Portside Pier design approved, Anthony’s demolition to follow

Brigantine Restaurants’ Portside Pier, the $20 million replacement for Anthony’s Fish Grotto, won final design approval Tuesday for a four-restaurant complex on the downtown waterfront.

The San Diego Unified Port District board also unanimously approved demolition of Anthony’s 51-year-old building at the foot of Ash Street, six months after the venerable restaurant closed at the end of its lease.

Port officials hope to begin demolition by the end of the year and Brigantine expects to start construction by Feb. 1 with an opening slated a year later. A lease for the project may be ready for signing by year’s end.

“This is a great project and it will be a must-see restaurant and venue on port tidelands,” said port Commissioner Marshall Merrifield.

The actions came after the port and the Brigantine reached agreement with the California Coastal Commission on design changes. The key changes were to move a public promenade from the first to the second floor viewing deck and clarify that a larger dock-and-dine facility will be open to all boaters, not just restaurant patrons.

Parking will be handled by an offsite valet service, which Commissioner Ann Moore said will provide other port developers a model for dealing with cars.

“It does show how you can provide parking for your use without it being right in front of the building,” Moore said.

The port voted to issue a coastal development permit “in protest” over the coastal agency’s insistence on having the final say. The two agencies expect to continue debating how to handle future restaurant reviews.

Anthony’s, known for its proprietary fish batter and shrimp cocktail sauce, was founded by Catherine “Mama” Ghio in 1946 elsewhere on the downtown waterfront and moved in 1966 to the present site at 1360 N. Harbor Drive in 1966. The port invited other restaurateurs to submit redevelopment plans in 2015 and chose Brigantine over Anthony’s and other operators.

Portside Pier is to include two major restaurants, Brigantine on the Bay and Miguel’s Cocina; a fast-casual outdoor eatery, Ketch Grill & Taps; and Portside Coffee and Gelato. Two elevators and two sets of stairways will lead to a rooftop visitor deck and a new set of docks will be built to handle up to 12 boats, including water taxis.

LINK TO ARTICLE | BACK