There’s a lot happening at Liberty Station! Moniker General, the ARTS District’s ever-popular community haunt, recently launched a new cocktail program alongside an outdoor expansion. A local fishmonger opened Hawaiian Fresh, a “boat-to-bowl” concept centered around Hawaiian-style poke bowls and local seafood offerings. And new food vendors and retail pop-ups are coming to Liberty Public Market! See the details on all of this and more below.
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Moniker General: Al Fresco Expansion & New Cocktail Program
Hybrid boutique/café/cocktail bar, Moniker General recently upgraded its outdoor amenity space with the addition of a 2,000 square-foot deck. Enlisting the help of their creative counterparts at Moniker Design Co.— a full-service design studio under Moniker Group’s integrated portfolio—the buildout is equipped with café-style fixtures, communal banquet tables, sun-proof sails, and decorative market lights.
Coinciding with the venue’s al fresco facelift, Moniker Cocktail Co. has resumed in-house operations and launched a lineup of fall-inspired elixirs:
The Julian Manhattan | Moniker Woodford Bourbon, Julian Apple Cider, La Copo Rojo Vermouth, Angostura Orange
Smashing Pumpkins Fizz | Vodka, Pumpkin Syrup. Lemon, Egg White. Ground Cinnamon, Rosemary
Flight of Concord | London Dry Gin, Pedro Ximenes Sherry, Lemon, Concord Grapes, Egg White
Stonewall Stormy | Cruzano Spiced Rum, Julian Apple Cider, Fever Tree Ginger Beer
Bar hours are Fridays and Saturdays from 2PM to 8PM. Happy Hour specials are offered from 3PM to 5PM and live music on Fridays from 5PM to 7PM.
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Hawaiian Fresh: Local Fishmonger Opens Fast-Casual Poke Shop
Hawaiian Fresh Seafood has opened a “boat-to-bowl” concept at Liberty Station, centered around Hawaiian-style poke bowls and local seafood offerings.
Founded by veteran fishmonger, Frank Porcelli, Hawaiian Fresh is a locally-based seafood wholesaler and market, which operates a small fleet of fishing boats off the California coast. Originally opened in Honolulu back in 2006, the company relocated to Porcelli’s hometown of San Diego in 2019 and opened its first area market in Sorrento Valley in early 2020, where HFS now sells its fresh, sustainably-caught seafood to more than 2,000 customers across the United States.
At its Liberty Station locale, Hawaiian Fresh Seafood doubles as a direct-to-consumer market and onsite eatery, dishing up poke bowls, seafood sashimi, and catch-of-the-day specials. Expect a display case filled with a dozen varieties of daily-made, hand-cut poke that customers can purchase by the pound or in a poke bowl atop brown or white rice. The new location also offers a small interior dining area and outdoor patio with heat lamps, where guests can enjoy beer and wine with their poke.
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Liberty Public Market: Large-Scale Expansion & Fresh Vendor Lineup
Liberty Public Market is underway with an indoor/outdoor expansion, growing its ARTS District enclave by nearly 6,000 square-feet. Taking over the rear-adjacent facility that once housed Moment Bicycles, an interior annex will make way for food and retail newcomers, including: locally-based apparel brand, Barrack 22; small-batch apothecary pop-up, Old Town Soap Company; bite-size bakery, The Mini Donut Company; Middle-Eastern eatery, Habab Craft; and Mathilde de Belgique, a Belgian waffle concept. Longtime LPM tenants, Baker & Olive and SoCal Phone Repair, will also relocate to the new space, which is anticipating a late-Winter completion.
The next phase of Liberty Public Market’s posterior renovation will introduce a 45,000 square-foot patio. Replicating the social atmosphere of the market’s Sims Road courtyard, the exterior buildout will more than double the outdoor footprint, creating more options for beverage-friendly seating and a public-use venue for community activations— think: live music, vinyl record pop-up, al fresco trivia nights and more!
At Mess Hall, an on-site wine and spirits shop will debut alongside Bottlecraft’s retail post. The spatial revamp will see Mess Hall Bar absorb Bottlecraft’s tap station and extend its boozy offerings.
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The Loma Club: Tapper’s Mini Golf & Cocktails Debuts Elevated Putt-Putt Courses
Tapper’s Mini Golf & Cocktails—an extension of Liberty Station’s iconic fairway, The Loma Club— has officially opened its two state-of-the-art mini golf courses, dubbed the Gator and Gopher Courses. A fun-filled activity for players of all ages and aptitude, Tapper’s takes the traditional putt-putt experience to the next level. The uniquely designed courses, each with 9-holes, are the brainchild of TLC co-operator, Oliver Mahoney, a top mini golf builder in the UK. While finishing touches continue to be added to each course, groups of two to six can now book their tee-time here or in-person at The Loma Club.
An added perk for Tapper’s 21+ crowd, players can enjoy a match of mini golf with drink in hand (or, belly-up at the bar for an après-game round). From the team behind You & Yours Distilling Co., The Loma Club’s beverage program totes expertly-crafted cocktails, like the Jungle Bird (house-infused pineapple rum + Campari + lime + soda) and On the Green (Y&Y London Dry Gin + cucumber + elderflower + lime + tonic).
Meanwhile, a top-to-bottom revamp of The Loma Club’s 3,200-square-foot clubhouse and patio is underway. Spearheading the interior face-lift is Olivia Brock of Torrance Michell Design, a Charleston-based firm specializing in the preservation and restoration of historic buildings. Once complete, the Clubhouse’s updated design will channel the antiquarian glamour of traditional private clubs, while incorporating the operating group’s love of cheeky cult golf classics like Caddyshack and Happy Gilmore.
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Bird Rock Coffee Roasters: Java Shop Set to Open Liberty Station Location
Marking the company’s seventh location, San Diego-born Bird Rock Coffee Roasters is set to open a Liberty Station café in the coming days. Replacing the now-closed Starbucks, the integration of Bird Rock Coffee is indicative of Liberty Station’s locally-minded leasing efforts.
What began as a standalone café in 2006, Bird Rock Coffee has become one of San Diego most pre-eminent java shops. Driven by a conscientious trade model, which engages in direct relationships with farmers across the globe, BRCR’s ethically-sourced lineup ranges from classic pour-overs and espresso beverages, to cold brews, nitro lattes and seasonal infusions.
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Carruth Cellars: Massive Tasting Room Coming to ARTS District! 🙌
Come Spring 2022, Carruth Cellars will join the ranks of ARTS District hospitality options, anchoring down in Barracks 17, next-door to Con Pane Rustic Breads & Cafe and Slater’s 50/50. The expansive indoor/outdoor tasting room—comprising approximately 10,000 square-feet— will serve housemade paninis, salads, and artisanal cheeses to complement Carruth’s award-winning, bold California-style wines.
We LOVE Liberty Station, and we’re thrilled to see all of the expanded offerings!
See you there, San Diego!
