There's been a lot of retail activity lately and hopefully that's a sign the recession is over. If you'll remember my post a few weeks ago about Pacific Station, it's the new mixed use project in downtown Encinitas that features a Whole Foods Market, Solace Restaurant (both opening towards June), condos, and retail clothing and furniture stores. On it's heels in downtown Encinitas is a new restaurant and bar called Union. It's in the old When In Rome restaurant location of J Street and Highway 101. I was lucky to run into the owner Eric Leitstein today and he gave me an impromptu tour. The place is going to set the bar for gathering holes in north county or southern California for that matter; fixtures created by local artisans, private dining areas, outdoor bocce ball court, a kids play area by the herb garden, you name it. Basically Eric built a new establishment from the ground up with aesthetics in mind and it will entertain kids and adults alike with his upscale establishment combining relaxed indoor and outdoor eating areas. Opening day is set for early May; make sure to check back on this blog for a more in depth report. For all you shopaholics, coming soon is the Urban Outfitters and H&M stores hitting the Forum shopping center this summer (it was in the old Borders Books building- but you already knew that). On the radar rumor is a Kohls department store in the old Albertson's building on El Camino (and if that Wal Mart shows up in the old Home Expo building next to the Forum, then I'm definitely moving to greener pastures).
For you food fanatics, looks like a Five Guys Burgers (made popular by local hero Phil Mickelson) is going in the same Encinitas Marketplace strip mall as well as a Chick Fil A (where the old Baja Fresh used to be). And if your arteries weren't clogged already, make sure to check out the upcoming In N Out Burger joint supposedly headed to the former golf store at the old Circuit City shopping center on El Camino.
Speaking of the old Circuit City building, looks like Big Lots! moved in. Big Lots! of course is the off-price department store chain where I get all my Chia Pets and L.A. Gear footwear. That's all I know for now- make sure to check back in a few weeks on a Union update as well as some info on the Ponto master plan...
