Daily Business Report-July 27, 2018
Space in Mercado del Barrio where Liberty Call Distilling will open a distillery and restaurant. (Photo courtesy of Liberty Call Distilling)
Bill Rogers puts faith in Barrio Logan
to support future distillery and restaurant
San Diego’s Liberty Call Distilling has announced plans for its second location, an expanded concept that will include both a distillery and restaurant with fare from farm-to-table chef Miguel Valdez, to open in Barrio Logan at 1985 National Ave. during spring 2019.
Liberty Call Distilling Kitchen will encompass nearly 3,000 indoor square feet and a 400-square-foot patio designed by Hurkes Harris Design Associates, who also designed The Local and OB Surf Lodge. An open floor plan with a lounge-like ambience will showcase a working distillery through a glass partition, while Liberty Call Distilling will offer food via counter service and cocktails available from the bar. A large roll-up door will open to a patio featuring high top-style communal dining. Inside and out, Liberty Call Distilling will seat approximately 60 guests.
“We really like the energy and vibe that you feel when you walk around Barrio Logan. It has a cool artistic and industrial feel, with a great Hispanic heritage,” said Liberty Call Distilling founder Bill Rogers. “Barrio Logan embodies everything San Diegan, and that’s something we want to be a part of.”
Liberty Call Distilling also plans to expand its original Spring Valley location by 2,500 square feet.
Among the future Barrio Logan’s offerings will be Liberty Call’s award-winning single malt whiskey, bourbon, gin and white and spiced rum, as well as signature cocktails crafted by head bartender Albert Allison. Small yet diverse lunch and dinner menus will align with what Rogers calls “California tapas” and include dishes like Rum Pickled Strawberry Salad, Smoked Glazed Lamb and a signature Whiskey Burger. Executive Chef Miguel Valdez, who gained acclaim for his farm-to-table fare while at The Red Door in Mission Hills, grew up near the future location and will design the menu and elements of the layout.
“We are investing close to one million dollars within the next year for these two expansions, without having to sell any ownership in the distillery,” said Rogers. “It’s our most ambitious plan yet, and we feel that we will outgrow both spots not long after they open.”
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Qualcomm calls off bid to buy NXP
Qualcomm has to pay a $2 billion fee to NXP for terminating proposed deal
RCRWireless News
Since announcing the proposed $44 billion acquisition of Dutch semiconductor firm NXP in October 2016, Qualcomm has worked to gain worldwide regulatory approval for the deal, and extended the tender period numerous times. Now the San Diego-based seminconductor giant has called off the deal and has to pay NXP a $2 billion termination fee.
NXP has a strong foothold in the growing automotive chip business, which Qualcomm regarded as an opportunity to expand its reach into new vertical markets. Even though the deal is dead, Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf says the company’s growth strategy will stay the same.
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Board of Supervisors approves 3 housing
projects to provide nearly 4,000 homes
The county Board of Supervisors approved three projects Wednesday that could ultimately provide nearly 4,000 homes to the region. Two are housing projects in the North County near Interstate 15 and state Route 78. A third is a land use change to introduce housing in the South County east of state Route 125.
Harmony Grove Village South is designed as a mixed-use community on a 111-acre site south of Harmony Grove Village and about a mile from both San Marcos and Escondido. The site will include 453 single-family and multi-family homes, 5,000 square feet for commercial and civic uses, four acres of parks, two miles of multi-use trails, 36 acres of common areas and about 35 acres of open space.
The Valiano project is planned as a residential community on a 239-acre site north of Harmony Grove Village. The project is located southeast of San Marcos and west of Escondido. Plans include 326 single-family homes and detached condominiums, 7.9 acres in parks, 31 acres of open space and 2.6 miles of trails. An equestrian staging area is also included in the plans.
The third site named Otay 250 is located east of State Route 125 and north of Otay Mesa Road. The project changes the land use at the 253-acre site to potentially build 3,158 homes in the future. Otay 250 would include multi-family housing, duplexes, townhomes and single-family homes. Plans also call for 78,000 square feet for commercial use such as shopping centers, grocery stores and restaurants. Another 765,000 square feet is set aside for research and development business, medical services and custom manufacturing. The project also includes more than 51 acres of open space and 8.6 acres of public park land.
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Open registration for fall semester begins
Aug. 6 for, City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges
More options for online and evening classes – along with new certificate and degree programs – are on the menu when the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) launches open registration for San Diego City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges on Aug. 6.
The fall semester begins August 20. Among the new offerings at City College are associate degree programs in economics, agriculture plant science, global development studies, and film, television and electronic media; Mesa College is offering more than three dozen new courses ranging from fashion to web design; and Miramar College is providing added opportunities for students to take courses in accounting, astronomy, communication, and psychology.
