San Diego, CA
2 San Diego dining spots opened by prominent restaurateurs will close after less than a year
Five years in the making, two long anticipated restaurants, Vulture and its sister diner, Dreamboat, will close in early February, less than a year after they opened in University Heights.
What’s especially notable about the imminent closure is that the venture was a collaboration of two of San Diego’s more prominent — and successful — restaurateurs: Kory Stetina (Kindred and Mothership) and Arsalun Tafazoli, whose hospitality group, CH Projects, is behind numerous projects, including the reinvented Lafayette Hotel and Little Italy standouts Born & Raised and Ironside
Both Stetina and Tafazoli declined to comment on the closure but confirmed that the two vegan-centric restaurants will remain open until Feb. 8. Tafazoli stressed that his participation in the two restaurants is separate and distinct from CH Projects.
Describing the decision to close as “heartbreaking,” the restaurant owners posted a lengthy message on Instagram, speaking of their gratitude for the support they received in creating and sustaining the dual-concept operation.
“High opening and operating costs, combined with the economic realities of today, ultimately made it unsustainable, despite very strong support and real momentum,” the social media post stated. “This chapter is ending far sooner than we ever imagined, and we are deeply grateful for the time, energy, and love these spaces were given. However brief, they burned brightly, and we are proud of what they contributed to our city’s dining culture.”
The post received hundreds of comments from disappointed patrons who lamented the closure and said they would miss more memorable meals.
Making its debut in June of last year, Vulture was designed as an elevated vegan restaurant and cocktail bar that featured fine-dining selections like a tableside Caesar salad for two and a “steak” Diane made from wood-grilled lion’s mane mushrooms. Its much smaller, more casual sister restaurant, Dreamboat, occupies the same building and is a retro vegan diner.
While Stetina and Tafazoli were unwilling to discuss the financial challenges of their joint venture, the project was no doubt impacted by the long delay in opening, in addition to the more than $2.3 million cost of purchasing the two-story building in July 2020, not long after the start of the pandemic. In the years since, food and labor expenses have risen, and consumer behavior has shifted, as fewer people are choosing to dine out.
The building, at 4608-4610 Park Blvd., is currently listed for sale, but the listing shows no asking price, according to CoStar.
Both Stetina and Tafazoli are known for sparing little expense on the design of their restaurants, and Vulture and Dreamboat apparently were no exception. Restaurant broker Nate Benedetto, who was involved in the sale of the building, confirmed that millions of dollars were spent on reinventing the space.
Designed by Brooklyn-based Home Studios, the two dining spots are distinct in size and design. Dreamboat, a micro diner with 10 counter seats, is bright and airy, but just past a velvet curtain, the space quickly transitions to the more moody Vulture. The long, narrow dining room is lined with floral-patterned walls and luxurious carpeting and features oversized head sculptures on pedestals situated above plush booths.
“Vulture/Dreamboat was a super ambitious project, but without meat dishes, I don’t think they had the volume to support the investment that was made,” said Benedetto, founder of Next Wave Commercial. “I don’t think the location was the issue. There’s been a pullback in dining and expensive ticket prices, and it’s hard to translate the vegan steakhouse to drive that investment. They had a fan base but not as devoted as they expected.
“It also definitely took longer than they expected, and it cost them a lot more money carrying all those expenses for several years.”
San Diego, CA
March Madness Fans Go Wild in San Diego | College Road Trip
It’s your girl Jenna Bay here in San Diego with Sports Illustrated, about to talk to some diehard college basketball fans.
Which team are you here to support?
Panthers.
Lawrence, Kansas, baby.
Go Jayhawk.
Let’s go, Rockhaw.
You and I, Panthers, baby.
Let’s go.
Go, Panthers.
Villanova, Utah State.
Utah State Aggies.
Now what does it mean to have the heart of a Panthers?
Small town of Iowa.
We’ve got a lot of.
Alum that are out here from the West Coast here to support Crimson and Blue, baby.
Ever since I was born, Lawrence, Kansas, rock shock.
So my brother is the starting center, Duke Brennan.
So it’s huge, it’s awesome.
We have the whole family here and it just means so much that he’s a part of such a grand program, a blue blood and a brotherhood.
Live and breathe Panther basketball and all their sports.
We’ve won 3 Natties, so you know, winning is in the DNA, you know, having that Philly toughness, having that pride.
