In the current dining landscape, San Diego restaurants face challenges like the rising cost of goods, labor shortages, and evolving customer expectations. Everything from longtime city institutions to newer places unable to find their footing can succumb to a combination of obstacles, although San Diego restaurateurs and chefs remain resilient — just check out Eater’s hot new restaurants map for proof. This column keeps track of all the closures you may have missed.
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Men’s March Madness Snubs: San Diego State, Auburn Left Out of NCAA Tournament Field
Much of the conversation every year after the men’s NCAA tournament selection show is about who didn’t get in. And this year in particular, with all the wild narratives that took off late in the year debating the importance of strength of schedule and how to evaluate teams like Miami (Ohio) and Auburn, we were guaranteed to get at least one team with every reason to be upset that their name wasn’t called.
Which teams have the biggest gripe about not being selected to go dancing? Here’s a look at five with the most valid complaints.
San Diego State and the Mountain West
Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez likely has among the biggest gripes with how her league was treated on Selection Sunday. The league had six top-75 KenPom teams, but only its champion, Utah State, is dancing after San Diego State was the third team out. New Mexico was also in the bubble mix coming down the stretch. For a league that has gotten four or more bids in the last four years, it’s hard to believe just one Mountain West team will have a chance to dance this season.
San Diego State’s case was the strongest. It had boosted its résumé this week by beating Colorado State and New Mexico in the Mountain West tournament, and hung right with Utah State in the title game most of the way. The Aztecs challenged themselves in the nonconference schedule, playing in the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas and a neutral-site game vs. Arizona. Unfortunately, the Aztecs took a difficult Quad 3 loss to Troy (an eventual NCAA tournament team) in mid-November that haunted them. Teams unfortunately are rarely rewarded for playing buy games against better mid-majors instead of the dregs of Division I.
And New Mexico looked in good shape in mid-February, but finished poorly with losses in four of six to close the season. Some of those were heartbreakers: a two-point defeat to San Diego State, a four-point loss to Utah State and two more single-digit defeats against Nevada and Colorado State. Like SDSU, the Lobos were hurt by an early bad loss, falling to rival New Mexico State on Nov. 15 for their worst defeat of the season.
Auburn
It’s certainly hard to be sympathetic for Steven Pearl’s Tigers after losing 16 times in the regular season and posting a pedestrian 17–16 record. That being said, everything else about the Tigers’ profile was NCAA tournament caliber. Auburn beat Florida on the road in Gainesville, Fla., the best win of any bubble team by a long shot. They also beat Big East champion St. John’s on a neutral court in November and blew out Arkansas in January. And from a metrics standpoint, Auburn was the strongest overall profile to miss the cut.
Is that enough for me to say Auburn deserved to be in? Maybe not. But Auburn’s schedule was so difficult that perhaps the committee could have been a bit more forgiving of its very middling record.
Oklahoma
In a season in which it seemed like just about every bubble team stumbled to the finish line, perhaps the committee could have rewarded an Oklahoma team that soared in the season’s final month. In February, the Sooners won on the road at Vanderbilt, a monster résumé-topping win over a top-15 team in the NET. They also notably won late-season matchups against several of the league’s bubble teams, including winning on the road at Texas (one of the last teams in) and blowing out both Missouri and Texas A&M that landed on the No. 10 line. If the objective is to select the best teams at the present moment, Oklahoma certainly seemed more dangerous than some of the teams that enter the Big Dance on a whimper.
Instead, it’s yet another bubble heartbreak for the Sooners under Porter Moser, who have made a living coming up just short. The Sooners had a strong case in both 2022 and ’24 but were left out. This year, Oklahoma was the first team out, meaning that if not for bid steals in the Atlantic 10 (VCU) and MAC (Akron), the Sooners would have snuck in.
Indiana
You might not call Indiana a snub, but the Hoosiers were in the first four out in spite of their brutal finish. Had the Hoosiers not lost to Northwestern in ugly fashion in the Big Ten tournament, it’s possible Indiana might have been able to sneak in. In the end though, going from 17–8 to 18–14 will elicit little sympathy from most.
That said, Darian DeVries is another coach who can’t be enjoying Selection Sunday lately. This year’s snub was far less egregious than last year’s shocking exclusion at West Virginia though.
