Looks like the Coronado District is getting a delicious new neighbor, courtesy of a current one.
DJ Fernandes, owner of the Tuck Shop, the cozy house-turned-eatery, has purchased the home just south of the restaurant as the location for a new, yet-to-be-named concept.
"A lot of our guests were asking about lunch," Fernandes tells me, "so that will be the focus here, along with breakfast, a weekend brunch, and an evening component of wine, beer, and simple bar snacks."
Fernandes has his work cut out for him. The current state of the building, once a residence and then a doctor's office, has had the copper wiring pulled out and the plumbing trashed. But Fernandes, who's also an architect, sees potential.
"There's a nice patio space that the Tuck Shop doesn't have," Fernandes says. "And the feel will be more of a deli or fresh market. It won't look the same as the Tuck Shop, but it will have the same vibe."
Fernandes tells me the new concept will be counter service style, with breakfast items like coffees and pastries, and lunch items such as sandwiches and salads. He imagines deli cases running along the walls and an old-school soda fountain to highlight items such as the Tuck Shop's home made ginger ale.
Oh, and he's picking up a little idea from Chris Bianco.
"I like the way Pane Bianco [Chris Bianco's eatery of sandwiches and salads] sells some nice retail items," Fernandes says. "I'd like to do that as well. For instance, when we make our ginger ale, we could make candy from the leftover ginger and sell it in small portions."
Fernandes tells me the new concept won't have a kitchen (it will utilize the Tuck Shop's), which should make the renovations go faster for its planned opening around the first of next year. For now, Fernandes is keeping busy developing the Tuck Shop's new menu for the cooler weather that will launch on November 1st, which is also the third anniversary of the restaurant.
When I asked if the Tuck Shop would change given the new concept, Fernandes said that it would not.
"I'm happy we can do a new concept," he says. "And I'm proud to be able to create new jobs and sales tax revenue for the community."
