Walter M.
Yelp
I swore I'd never go back to jail, but this is different. No cops, no handcuffs or any of that stuff. Just some old pictures of days gone by. A past life if you would, for both of us...See now, nothing to be afraid of.
I always wondered what they would do with this place so when construction started I was pretty anxious. Though I couldn't make the opening I've come back on a few occasions both day and night to get a good feel for the place. It's most certainly unlike anything we have downtown. It reminds me of when people first step onto MCRD or Liberty station, there is still this "barracks" vibe, but here it's also mixed with some great views. Why on earth would we waste such great real estate and views on a police station? It's bigger than I remember it. More open, but not overly. It almost reminds me of a spa, golf resort with their own shops on site, not an actual shopping center and without the grass and landscaping. It's still new, but it's touted as food and entertainment. I'm not sure there is or really will be entertainment here, unless you like to people watch.
Food. Cheesecake factory, can't say I'm surprised, but with such great places nearby that are much more local in flavor, this is for the tourists. Eddie V's, Starbucks, ok now they've gone too white bread on us. Are we at an outlet mall? The saving grace is Puesto who is doing big things (more to come in my separate review). This is the only not corporate cookie cutter place. Pizzeria Mozza is Mario Batali's creation from Hollywood, sorry bud, I think we do plenty fine with our pizzas down here. Gelato Paradiso will be popping off when the summer comes (gelappe over starbucks is what I'm thinking). It's not an eaters paradise and without the entertainment your left trying to soak up the location. Can we say "where is the brewery?"
Soooooo shopping. I'm probably unlike most people in that half the shops I would never go into and the one's that have men's items are certainly not my style. Kitson's is basically Zara which is H&M's less hipster brother. Life is Good is fun if you're an optimist looking for zero originality. Simply Local is constantly changing and should be checked out from time to time. Lots of art, lots of home decorations and design, but literally void of things in my demographic Stationary? Really? Madison is where girls go to buy something for the man in their life for which they should go to a specialty store. Sunglass Hut just doing it's thing. Urban Beach house is filled with clothing that someone not from San Diego thinks we San Diegans wear.
There are some strange design flaws with this place, perhaps remnants needed for previous tenants. Don't worry, the official figures on how many inmates died here are unsubstantiated, so really the odds of this place being haunted can really only be cleansed of any juju with a proper brewery and bar, neither of which have. Puesto does however have a full bar, but more a restaurant. Summer nights will be fun walking around here from the Embarcadero where parking is cheaper and easier to find.