Anyone making their way to Third Avenue in Chula Vista the evening of Dec. 2 will have a few more reasons to be full of holiday cheer than they did last year, at least those who are closer to the north end of the avenue.
When the annual parade winds down as it approaches C Street, those crowding the sidewalk and sitting curbside will have a few more places to slake their ache for an adult beverage.
For years the options were sparse. Families could squeeze their way into La Bella’s, the Third Avenue landmark popular with people who wanted a pizza and a few post-parade pitchers, Fuddruckers for burgers or Marie Callender’s for a wider selection of menu items. The childless over 21 years of age could amble into Dock’s Cocktail Lounge for stiff holiday cheer served in a tumbler.
But now, as the avenue wiggles its way into reinventing itself, the 21 and older crowd has a few more options waiting to set their hearts aglow.
Like the lingering ghost of Christmas Past, Dock’s is still around, and a couple years back and a few doors down the Third Avenue Alehouse Tasting Room opened its doors.
Now, however, beer drinkers will have more options in that Chula Vista Brewery, Three Punk Ales Brewing Company and Bar Sin Nombre have recently flung open their doors.
(Not to worry, there are still places to fill stomachs with warm belly-filling food as Temp by Cosecha, Italianissimo Trattoria, Mangia Italiano, Don Pedro’s, El Comal, Mea Kwan and the earlier mentioned restaurants are still operating their kitchens.)
While it may sound as if I’m gently shilling for the food service industries in the city’s old downtown, the point of mentioning them is simply to note the transformation Third Avenue is undergoing.
At the moment it seems as if it can follow one of two paths. One leads down a trail that resembles Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach or 30th Street in North Park, given the number of bars and taverns that have opened along the once moribund thoroughfare.
Chula Vista was late to the craft brewery craze and it seems intent on playing a quick game of catch-up and locals are all too eager to have breweries they call their own.
The other path resembles, in a more subdued way, the strip of India Street in Little Italy that offers restaurant after restaurant for blocks at a time.
Aside from the number of eateries the notable difference between Little Italy and Third Avenue Village is the abundance of mixed-use development. Chula Vista has yet to make significant progress down that path.
It seems Christmas future will be significantly different than today. Whether it is for better or worse remains to be seen.
