Mariel Concepcion
Reporter
Phone: 646-409-3064
Recent Stories
San Diego Museum Council Names Bob Lehman New Executive Director
Lehman was previously the executive director of the San Diego Gay Men's Chorus and the director of marketing and sales of the Phoenix Theater Cultural Center in Indianapolis.
Airport Launches Daily Nonstop Flights to Santa Barbara Via Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is the only airline to offer nonstop service between the two destinations.
CH Projects to Launch Downtown Members-Only Club
HOSPITALITY: The Reading Club Will Open in September at the InterContinental
Consortium Holdings, better known as the restaurant and bar group CH Projects, will soon premiere its most innovative project yet.
Plant Power to Double Locations
Revenue Up from $1.1M in 2017 to $14.5M in 2020
Plant Power Fast Food, the Escondido-based vegan fast food chain with eight locations, plans to nearly double its number of stores as well as its revenue by 2022.
Dr. Bronner’s Makes Dark Chocolate Bars
Ethical Line to be Available Nationwide This Summer
Dr. Bronner’s, the Vista-based natural soap maker, is trying its hand at sweet confections.
San Diego Changes Terminal Street Directions
TRANSPORTATION: Cross Border Xpress Request Approved
Cross Border Xpress (CBX) recently received approval from the City of San Diego’s Planning Commission to convert city streets within the 64-acres satellite airport terminal to private streets.
Convention Center Preps for August Reopening
TOURISM: Approximately 70 Events Scheduled Through June 2022
The San Diego Convention Center Corporation, which halted meetings and conferences last March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is readying to reopen.
“Say Their Names” Memorial Exhibit Opens July 10
Located at the M.L. King Promenade at the New Children’s Museum Park, the memorial features 200 photos of Black victims whose lives were lost due to racial injustice.
Mainly Mozart Announces 33rd Annual All-Star Festival Orchestra Festival
The All-Star Festival Orchestra will feature five concerts featuring members from prestigious orchestras and works ranging from Mozart to Beethoven to J Haydn.
Big Bay Boom Returning July 4
Annual Fireworks Show Generates $10.1M in Incremental Business
After a hiatus last year due to COVID-19, the Port of San Diego’s Big Bay Boom fireworks show will mark its return to the San Diego waterfront this year.
San Diego Legion Returns to In-Person Matches in San Diego
Tickets for the next two home games, to be held June 20 and June 26, 2021, are now on sale at sdlegion.com/tickets.
San Marcos Farm Sells Unique Crops to Nation’s Top Chefs
AGRICULTURE: Girl & Dug Farm, Lucky Growers Expects 15% Revenue Growth in 2021
Aaron Choi’s farm operation is not your typical farming business. Located in San Marcos and at just under 60 acres, Lucky Growers grows mostly Asian veggies.
PepsiCo Beverages North America Opens Facility in San Diego County
The nearly 125,000-square-foot warehouse features will create further job opportunities in San Diego County.
The Busalacchi Group Plans Expansion
Little Italy-Based Restaurant Co. to Open Fourth Location by End of Year
The Busalacchi Group, founded in 2008 and with three food places in Little Italy these days, is planning to expand.
Border Project Could Have $1.2B Impact
ECONOMY: Bid for World Design Capital Designation Accepted
The bid by the Design Forward Alliance on behalf of the University of California San Diego’s The Design Lab for the World Design Capital designation has been accepted by the World Design Organization.
TaylorMade Sold To Korean Firm
MANUFACTURING: Co. Poised for Growth
Carlsbad-based TaylorMade Golf Company Inc. is being sold to Centroid Investment Partners, a Seoul, Korea, based private equity firm.
San Diego International Airport Now Offering Nonstop Flights to Kahului, Maui
The route will add a second daily flight beginning June 27.
Junya Watanabe Learns the Tricks of the Trade
Founder of The RakiRaki Ramen and The Yasai Adds His Own Spin on Japanese Recipes
Before opening the first The RakiRaki Ramen restaurant in Kearny Mesa in 2011, Junya Watanabe was a fashion designer.
Legoland California Resort Opens Lego Movie World
The Lego Movie World is based on the films “The Lego Movie” and “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part”.
Local Cos. Win Craft Beer Awards
White Labs Brewing Co., AleSmith Among Winners
Numerous San Diego-based companies won 2021 Craft Beer Marketing Awards.
77 Area Restaurants Awarded Grants
Jasmine Seafood Restaurant, StreetCar Merchants Among Grantees
Seventy-seven single unit restaurants in San Diego County have been awarded grants up to $3,500 as part of California Restaurant Foundation’s Restaurants Care Resilience Fund.
New SeaWorld Park President Focusing on Reopening
TOURISM: John Dunlap to Add Activations, Enhance Guest Experiences
Earlier this month, SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. named John Dunlap as park president of SeaWorld & Aquatica San Diego.
Cruises May Resume as Early as Fall
TOURISM: Over 450 Crew Members Vaccinated in San Diego
In April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) placed a conditional sail order that required a number of steps be taken before cruise ships could start sailing again.
Cymbiotika Launches Rya Organics CBD Brand
MANUFACTURING: Co. Projected to Reach $20M in 2021
Cymbiotika LLC, the innovative wellness brand that relocated from Atlanta, Georgia, to Sorrento Valley last year, has launched its own brand of CBD wellness products.
Big Bay Boom Fireworks Show Returns
The event will take place at 9 p.m. on Sunday, July 4 over San Diego Bay, with fireworks discharged from four barges.
