Better Buzz landing in Bonita and Allied Gardens
More sleepy San Diegans will soon be able to wrap their fingers around a mug of Better Buzz Coffee’s signature lattes and breakfast foods.
The small-batch organic and specialty roaster, with 17 locations in San Diego and Riverside counties, is hiring for two new locations. Both are spread out from other Better Buzz shops but in areas already dense with espresso.
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The Better Buzz Coffee shop in Hillcrest.
(Maura Fox / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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“We are excited to create some new BUZZ brand fans in the neighborhood!” a job listing for one of the new locations says.
One cafe will open at 6605 Mission Gorge Road in Allied Gardens, close to Kaiser Permanente Zion Medical Center. That busy road currently has a mix of big chains (Starbucks) and local small businesses. There’s S3 Coffee Bar and Traveler Coffee Roaster, closer to I-8, a Cuppa Cuppa Coffee drive-thru toward the middle, and The Lean Bean in Santee.
Better Buzz is also coming to 4041 Bonita Road, in Bonita. Tucked into a building with heaps of vintage charm, the new cafe will be close to three other espresso shops: Pavaraga Espresso Bar, Jets Espresso and a Starbucks.
Baristas should be friendly, welcoming, organized, and skilled multi-taskers. The job listing says pay starts at $16.30. Along with full benefits for full-time employees, Better Buzz staff get a free drink every shift, merchandise discount and “a generous tip pool.”
Carlsbad adds fashion, fitness and treats
If you find yourself in North County and hunting for upscale athleisure — and/or gourmet ice cream — The Forum Carlsbad has three new shops handpicked just for you.
“We believe that all these incredible new locations fulfill and fit the needs of the North County market,” Ward Kampf, president of Northwood Retail, which owns the mall, said in a statement.
People shop for shoes in a Nike store on Black Friday in 2022 (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, File)
(Julia Nikhinson / Associated Press)
One store is Nike Well Collective — La Costa, a Nike Live concept store — which is the brand’s way of saying the products are curated for the local market and the shop focuses on customer experiences, according to the mall’s website. The store, near Sur la Table and Urban Outfitters, sells fitness clothes, footwear and accessories “with a focus on running, fitness, yoga, and her favorite fitness essentials.”
Alo Yoga, the “studio-to-street” uniform for a certain brand of coastal elite, has also opened an outpost at the mall. Currently on their website: cashmere hoodies, puffer jackets and a deep catalog of yoga pants. The store is between Johnny Was and Madewell.
McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, a Santa Barbara export known for its small-batch, preservative-free scoops, opened its first San Diego County location at the Forum in September. It is strategically right next to Geppetto’s toy store.
Kampf called the ice cream parlor, founded in 1949, “a premier ice cream purveyor in the U.S. with its own dairy farm — it’s authentic with a wide reach.”
Yogurtland in Encinitas says goodbye
A regular customer of Yogurtland in Encinitas reported that the shop, beloved by her children, has closed because it could not afford its rent. The last day was Sept. 29, she added. Though the Union-Tribune could not independently verify this, the store’s location page on the Yogurtland website redirects to a “not found” message and the listed phone number appears to be disconnected.
Reminder: Lazy Dog Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar heading to Mira Mesa
If you love Lazy Dog’s comfort food but don’t love making the trek to Mission Valley (or Irvine or Temecula), your patience will soon be rewarded. The California-based chain is opening its second San Diego County location next year. The 6,550-square-foot restaurant, which was announced a while back (along with 39 other restaurant openings), is coming to Mira Mesa Market, the large strip mall just west of I-15.
Cheeseburger Fries are now on the menu at Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar.
(EUSEBIO PRODUCTIONS/Lazy Dog Restaurants)
FYI: There’s an easy way to skip the delivery fees and surcharges that often get added on when you order through third-party apps: Delivery and pickup are free on Lazy Dog’s website for orders of $25 and up: https://www.lazydogrestaurants.com
Do you know any stores or eateries that are opening or closing? Do you have a tip about San Diego shopping deals or news? Send me the scoop: roxana.popescu@sduniontribune.com.
