Broadway Lofts announces new retail

I found this news release on www.sandiegometro.com. I was hoping for something a little more urban for that location. Could this be the beginning of the suburbanization of downtown? There was talk of a Banana Republic in this location, that would have been much better for that part of the city.

Fuddruckers has signed a 10-year, $1.9 million lease for space in the old First National Bank Building at Fifth Avenue and Broadway in Downtown San Diego and is tentatively scheduled to open in a portion of the space in August. Broadway Lofts has preserved the nearly 100-year-old building by developing the property into 84 residential lofts, four penthouses and ground-level retail space. The lease is with Watt Genton Associates. “Broadway Lofts is extremely well positioned in Downtown for Fuddruckers as it is sandwiched between the Central Business District, which will pull in the majority of their lunch crowd, and the Gaslamp Quarter, which will pull in most of their nighttime crowd,” says Lauren Trussell of CB Richard Ellis. “Fuddruckers is committing to a long-term presence in the Downtown location. Most restaurants in the area are fine-dining or a bistro/pub-style venue. Having a Fuddruckers adjacent to the Gaslamp Quarter creates more options for the Downtown workforce, residents, families and tourists alike.” Fuddruckers is a family-oriented, casual restaurant franchise specializing in hamburgers, hot sandwiches, soups, salads and side dishes. Its corporate name is Casual Concepts Food Inc.

The former bank building was originally built in 1909. It was renovated in 1940 to give it a “modern” look. Arched windows, terra-cotta trim, columns and ornate entrances were removed in favor of a smoother, streamlined appearance. Trussell and David Hagglund of CB Richard Ellis represented Casual Concepts Food.