Seton Hall
This wasn’t as egregious as two years ago, when Seton Hall was left out in spite of a 13–7 Big East record. But Shaheen Holloway can’t be too happy about the lack of respect for his Pirates and the Big East after not even coming close to the field despite winning 21 games. In the end, the Pirates just were victims of too many close calls, losing single-digit games to St. John’s and UConn twice each and in controversial fashion against UCLA in Maui. I maintain the Pirates might have been dangerous despite an anemic offense had they gotten in.
More March Madness from Sports Illustrated
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SAN DIEGO (CNS) — The number of unsheltered homeless across San Diego County declined by 11% this year, but sheltered homelessness increased by 12%, according to the results of the 2026 Point-in-Time Count released Friday.
The PITC is conducted every January by the Regional Task Force on Homelessness and is a one-day snapshot of the region’s homeless population.
All told, homelessness across the region decreased by 1%, from 9,905 individuals in 2025 to 9,803 in 2026.
“This is what progress looks like,” said RTFH CEO Tamera Kohler. “We’re seeing good results where we’ve made investments. As a region, we still do not have enough housing resources — there are no more housing vouchers, and HUD funding is uncertain. So the investments have been in diversion, sheltering and encampment resolutions. When we have adequate investments, we can reduce unsheltered homelessness.”
The 2026 count found 5,108 individuals living unsheltered, down from 5,714 last year, while 4,695 people were in shelters or transitional housing, up from 4,191.
The information collected is used to apply for federal and state funding to help people experiencing homelessness.
The number of unsheltered homeless dropped dramatically in several cities: 64.1% in Santee, 39.5% in El Cajon, 30% in Encinitas, 25% in La Mesa and 24.5% in Chula Vista.
In San Diego, which as the largest city in the county has a correspondingly large population of homeless residents, those unsheltered declined by 6.6%.
One of the region’s most pressing concerns is the increase in senior homelessness. Older adults make up 33% of the unsheltered population, up from 29% last year, and more than half are experiencing homelessness for the first time. The oldest individual RTFH volunteers engaged on the morning of this year’s count was an 86-year-old Latina woman in Chula Vista.
“It has to be a top-priority population,” Kohler said.
Serving Seniors President & CEO Melinda Forstey says the trend continues to show an increasing impact from homelessness on San Diego county’s older adults.
“While it is encouraging to see that overall homelessness has declined, the continued rise in homelessness among older adults is deeply concerning,” Forstey said. “Once again this year, older adults now make up one third of the region’s homeless population.”
Deacon Jim Vargas, president and CEO at Father Joe’s Villages — one of the region’s largest homelessness services providers — said the region should be doing better.
“We are disappointed to see that overall progress has stalled, with no change in the total number of people experiencing homelessness in our region, even as we’ve continued to invest in solutions,” he said. “More concerning, the data shows a growing crisis among older adults. This year, even more seniors fell into homelessness for the first time, continuing a troubling trend. This is a challenge for which our community is not prepared.”
Possible cuts to San Diego’s homelessness funds in the fiscal year 2027 budget also had Vargas concerned about loss of resources.
“As our population ages, we must act swiftly to prevent seniors from losing their homes and to provide targeted services that meet their unique needs,” he said. “Focusing on prevention, diversion, health care and housing is key to addressing homelessness. It is a travesty for anyone to spend their golden years on the streets.”
Positive developments from this year’s count include a 12% drop in unsheltered veterans, 26% decline in unsheltered transitional-age youth (18-24) and a 14% decrease in people living in vehicles.
“San Diegans should be encouraged by this progress,” said RTFH Board Chair Veronica Dela Rosa. “We are seeing results from targeted investments and strong regional collaboration. But we must stay focused and continue investing in what works.”
A total of 80% of people experiencing homelessness said they became homeless in San Diego County, “underscoring that this is primarily a local challenge driven by housing costs and economic pressures,” a RTFH statement read.
The data released Friday continues a trend of declining homelessness. In 2025, the number of people experiencing homelessness in San Diego County dropped by 7%, and dropped by about 14% in the city of San Diego.
“Progress like this doesn’t happen by accident,” said Continuum of Care Advisory Board Chair Akilah Templeton. “It reflects the work of service providers, outreach teams, local governments and volunteers across the region. At the same time, we must continue expanding housing and services to meet the scale of the need.”
Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Fans are embracing every remaining moment rallying behind San Diego’s professional indoor women’s volleyball team as it prepares to fold after this season.
One final home crowd lifted the team Thursday night at Viejas Arena before they take their shot at the MLV playoffs and the uncertainty that follows.
