The sale of the Hob Nob Hill restaurant and building to Douglas Hamm of Creative House, the team behind Nolita Hall in Little Italy, was finalized last month, prompting a temporary closure as new ownership takes over. Warchol, who announced her retirement in early February, expressed gratitude in the restaurant's final social media post on March 2.
"Well that’s a wrap! Tania and the entire 'closing' team… would like to thank you for supporting us for the last 32 years. Without you, the restaurant would not exist… It's an end of an era, for sure. But we hope nothing but the best for the staff and the restaurant moving forward."Ìý
Hob Nob Hill's rich history began in May 1944 when Harold and Dorothy Hoersch opened the Juniper Café, a modest 14-stool lunch counter that evolved into the Melody Grill by 1946 and eventually Hob Nob Hill around 1970 at its current 2271 First Avenue address. Under Warchol’s stewardship since 1993, the restaurant became a community hub, earning accolades from the Southern California Restaurant Writers Association and a feature on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
Recent renovations in 2020 modernized the space with white walls, black trim, a Wizard of Oz mural, and new menu items like Cincinnati chili, while preserving classics like corned beef and lemon-pecan pie. The restaurant thrived post-COVID, with record revenues in 2022–2024, though rising costs prompted Warchol's exit.
Uncertainty surrounds the duration of Hob Nob Hill’s closure, the nature of upcoming changes, and the identity of the future staff, as employees are reportedly required to reapply for their roles. New ownership under Douglas Hamm, recognized for developing Lofty Coffee andÌýHalf Door Brewing, has yet to reveal its vision, with no updates on the status of several other Creative House projects previously announced as under development.Ìý
Among these is Cedar Park, a bi-level restaurant and bar with a rooftop deck proposed for San Diego’s Little Italy since 2017, which remains stalled. In 2022, Creative House acquired aÌý6,500 square-foot unitÌýin Coronado Plaza - formerly home to Blue Bridge Hospitality's Boardwalk Beach Club, Maretalia Ristorante, and Vigilucci’s - yet no progress has been made in that prime location. Additionally, the 7,000-square-foot space on the ground floor of the Manchester Financial Centre (housing Mister A’s), once occupied by Il Dandy and Civico By The Park, has languished inÌýdevelopment for three yearsÌýwithout advancement. We reached out to Hamm for comment but received no substantive response.
Hob Nob Hill is located at 2271 First Avenue in San Diego's Bankers Hill community. For more information, visit Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌý.Ìý
Originally published on March 3, 2025.Ìý
