Red Card Café Closes:
While driving on Morena a couple of weeks ago; I noticed the "For Lease" sign, so I stopped to take a look.
I was quite surprised to see that Red Card Café had closed down. They had just brought on a new chef and revamped the menu at bit a few months back. Things had looked promising.
Sad to see them go.
4140 Morena Blvd
San Diego, CA 92117
Sprouts Opens in Bay Park:
Or if you prefer; Clairemont. It depends whom you talk to.
While I was sad to see Keil's close. I felt really bad about all the employees who had been there since we moved to the area fifteen years ago. I hardly ever shopped at Keil's; or any of the large supermarket chains. So, I guess Sprouts makes sense for us. They opened up on the 25th of October.
Good to see the strip mall filling up. Now, I'm wondering what's going to take the place of the Hometown Buffet and the old Mike's BBQ.
3015 Clairemont Dr
San Diego, CA 92117
Kroran Uyghur Cuisine Opening in the Former Nazca Grill Spot:
So, I've been working fairly long hours, some of it in the OC. It's often dark when I leave for work in the morning and likewise when I drive home in the evening. I saw a sign in the window of the old Nazca Grill. So, I took a turn into the strip mall for a look.
So, Kroran Uyghur Cuisine, huh? This is going to be interesting. The sign says "Coming in 2018".
4310 Genesee Ave
San Diego, CA 92117
Oh wow, I'm so surprised about Red Card Cafe. I thought they were doing well. That's too bad
Posted by: Kirbie | Thursday, 09 November 2017 at 12:39 AM
Looks like people voted with their pocket book.
Posted by: nhbilly | Thursday, 09 November 2017 at 07:39 AM
Oh no... Where should I go for Peruvian food now?
Posted by: soo @hungryones.com | Thursday, 09 November 2017 at 08:37 AM
Uyghur, eh? In San Diego? Cool. The places in LA where I've had this type of cuisine have been pretty good. Here's hoping...
Posted by: RedDevil | Thursday, 09 November 2017 at 10:10 AM
Had to look up what Uyghur is. Can't wait for them to open. That area needs more mom & pop spots.
Posted by: Junichi | Thursday, 09 November 2017 at 11:29 AM
omg, places always closing. i thought the food had improved with the new chef at red card cafe but it was never busy when we went there. bad location perhaps?
sprouts are opening up everywhere but i wonder if they are a few too many! i'm waiting for the one in mira mesa to open in the old location of kohls. as black friday approaches, i'm sad kohls is no longer so accessible for me.
Posted by: Lynn @ Oh-So Yummy | Thursday, 09 November 2017 at 02:01 PM
I was too Kirbie!
I guess Billy....perhaps the neighborhood still isn't ready for a place like this.
Cafe Secret or Pisco Soo.
I'm hoping too RD!
I'm quite interested too Junichi. BTW; I've posted on Omar's and a couple of Xinjiang places in the past.
I even saw Sprouts in Yuma Lynn! Hopefully they aren't over-expending. I thought that Red Card had definitely improved too.
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 09 November 2017 at 02:54 PM
I wonder if your Sprouts also has $5 sushi Wednesdays -- they make a great quick and easy lunch!
Posted by: Nicole @ Bento Momentos | Friday, 10 November 2017 at 06:01 AM
Hola Kirk!
Red Card Cafe may have been a case of too little too late with the new chef. Their prices were a bit high and the location is still an odd one for a neighborhood restaurant.... Really not that surprised they closed. Unfortunate though.
I kind of miss Blue Collar Cafe that was next to Bay Ho liquor. Sometimes I get the impression people in Clairemont / Bay Park / Bay Ho want a place that serves good bistro style food but less pricey than Red Card? May be too much to ask with the rents and available spaces in this part of town. Frankly a lot of the old strip malls in Clairemont and Morena district need to be redeveloped.
The old Home Town Buffet space is split up into 2 spaces. One will be a salon / spa, the other will hopefully be a restaurant space (no tenants as of yet).
Posted by: Alan in Clairemont | Friday, 10 November 2017 at 07:04 AM
I know they have a nice and inexpensive sandwich station Nicole.
Hi Alan - I had heard about the salon space; thoguh not about the restaurant. Which is good, because that space is a bit too large for a just a salon; at least in this area. I heard that Bitter Bros is looking at the Red Card space; so we'll see what happens. It's too bad they didn't give a bit more time.....the last few times I was there; business looked like it was picking up.
Posted by: Kirk | Friday, 10 November 2017 at 07:12 AM
Hi Kirk,
Have you made it to Kroran yet?
Posted by: Black Belt Jonez | Tuesday, 22 May 2018 at 10:18 AM
Hey BBJ - Not yet. Been out of town for a bit. But will surely get to there soon. Hope all is well.
Posted by: Kirk | Monday, 28 May 2018 at 05:07 PM