“It’s sad. I’m going to miss them for sure,” said local fan Jordan Haskel with her mom by her side. “It’s our thing to come out here together,” said her mother, Babs Symonds.
The team will not be returning for the upcoming season fans are coming to terms with the announcement.
“My heart is broken now when I got the news today that they’re not going to be here next year,” said Danny Jackson.
Owner Gary Jacobs wanted to pause the team in 2027 to pursue a long-term plan, but the league rejected the idea, so the team will shut down while the league searches for new investors.
“You have to have pretty deep pockets to support a team and to support a team you got to have supporters to come out and buy tickets, and you got to be in the stands to yell for them. Last week, I made a comment to my wife I said, God, I wish we had more fans in here,” said Jackson.
It’s not the first time San Diego sports fans have faced losing a team.
“We saw that with the Chargers. We saw that with the Loyals. Unfortunately, sometimes it’s outside of our control,” said Desiree Morales.
Volleyball shaped Morales by instilling discipline and teamwork – values she hopes to pass on to her niece through the Mojo.
“I want them to stay so I can come here every day to see them play,” said Morales’ niece, Isabella.
One thing is for sure, the community the team has built will stay, waiting patiently for what comes next.
“Whether you’re rooting just for San Diego or the team itself or the sport itself you just have to do it,” said Morales.
Major League Volleyball released a statement that reads in part, “San Diego remains one of the most vibrant volleyball communities in the country, and we believe strongly in its long-term potential at the professional level. We are actively exploring strategies for the market, building on the momentum established by the Mojo.”
Del Mar— Cucina Enoteca closed its doors in mid-March after nearly 12 years in the Flower Hill Promenade. In a statement shared with Eater, Urban Kitchen Group owner Tracy Borkum attributed the closure to “substantially increased property taxes.” The hospitality group’s other restaurants, including Cucina Urbana, Artifact and Craft Café at Mingei Museum, The Kitchen at MCASD, Gold Finch, and Morena Provisions, remain open while Cucina Enoteca searches for a new location in North County.
Carmel Valley— Taiwanese shaved ice dessert shop Icekimo shuttered its location in the Del Mar Highlands Town Center. “It was a great location, but the operating expenses were too high. Such a tough time for many businesses,” says owner Robert Yang. Icekimo also shuttered its Eastlake outpost. The flagship location in the Convoy District remains open. In April, a new Icekimo food truck will be available for booking via Instagram.
Kearny Mesa— Sizzling House and Noodles closed its doors after being open for just two years in the Convoy District. One of the first restaurants to open in Plaza del Sol, which was damaged in a 2020 fire, the Asian restaurant served seared marinated proteins on hot platters. Mr. Lin, the restaurant’s owner, tells Eater he sold the business to Urban Matcha, a tea shop that’s expanding from Las Vegas. While he still owns Tasty Pot in Mira Mesa, he hasn’t decided if he’ll open another restaurant. “We’re going to wait to see what the economy does,” Lin says.
North Park— After operating for more than three years at a corner spot in North Park, Patisserie Melanie has closed its doors, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. At the bakery, owner and Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef Melanie Dunn served croissants, kouign-amann, and quiches that she learned to make in Paris while transitioning from a career as a high school teacher to pastry chef.
Sorrento Valley— Decade-old Chinese restaurant Ma-Dasao closed its doors and rebranded as Shanghai Cuisine; the restaurant’s ownership remains unchanged. Shanghai Cuisine offers all-you-can-eat deals and weekday lunch combos, along with dim sum, in a cafeteria-style setting. Select dishes from the previous Ma-Dasao menu, such as Taiwanese beef noodle soup, are also available.
University Town Center— Rick Bayless’s Mexican restaurant, Red O’s, chose not to renew its lease in the complex across the street from Westfield UTC Mall, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. The other three Red O outposts in Newport Beach, Westlake Village, and Santa Monica remain open. Plans to tear down the buildings to create new apartment complexes are expected to begin this spring.
Oceanside— After 18 years of serving morning buns, bear claws, and sweet and savory croissants in Oceanside, Petite Madeleine closed its doors on March 15. The bakery announced its closure with a statement shared on Instagram.
Gaslamp Quarter— San Diego Dining Group steakhouse Butcher’s Cut shuttered its doors in January after nearly six years. Romanissimo, operated by the same hospitality group as Butcher’s Cut, took over the space. The Roman trattoria first opened in early 2025 at a neighboring Gaslamp Quarter location with a menu of pastas made in-house, burrata caprese, and bone-in rib-eye.
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