National Sports Bar Chain Tom's Watch Bar Set To Open Petco Park-Adjacent Location In San Diego's East Village

The sports bar scene in San Diego's East Village is about to get an exciting addition with national chain Tom's Watch Bar set to open right next to Petco Park.

Tom's Watch Bar, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024, has been on an upward trajectory since its inception by Tom Ryan, co-founder of Smashburger, and Rick Schaden. Originally starting as Tom's Urban in Los Angeles, the chain rebranded to Tom's Watch Bar in 2019 with the vision of transforming into a "mega-entertainment venue." The company now has 13 locations currently operational, including branches in Washington, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Mohegan Sun Connecticut, Minneapolis, Maryland, Washington DC, Houston, Pittsburgh, Sacramento, Orlando, and at Coors Field in Denver

The San Diego location of Tom's Watch Bar will open in the Petco Park-adjacent space that has housed Social Tap since October 2015. New ownership will soon take over the unit, which shares a back patio almost inside the San Diego Padres stadium property, and begin remodeling, hoping to open in time for the 2025 baseball season. Tom's Watch Bar has ambitious plans, aiming for at least 600 locations globally. The choice of the location near Petco Park in San Diego reflects a strategic move towards high-traffic sports and entertainment areas.

Tom's Watch Bar will offer a menu featuring items like Prime Rib French Dip and Ahi Tuna Tower alongside classic sports bar fare and a full bar. The service model has an emphasis on speed and quality, as food is designed to be served within eight minutes, ensuring patrons don't miss any of the game action. The ambiance at Tom's Watch Bar is described as "the next best thing to being at the 50-yard line," with over 150 televisions providing 360-degree viewing of every sport - from pickleball to Formula 1 racing.

Tom's Watch Bar is anticipated to open this spring at 815 J Street, Suite 101, in San Diego's East Village. For more information, visit .