A student who earns an associate degree from the SDCCD can expect to earn on average approximately $11,000 more annually than someone with just a high school diploma at the midpoint of their working career. Over a working lifetime, that increase in earnings amounts to approximately $407,000 in added income.
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North County Realtors to host
meetings on statewide MLS
The North San Diego County Association of Realtors (NSDCAR), a 7,000-member trade group for San Diego-area Realtors, will present seven free forums for its members on the California Regional Multiple Listing Service. NSDCAR, the largest trade association in San Diego’s North County region, has announced plans to begin offering the CRMLS, the nation’s largest, subscriber-based MLS serving more than 86,000 real estate professionals from 35 associations. NSDCAR officials said the CRMLS offers more benefits for Realtors, including access to technology tools such as Remine and Cloud MLX, as well as additional exposure for listings.
The times, dates and locations for the forums are: 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 2:30 p.m., Monday, July 30, Masonic Lodge, 1331 South Escondido Blvd., Escondido; 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 2:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 2, Morgan Run Club & Resort, 5690 Cancha de Golf, Rancho Santa Fe; 12:30 to 2 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 7, Fallbrook Public Utility District, 990 East Mission Road, Fallbrook; 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 15, Holiday Inn Kearny Mesa, 9335 Kearny Mesa Road, San Diego. For more event information, call NSDCAR at (760) 734-3971 or visit www.CRMLSNow.com.
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RQ Construction awarded $40.78 million Navy contract
RQ Construction LLC in Carlsbad has been awarded a $40.78 million Navy contract for the design and construction of Special Operations Forces Logistics Support Unit One Operations Facility at Naval Base Coronado. The facility will support a variety of functions including operational gear storage, applied instruction, training, administration, and vehicle and equipment maintenance. The contract also contains 12 unexercised options and three planned modifications, which if exercised, would increase the cumulative contract value to $47.85. Work is expected to be completed by February 2021. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest is the contracting activity.
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Sustainable freight vehicles
to be used for Dole Fresh Fruit cargo
The Port of San Diego and the San Diego Port Tenants Association held a special event Thursday to celebrate the deployment of new sustainable-freight vehicles by Dole Fresh Fruit at the Port’s cargo terminal. The vehicles were funded by a $5.9 million grant from the California Energy Commission that was awarded to the San Diego Port Tenants Association. The event took place at the Port’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal in San Diego.
The project supports cleaner air and less noise for surrounding communities. Powered by electricity, the new semi-trucks and fork lifts will help reduce air emissions by replacing gasoline and diesel-powered cargo-handling equipment at the Port of San Diego. These vehicles are also much quieter than their conventional counterparts.
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Personnel Announcements
Jewish Federation names Michael Jeser as new CEO
The Jewish Federation of San Diego County has named Michael Jeser as its new CEO. On Aug. 27, Jeser will succeed Michael Sonduck, who retired in June after his 12-year tenure, including six years as CEO, with the organization.
Jeser joins San Diego’s Federation after serving as director of financial resource development at the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, where he oversaw all aspects of the organization’s annual and supplemental fundraising campaigns for three years and also created its flagship leadership development and mentoring program for young Jewish leaders.
Jeser’s 20-year career has included significant roles in and out of the national Federation system, serving in senior management, fundraising and program positions with Jewish Community Centers, Jewish summer camps, and as the executive director of Hillel at the University of Southern California for four years.
Jeser’s interest stems from his life-long involvement with Jewish organizations. His parents have worked in the Jewish community for over four decades. His father, a veteran fundraising and Jewish communal professional, was a Federation executive director in both Lewiston, Maine and in Orlando, Fla. when Jeser was a young boy. His mother, a Jewish music educator and performer for more than 40 years, was his JCC preschool music teacher.
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CONNECT announces new appointments
to drive growth and innovation in programs
CONNECT has named two new staff additions. Tom Murphy will join the nonprofit as senior vice president of business development. Ruprecht von Buttlar will return as an interim senior strategic adviser to the Springboard Accelerator Program.
Tom Murphy brings more than 20 years of experience in leadership in the life sciences industry to CONNECT. In the community, he’s served on numerous business and nonprofit boards including San Diego Venture Group, San Diego Social Venture Partners (chairman), Voices for Children, and academic foundations to raise funds, recruit sponsors, and grow membership. Murphy will partner with CONNECT CEO Greg McKee to foster engagement with current member companies and cultivate new relationships in the San Diego technology and life sciences sectors.
Ruprecht von Buttlar, who was previously vice president of business creation and development for CONNECT from 2006 to 2015, will focus on the enhancement of CONNECT’s successful Springboard Accelerator Program. He will work with a new Springboard Strategic Advisory Committee, chaired by CONNECT executive committee member Tim Scott.