Dr. Allen Chan Serves the Community
RESTAURANTS: Jasmine Seafood Restaurant Founder Feeds and Fundraises
When Dr. Allen Chan opened Jasmine Seafood Restaurant in 1994, the initial drive for the then practicing chiropractor was simply his longtime desire to one day own and operate a food place.
San Diego Ranks as Top Tourism Hotspot
With Outdoor Options In Demand, Area a Draw Again for Travelers
San Diego continues to be a top tourism destination, even post-pandemic, according to various recently-released travel lists.
New Venue Named The Rady Shell
Bayside Surroundings Named Jacobs Park
The San Diego Symphony, founded in 1910 and the oldest symphony in all of California, has reached some notable milestones recently.
Seventy-Seven San Diego Restaurants Awarded Grants
Local recipients include Doggos Gus, Petite Madeline Bakery and Nomad Donuts, which join 318 restaurant owners and fellow grant recipients from across California.
Petco Park Returns to Full Capacity on June 17
Petco Park will officially reopen Thursday, June 17, when the Padres play against the Cincinnati Reds.
New CEO for SeaWorld
TOURISM: Focusing on Recovery, Growth
On the same day SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. reported its first quarter 2021 results, it announced the promotion of Marc Swanson from interim CEO to permanent CEO.
Jack in the Box Names New Vice President of Investor Relations
Brandon joins Jack in the Box from Domino’s Pizza, where he worked for 14 years.
Chocolatier Helps Feed Food Insecure
Co. Donates to Feeding San Diego, Two Other Organizations
Chuao Chocolatier, founded in 2002, aims to spread joy one cacao nib at a time. Its tagline is “to share joy with the world through delicious, engaging chocolate experiences”.
Mainly Mozart Announces 33rd Annual All-Star Orchestra Festival
The event is the largest gathering of concertmasters and principal players in North America, according to the organization.
Accel Robotics to Open 10 Autonomous Stores
RETAIL: East Village, UC San Diego, Others, Launching Valet Markets
Since being founded in 2015, Accel Robotics Corporation, a Kearny Mesa-based retail technology company, has successfully deployed its camera-based artificial intelligence system via existing and emerging stores throughout the country.
Vivian Lin Named President of San Diego Strike Force
Lin also serves as director of corporate partnerships and co-chair of programming for the Asian American Journalist Association Sports Task Force.
Founder Shares Family’s Herbal Formulas
MANUFACTURING: JBK Wellness Labs Formulates Products for Other Brands
JBK Wellness Labs, a formulator and manufacturer of traditional East Asian herbs and medicines, is rooted in family tradition.
Jack in the Box Names New Chief Operating Officer
Darden’s first day on the job is planned for June 7, 2021.
Nextbite Sees S.D. as a Top Market
George Lopez Tacos Latest Virtual Concept Launched
Nextbite will bring virtual concept George Lopez Tacos, in partnership with the comedian/actor of the same name, to the city on June 8.
San Diego Air Travel Is Up
TOURISM: Increased 671% Over 2020
On May 9, the San Diego International Airport hit a new COVID-era high as 24,240 passengers were screened through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint.
Restaurant Operator Follows in Parents’ Footsteps
DINING: Cris Liang Owns Three Eateries in Kearny Mesa
When Cris Liang graduated from UCSD with a BS degree in structural engineering in the early 2000s, he never imagined he’d follow in his parents' footsteps and own his own restaurant years later.
Founders of Manscaped, Dermaclara Launch Orchyd
HEALTH: King Family Again Disrupts Market with New Care Co.
Steve King is teaming up with daughters Morgan King and Courtney King for his latest endeavor, Orchyd, which provides "connected period care for modern times."
Port of San Diego Inks Two More Leases
With the two additions, it means 17 spaces are now filled since the Port began its revitalization project.
Point Loma’s Liberty Station Attracts Tenants and Customers
PROPERTY: Slew of New Additions Expected to Aid in City’s Economic Recovery
Liberty Station is adding a slew of new tenants to its current line-up.
Co-Harvest Helps Locals Grow Crops
50% of Food Grown Goes to San Diego’s Food Insecure
According to data, one in seven San Diegans is food insecure. When Avery Cramer learned of this statistic, he knew he wanted to help address this issue.
Low-Impact Fitness Brand Enters Market
Gets Funding from Rapper Jay-Z, Former Padre Adrian Gonzalez
LIT Method Inc., a Los Angeles-based low-impact fitness brand, has launched its first ever permanent showroom in sunny San Diego. The 2020-founded company, with 16 employees, recently opened a studio in La Jolla’s Westfield UTC mall.
Televisa XEWT Channel 12 Opens Studio in Seaport Village
MEDIA: First Spanish Language Broadcast Studio in Downtown San Diego
Last month, XEWT Channel 12, the station owned and operated by Televisa, opened its first-ever cross-border television studio on this side of the border.
CH Projects Making Up for Lost Time
East Village’s ‘Neighborhood’ Reopens, Purchases Historic Hotel
CH Projects, the San Diego-based social and culinary collective, appears to be making up for lost time in 2021. Just a few weeks ago, the $50-million-company reopened its original location, Neighborhood.
Airport Cell Phone Lot Reopens
The temporary way-station will open on May 8 and offer approximately 100 parking spaces for drivers to wait for arriving passengers free of charge.
Accel Robotics to Launch First Valet Market
Valet Market is an autonomous market offering 1,500 square feet of retail space within Vantage Pointe, a luxury high-rise community in East Village.
Prev Next