Stone Brewing Co. will take over the other half, formerly occupied by Wine Steals. They’ll be putting in their sixth Stone Company Store in San Diego, the second in the Downtown area after the recent opening of their Kettner location. Consortium will create a restaurant/cocktail concept. Stone, meanwhile, will use the wood-burning pizza oven that comes with their half of the space for a flatbread menu.

The question for Stone CEO/co-founder Greg Koch is: Will neighboring businesses, many of whom serve Stone beers, view them as competition?

“We welcome [it],” says Ty Hauter, who owns multiple concepts in the neighborhood, including Blind Burro, Cat Eye Club and Lucky’s Lunch Counter. “We’re looking forward to the added foot traffic and local business camaraderie Greg Koch brings to the mix.”

Koch is renown as an ambassador for craft beer, and not just his own. Instead of viewing other local craft beers as competitors, Stone puts them on their trucks and distributes them around San Diego. He’s also spearheaded the San Diego Craft Beer Hospitality and Tourism Economic Summit—a second, bigger installment of which he’s planning for Feb. 4.

“There are two models of business,” says Koch. “There’s the old model that you’re in business for the exclusion of everyone else. Clearly we don’t work in that realm. We believe in the cooperative/compatriot model of ‘Let’s do some awesome sh**.”

Consortium and Stone’s “awesome sh**” is tentatively scheduled to open next March.

**Note: The original story said Consortium chef Jason McLeod would be creating the menu for Stone. That’s incorrect.

INCOMING: Stone Company Store

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There is a second, very large player in San Diego’s food/drink scene who will share the space with Consortium. We’ve promised not announce their involvement for a couple of days out of respect for their people and process.

INCOMING: Consortium Strikes Again

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wine and cheese flights

Eno Wine Bar

• For the Impress-Your-Date Type:

  With one of the best views, and certainly most interesting histories, the world-famous Hotel Del Coronado is home to Eno Wine Bar, which offers flights, glasses, or bottles of wine paired with artisan cheeses, pizzas, cured meats, and chocolates. There are fire pits to keep you warm outside while you watch the sun set over the Pacific. 1500 Orange Avenue, Coronado

• For the Wine Geek:

  Whether you’re trying to become a wine expert or looking to increase your wine lexicon, Village Vino wine bar in Kensington offers a great selection of international and domestic wines with the sophisticated palate in mind. Talk to the owner, Rita—she knows her stuff! 4095 Adams Avenue, Kensington

• For the Social Butterfly:

  The staff at this oldie but goodie is so dedicated to happy hours and tastings, they update the nightly specials on both Facebook and Twitter. Maybe that’s why Wine Steals is always packed. Bonus: If you’re wine curious, you can talk the wine talk with them. Various locations, winestealssd.com

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