After sitting idle for over a decade, a waterfront parcel at the Coronado Ferry Landing is finally headed for development.
A groundbreaking ceremony on Dec. 2 got the ball rolling on the piece of land.
Construction began on Dec. 2 for a long-planned restaurant on the vacant lot next to Italian eatery, Il Fornaio. The project is targeted for completion by December 2026, according to Christian Herrera, the vice president of development and operations at Ferry Landing Associates (FLA).
FLA and Port Coronado Associates (PCA) both oversee different parts of the Coronado Ferry Landing and are operated by the Engel family, which owns several waterfront businesses in San Diego, Herrera said. The two entities share the same team – including Herrera, who serves as vice president of development and operations for both PCA and FLA.
FLA manages Il Fornaio and now, the new restaurant, while PCA manages everything else at the ferry landing.
The parcel is owned by the Port of San Diego and has been leased to Ferry Landing Associates since 1998.
Recently, the Port decided to not renew its lease with PCA, but the Port’s lease with FLA has been extended to 2049, said Herrera.
The San Diego Board of Port Commissioners signed off on the concept back in 2018, but the project has faced repeated delays. The Port had originally envisioned two restaurants at the site decades ago, though only one – Il Fornaio, which opened in 1999 – was ever constructed.
The restaurant is being operated by Social Syndicate, the San Diego hospitality group behind OB Surf Lodge, The Local in Pacific Beach and Monarch Ocean Pub.
Brendan Huffman, the CEO and owner of the group said that the restaurant will be seafood-focused with American elements like smash burgers and flatbreads.
“The idea for Coronado is for our guests to feel like members and that this is their neighborhood hangout,” Huffman told The Coronado News. “The food and beverage will be elevated yet humble.”
The official branding for the restaurant will be unveiled in a few weeks, said Huffman.
