Outdoor spaces have always been premium real estate in San Diego but the pandemic has made them more precious than ever before; Grind & Proper Hospitality Group, which runs Miss B’s Coconut Club in Mission Beach and North Park’s Louisiana Purchase, is taking over two prime rooftop perches in Little Italy and Oceanside with plans to turn each spot into a tropical oasis for its community.
On India Street, Coco Maya by Miss B’s is replacing Prepkitchen, which closed early last year. The upper level restaurant is being redesigned by GTC Design Studio (Fort Oak, Rare Society) with an open-air feel to reflect the boho chic vibes of Tulum, Mexico; the central cocktail bar will sit under a 30’ by 30’ skylight and part of the roof is being removed to create a 900-square-foot deck. Influenced by the whole of the Caribbean, there will be tequila drinks inspired by the Yucatan Peninsula from Rob McShea and a menu of modern takes on Jamaican coal pot cooking from a Josper charcoal oven-powered kitchen. Grind & Proper owner Pete Cich tells Eater that the restaurant and bar should open this October.
“At a time when most restaurants in the state were fighting to survive and navigate the uncertainty of the pandemic, Pete and his team stepped up big time to secure a location at one of the best intersections in the county. A tremendous amount of thought, research, and planning went into Coco Maya and we are very psyched to have them join the lineup in Little Italy.” said Paul Ahern of Next Wave Commercial, who facilitated the lease on behalf of the landlord and tenant along with Nate Benedetto.
At the same time, Cich and his partners are also embarking on a major expansion in Oceanside, where venues from Grind & Proper will anchor the Brick, a new boutique hotel currently in construction in a historic, 1880’s-era building downtown. On the ground level, named after the group’s executive chef Quinnton Austin, Q&A Restaurant & Oyster Bar will serve chargrilled oysters and other New Orleans eats from the chef, who relocated from the Big Easy to helm Louisiana Purchase. The 2,100-square-foot rooftop will house CocoCabana, another Caribbean-style cocktail bar with its own menu of small bites. Grind & Prosper will also provide food service to the hotel’s other tenants, Stone Brewing and Frankie’s.
“We are eager for The Brick Hotel and the Grind & Prosper Hospitality duo to further enhance the diverse and unique food culture in Downtown Oceanside. We have had the opportunity to help many of the dynamic concepts downtown like Carte Blanche, The Flying Pig, Parlor Doughnuts and others find their home in Oceanside and are excited to add the Grind & Prosper group to the list.” said Marc Karren of Location Matters, who facilitate the lease for the landlord while Mike Spilky represented the tenant.
