02-05-2025
City selects new operator for long-closed Village Grill eatery in Balboa Park
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The owners behind one of the most popular restaurants in Balboa Park and a storied neighborhood brew pub in Normal Heights have been tapped by the city to revive the park's shuttered fast dining option, the Village Grill.
Jeff Motch and Clea Hantman, co-owners of Panama 66 in the San Diego Museum of Art and Blind Lady Ale House in Normal Heights, were announced Friday as the bidder selected to bring the window near the Spanish Village back to life.
According to the city, the two pitched creating a fast-casual restaurant concept in the space that 'fosters a sense of community and gathering' on top of the food itself.
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''We are excited to work with Jeff and Clea to develop an eatery that best serves the park and its visitors,' said Economic Development Director Christina Bibler in a release.
'Creating a vibrant restaurant in Balboa Park can come with unique complexities, but given their successful background and excitement for the project, we're confident it will become a beloved destination in the park,' she continued.
Now that their proposal has been picked, the city says they will turn to negotiating lease terms and design process.
Prior to its closure in 2017, the Village Grill had been a staple of Balboa Park since its construction in 1973. Throughout its lifespan, the building had never undergone a major renovation, only a series of repairs, the last of which was in 2012.
Revitalization of derelict landmarks in the park — like the Village Grill — was a focal point of Mayor Todd Gloria's second State of Balboa Park address last year.
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In the speech, which came ahead of the reopening of the Botanical Building following its years-long closure for renovation, he promised to pursue similar projects for these parts of the park in disrepair to bring it up to modern standards and ensure its long-term vitality.
To that end, the city says it is currently in negotiations to lease out one of the other attractions Gloria mentioned in his speech, the Starlight Bowl. The negotiations began back in February with the group, Save Starlight.
The historic Marston House, located on the northwestern corner of the park, is also undergoing a major restoration project funded by a grant from the State of California, according to the city.
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