Do you have a favorite memory of being a supporter, a fan?
Yeah, in 2008, Mario Chalmers, you know, Darnell Jackson, Sharon Collins.
I was in 8th grade, won the national championship.
I was there at that parade.
San Diego, CA
President Trump he’s sending ICE to airports on Monday amid DHS shutdown
For more than 30 days now, TSA employees have been working without pay. That has caused more than 400 TSA workers to quit. Others are calling out sick in record numbers. Those shortages have been triggering hour-long security lines.
The head of TSA operations in San Diego said the partial government shutdown is not only impacting TSA lines at airports, but also his livelihood and the lives of many federal employees who are experiencing a lot financial pressure.
“Absolute shock because that’s just the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard yet out of this,” Robert Mack said.
This is how Robert Mack is responding to President Trump’s announcement on Truth Social to send ICE agents to airports on Monday as Senate leaders failed again to reach a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security.
Mack oversees TSA operations at San Diego International Airport and is the Chief Steward with the American Federation of Government Employees 1260.
He joined the agency in the wake of the 9/11 attacks because he felt called to fulfill a civic duty.
“My heart spoke to me. You have an opportunity to defend your homeland your homefront,” Mack said.
But now, the career he once considered promising is bringing him and many other TSA employees financial strain and instability.
“We’re all hurting. Literally, checking accounts are all wiped out. We haven’t recovered from the last two that we’ve had before,” Mack said.
Mack is among the thousands of TSA employees working without pay since funding for DHS ran out last month.
Democrats vowed to withhold funding until Republicans agree to new reforms for ICE.
On Saturday, Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic bill that would have funded only TSA, but not the rest of DHS.
President Donald Trump then warned on social media that if TSA is not funded by Monday, “ICE is ready to go,” and will provide airport security.
And their work would include the “immediate arrest of all Illegal Immigrants who have come into the country.”
“I think he’s wrong completely… there are really good immigrants here, they’ve been here for 20, 30, 40, 50 years… they pay their taxes and they’re good people,” Barnard Jourdain, who was travelling through San Diego said.
As agents continue to struggle without a check and the political stalemate continues, Mack anticipates more TSA employees will call out in the coming days or move on from what they once considered a promising career.
“My duty is still the same, but at the end, if I can’t put food in my stomach, I can’t keep a roof over my head, the people I’m supposed to be taking care of are failing me,” Mack said.
NBC 7 San Diego reached out to TSA for a comment and is awaiting a response.
San Diego, CA
Ty France makes Padres’ opening-day roster
PEORIA, Ariz. — Ty France is officially a Padre again.
The corner infielder has been informed he will be on the opening-day roster.
“Still processing a little bit,” he said. “It was a whirlwind, for sure, but I’m excited to be a part of this group and kind of see where things go. … The journey I’ve had and the run I’ve had, it was special. And to be back here where it all started and back with this group of guys, I’m definitely excited about it. This is what we set out to do this offseason. And fortunately, that happened.”
France will be introduced along with the rest of the team before Thursday’s season-opening game against the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park. He was also on the Padres at the start of the 2020 season, but there were no fans in the stands due to the pandemic.
The Padres drafted France in the 34th round out of San Diego State in 2015, and he made his major league debut with them in 2019. He was part of a seven-player trade at the deadline in 2020 that also sent relief pitcher Andres Muñoz to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for catcher Austin Nola and two relief pitchers.
France was an All-Star in 2022 and played for the Seattle Mariners until 2024, when they traded him to the Cincinnati Reds at the deadline. He signed with the Minnesota Twins last season and ended up playing in the World Series after he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays at the deadline.
He has hit .262/.334/.400 in 3,309 plate career appearances. No active player has been hit by more pitches than France has (126). He hit .257/.320/.360 and won the Gold Glove for American League first basemen in 2025.
He signed a minor-league deal with the Padres in February. As a free agent with six years of service time, France had the option to request his release on Saturday if he was not assured he would be on the major league roster.
France, whose salary for 2026 is $1.35 million, hit .318 (14-for-44) with two home runs, four doubles and two walks this spring.
The roster spot for an extra infielder was available because Sung-Mun Song will begin the season on the injured list with an oblique strain. Song has been hitting in the cage and could get live at-bats in the coming days, so the Padres will have another decision to make when he is ready to be activated.
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