Cucina Enoteca is closing its Del Mar location after nearly 12 years, reflecting a broader wave of restaurant shutdowns across San Diego.
DEL MAR, Calif. — Cucina Enoteca is closing its Del Mar location next month, adding to a growing wave of restaurant shutdowns across San Diego over the past year.
The two-story, 8,200-square-foot restaurant at Flower Hill will close in mid-March. Urban Kitchen Group told CBS 8 in a statement they spent the past year reviewing their options, but the size and condition of the space, higher property taxes after a change in ownership and the cost of running a large triple-net restaurant led them not to renew the lease.
Many diners say they’re seeing the same pattern across the county. More than 70 restaurants and bars have closed in San Diego over the past year. Recent closures include Las Cuatro Milpas in Barrio Logan, Joe’s Crab Shack near the Rady Shell, the Red Fox Room in North Park and the Little Italy Food Hall.
Jot Condie, President and CEO of the California Restaurant Association said restaurants are facing more competition while customers are spending less, all as food and labor costs continue to rise.
“Restaurant growth in California over the last 10 years has outstripped population growth,” Jot said. “When your food costs and your labor costs go up, you have to pass those costs along to consumers and the result is higher prices.”
A recent survey from the California Restaurant Association found 26% of restaurant owners in San Diego cut hours because of labor costs, and 72% said customer traffic is down from a year ago.
Cucina Enoteca’s owners said they’re already looking for a new home in North County.