True Food Kitchen closes UTC location as mall unveils 70,000 square foot luxury wing

The Arizona-based restaurant chain True Food Kitchen has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, leading to the closure of its location at Westfield University Town Center. The chain is shutting down a dozen stores nationwide while keeping 34 restaurants open in 14 states. The UTC location, which served its final meal on Oct. 4, was one of the businesses vacating the mall as management pushed a new retail strategy.

Westfield UTC described this shift as "a new era of UTC." The mall recently opened a 70,000-square-foot luxury wing on the former site of Nordstrom and nearby stores. This new space houses high-profile brands including Chanel, Tom Ford, Hermès, and Saint Laurent. The expansion represents a distinct departure from the mall's previous retail lineup.

Ryan Perry, the senior general manager at Westfield UTC, said the expansion reflects a commitment to creating sustainable places for people to connect. He noted that the move elevates the experience at the center. The company aims to pair these luxury additions with the existing foot traffic in the La Jolla area.

True Food Kitchen entered the San Diego market more than a decade ago. Its first location in the city opened in 2012 at Fashion Valley. At the time, executive chef Michael Stebner positioned the menu as an alternative to typical health food. He cited the anti-inflammatory food pyramid developed by Dr. Andrew Weil, who was then a partner in the chain, as the primary inspiration for the dishes.

Nathan Cook, the company's chief restructuring officer, explained that financial struggles stemmed from previous leadership decisions. He stated that the company invested capital outside its core market areas and in new product lines that did not succeed. Cook wrote that several restaurants struggled with lower-than-anticipated foot and driving traffic. He added that changing demographics led to steady decreases in profitability over time.

While the mall undergoes this retail transformation, other businesses in La Jolla have expanded their offerings. Shio La Jolla, a Japanese restaurant, opened at 2259 Avenida de la Playa in La Jolla Shores. It occupies the former location of Sandpiper Restaurant. The name Shio means salt in Japanese.

Shio La Jolla held its grand opening on Oct. 24. The menu features sushi rolls, nigiri, sashimi, and noodle dishes. One signature item is the hon toro tadaki, which consists of five pieces of seared bluefin tuna belly served with truffle ponzu, truffle salt, crispy onions, and kizami wasabi. The restaurant also offers a 12-piece chef's creation menu called Tasting Shio, which costs $200 and requires a minimum of two people.

Shio La Jolla operates from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays, hours extend to 10 p.m. The restaurant began teasing its introduction on social media earlier this summer before opening its doors to the public.

In Bird Rock, The Bunny Hive is set to open at 5670 La Jolla Blvd. This will be the first location in San Diego for the franchise, which operates elsewhere in the country. The business describes itself as an elevated social club for children up to age five and their guardians. It offers 30-minute classes in art, ballet, music, storytelling, and culinary exploration. Culinary exploration involves children using toddler-safe tools and pretend food.

The first day of classes at The Bunny Hive is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 16. That day begins a preview week where all classes are free and open to the public. A grand opening will follow on Saturday, Nov. 21, which requires registration. Memberships are for the entire family, including siblings and caregivers. The introductory eight-class pass costs $225 per month and requires a three-month commitment.

Local entrepreneur Brenda Viola launched the Fa La La Store to sell holiday apparel with a La Jolla theme. The online retailer sells baby clothes, shirts, sweatshirts, and hats featuring the phrases Fa La La La Jolla and Fa La La La Mesa. Viola came up with the idea after moving to San Diego in 2022. She told her family that La Jolla during Christmastime felt like a Hallmark Channel movie, and her cousin suggested the name Fa La La La Jolla.

Viola will host a Black Friday shopping event in the lobby of the Life Time fitness center at 1055 Wall St. from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, Nov. 27. She also plans to have a booth at the La Jolla Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival on Sunday, Dec. 6.