Buona Forchetta Building Nonprofit Breakfast Spot and Bakery in South Park

Extensive expansion is in store for Buona Forchetta this year. In addition to opening more outposts of his popular Italian eatery in Encinitas and Coronado, owner Matteo Cattaneo is prepping to launch a wine bar and market in South Park and an offshoot in Petco Park. And he has even more in the works for South Park, where he purchased his first home after arriving from Italy and where his original Buona Forchetta has thrived since 2013: a breakfast restaurant and Italian bakery with a philanthropic component. The eatery will donate 100 percent of its profits to public schools in the San Diego Unified School District.

“South Park has given Buona Forchetta the best home we could have ever asked for, and this is our chance to give back to the community and city that has given so much to us,” said Cattaneo. Every month, the restaurant will donate directly to a chosen school, including nearby McKinley Elementary, Albert Einstein Charter Academy, and Golden Hill Elementary School, with funds going to support arts programing, supplies, and extracurriculars. There will also be a dedicated space at the restaurant where students can learn about cooking, as well as other educational programs.

The nonprofit replaces another beloved business, Rebecca’s Coffee House, which shuttered in December after a 25-year tenure. Cody Wippel of the Franco Realty Group, which leased the space to Buona Forchetta, told Eater that the group was careful in selecting a replacement, making sure to choose another local operator who would benefit the area.

The yet-unnamed eatery, which has a still-developing menu, is scheduled to launch this summer after a remodel of the Juniper Street space.