“There are few places in San Diego proper that have that history, and it would be a gift and an honor to push that narrative forward.” “I think we’ll be able to do something pretty special with it,” Tafazoli predicts.
He said he expects that transformation could take about 1 1/2 years to execute. Tafazoli was unwilling to reveal any plans he has in mind for future restaurants or bars, although his overarching goal, he said, is to transform the hotel into a “cultural hub for the neighborhood” that is very oriented to locals.” Beefing up and expanding the culinary offerings is something that Tafazoli’s company is presumably well-positioned to tackle should CH acquire the property. It has just one eatery - Hope 46 - that is open for al fresco dining. The hotel, which for decades was known for its old-school steakhouse - the now-closed Red Fox Room - is currently short on dining and drinking venues.
Also part of the redo were some environmentally sustainable features, among them fuel cells that were added to convert natural gas into electricity and heat the pool, originally designed by “Tarzan” star Johnny Weissmuller and used by Florence Chadwick before she swam the English Channel in 1951.Īccording to the county Assessor/Recorder’s office, the property’s current assessed value is $10.3 million, although that does not necessarily reflect the market value.
