Liberty Public Market, a $3 million artisan food hall created in partnership between Blue Bridge Hospitality (Stake Chophouse, Leroy’s Kitchen + Lounge) and Liberty Station, is scheduled to be up and running by October 2015; the highly-anticipated project is currently under construction in a 22,000-square-foot space at 2816 Historic Decatur Road, adjacent to Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens - Liberty Station.
Blue Bridge Hospitality principal David Spatafore, a San Diego native, tells Eater that Liberty Public Market will ultimately have between 24 and 30 vendor stalls spanning a broad range of businesses offering options for shopping, eating and socializing; Spatafore says he's aiming for the mix to tilt heavily towards grocery shopping, with some prepared food sprinkled in.
Today, the market announced the initial vendors who have signed up for a spot, from established food businesses to first-timers just entering the brick-and-mortar landscape:
-Venissimo Cheese, which currently has shops in Mission Hills, North Park (in Bottlecraft), The Headquarters and Del Mar, will open a fifth location stocked with its collection of artisan cheese and complementary gourmet food items, from olives to crackers and jams. Regarding her decision to expand into the market, owner Gina Frieze told Eater, "Venissimo has supported every effort to bring a public market to America's finest city and we feel this one is perfect. Liberty Station is vibrant and fast becoming both a local destination, plus a place visitors will want to visit."
-The WestBean Coffee Roasters, a local specialty coffee roaster that opened its first brick-and-mortar coffee bar downtown last year will have an outpost here offering pour-overs, cold brew, French press coffee and more.
-Fully Loaded Juice has a flagship shop in Encinitas which sources produce from local farms for its 100% raw, organic, cold-pressed juice that's bottled fresh daily.
-MooTime Creamery, a 50s-inspired ice cream parlor which makes its frozen treats and waffle cones fresh every day, is part of the Blue Bridge Hospitality stable with two existing locations in Coronado.
-Liberty Meat Shop will be run by San Diego native Tommy Battaglia, who learned the the old-fashioned art of butchering from his father, who founded a mom and pop-style butcher shop in Little Italy in the 1950s.
-Mastiff Sausage Company is a popular local food truck, in business since 2013, that's gained acclaim for its housemade sausages. Founded by Jacob Bartlett and chef Eric Gallerstein, Mastiff's first brick-and-mortar outpost will serve its full food menu plus retail Mastiff's prepackaged sausages, house pickled veggies, hot sauces and sauerkraut.
-Pho Realz has operated a food stand at farmers markets throughout San Diego serving a Southeast Asian street food menu that ranges from banh mi sandwiches to bowls of pho.
-Wicked Maine Lobster has been cooking up classic lobster rolls and New England clam chowder at local farmers markets and will expand the menu at their first permanent outpost to include lobster and cheese omelets, crabmeat rolls and lobster tails.
-Cane Patch Pies is another farmers market regular, founded by brothers Tony and Jon Smalls. The bakery focuses on homemade sweet potato-based treats, from cinnamon rolls to biscuits and muffins, based on family recipes and their South Carolina roots.
-Cecilia’s Taqueria is a new business founded by home cook Cecilia Cortazar Peterson and Alec House of Point Loma's Supannee’s House of Thai. The eatery will specialize in gourmet tacos, handmade tortillas and regional Mexican cuisine made from produce from their own garden, local seafood and sustainable meat.
Spatafore tells Eater that another ten vendors are pending, though he's still seeking local purveyors for several essential grocery categories including bread, seafood, chocolate and confections. A produce component, which will occupy the largest stall in the space, is still in development but will likely offer a mix of San Diego-grown and specialty fruits and vegetables.
He says the market will have a football field-sized outdoor patio, plus indoor common areas for resting, eating and drinking. There will also be a wine tasting bar and bottle shop, plus a beer bar with a retail area and a stand-alone cocktail bar.
