Encinitas Ranch Town Center Mystery

Our crack team of reporters discussed the ongoing mystery of what's going on at the Encinitas Ranch Town Center in the old Party City location.  We sent out our photographer to check out the scene.  We've also got a message into the leasing company hoping to divine some details on what's going on.

As you can see, this is not just your run of the mill interior construction.  This is a total demolition of the front facade signaling major construction about to be undertaken.  In most cases, a retail center like Encinitas Ranch Town Center would maintain a consistent facade, with construction for a new tenant being primarily interior only.  This is the first example of a total redo that I've seen in this center.  So what does this signal?  My hope is a new sit-down dining establishment, which New Encinitas has a glaring shortage of.  This shortage is especially true after the disappointing opening of the La Costa Town Square center which features nothing but quick service restaurants that were already available on the ECR corridor. 

We here at Encinitas Report will keep following this developing story.

Sushi Report: Ogata Performs Seppuku; Hooked On Sushi Moves Into Town

 

In the world of food, there are a few things Encinitas has plenty of: taco shops, pizza joints and sushi restaurants.  Even when we lose a sushi place, another one just pops up and takes it's place; not that too many sushi places is a bad thing.  Long time downtown sushi restaurant Ogata has called it quits.  They were selling all of their surplus beer, inventory, and fixtures this weekend in what they called a "thank you sale".  No word on what will take this piece of prime real estate.

At the same time, New Encinitas is getting another sushi restaurant to compete with Kaito, Blue Fin, Mr. Sushi, Suyaki and Sushi House.  Taking the place of Stone Flats in the Vons/Chipotle/Pep Boys shopping center, Hooked On Sushi has a sign up and a liquor license notice in the window, although interior work looks to have not progressed very far.  Hooked on Sushi looks to be the second location of this restaurant, with the first location across El Camino from Plaza Camino Real.  Their menu looks to have quite a few sushi options, but also a pretty extensive non-sushi Japanese menu.  At the very least, we can look forward to increased competition leading to more and better coupons in the coupon circulars showing up in our mailboxes.