it doesn’t have to be a restaurant. We have been approached with many great ideas.”

The former spot of Fido & Co., which relocated to North Park.

As for its upstairs offices, Blum provided a brochure showing typical rates: a 520-square-foot executive suite for $1,690, and a 975-square-foot “creative office” for $2,681 plus utilities.

Other commercial retail properties await future tenants. At 1295 University Avenue is the former venue of the well-rated Filter Coffee House. Nate Benedetto, principal at Next Wave Commercial Real Estate, Inc., previously brokered restaurants including Herb & Wood, Juniper & Ivy, The Crack Shack, and North Park’s Encontro. Benedetto is also the founder/publisher of URBANIST.

The old Filter locale has 12,925 square feet, with minimum divisible of 1820 square feet. There’s a 227-square-foot sidewalk patio, previously approved. An ADA-compliant restroom is already onsite.

At 1228 University Avenue is the former spot of Fido & Co., which relocated to North Park. [Behind that building, with an entrance on Cleveland Avenue, is shared-office space called Co-mmunity Creative Space.]

The 1228 location is being offered by Marc Karren, associate at commercial brokerage Location Matters Inc.. It contains 6414 square feet of divisible space plus a patio. So it’s possible they are scouting restaurateurs who might toss the dice.

The University Avenue Center building at 1243 University Avenue was formerly Wine Steals. [Another Wine Steals remains in Cardiff.] The broker is Athena Harman at Harman Realtors, Inc.

That property has 3750 square feet of space, divisible to 1631 square feet. There’s 50 feet of frontage on University Avenue, and 500 square feet of sidewalk-dining area. Parking is off the alley.

[Benedetto, Karren and Athena Harman were all asked to comment for this article, but haven’t responded.]

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Conservatives cry, “Turnabout is fair gay!”

Will Three See Eight’s Fate?
Next Article

Domestic disturbance at the home of Mayor Gloria and partner

Home Sweet Homeless?
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader