Photo rendering of The Rustic (Courtesy of Gensler)
For over a century, the San Diego Rowing Club has stood at the water’s edge — a testament to the city’s early maritime spirit. Founded in 1888 as the Excelsior Rowing and Swim Club and housed in its iconic Embarcadero boathouse since 1900, the historic building could soon take on a new life as The Rustic, a full-service waterfront restaurant and bar — if all leasing conditions are met.
The Port of San Diego’s Board of Port Commissioners announced Thursday that it has approved an option-to-lease agreement with The Rustic for the property, located near the San Diego Convention Center and the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park.
“With its historic designation, this is one of the most distinctive restaurant properties on San Diego Bay,” said Danielle Moore, chair of the Port board. “It’s important that we have the right partner — one that will both invest in the property and build on the success of The Rady Shell and the Convention Center. The Rustic will bring new energy and a fresh experience to the site and to our waterfront.”
The project is a partnership with Free Range Holdings, the Texas-based company behind The Rustic brand, which operates four restaurants, including its flagship in Houston. Before a lease can be finalized, the company must meet several conditions: securing project financing, obtaining necessary permits, finalizing a construction contract, and completing a parking and management plan.
Photo rendering of The Rustic (Courtesy of Gensler)
“We’re proud to bring The Rustic to San Diego in a way that celebrates the city’s creative heartbeat,” said Kyle Noonan, co-founder and co-CEO of Free Range Holdings. “We’re excited to partner with local purveyors and artists to create a space that feels authentically San Diego — built by the people who make this city so special.”
According to the Port, the conditions are meant to ensure “operational and construction readiness and alignment with project requirements” before the lease is executed. The agreement includes a 15-year term with two optional five-year extensions.
The Rustic has also reached a scheduling agreement with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra to coordinate events with performances at The Rady Shell. The restaurant will be limited to 12 ticketed events per calendar year to maintain harmony with nearby programming.
While construction timelines have not been set, The Rustic will have up to 24 months to meet its preconditions before work begins.
Photo by Harry (Jimmy) Erickson, 7/11/1946. Aerial photo of San Diego Rowing Club’s original boathouse in the harbor. The Star of India is in the background. The Excelsior Rowing and Swim Club was founded in 1888 and became the San Diego Rowing Club in 1891. The boathouse was built on pilings and housed the Club for seventy-nine years. The Rowing Club then moved to Santa Clara Point in Mission Bay, and later into Coggeshall Rowing Center at El Carmel Point in the 1980s, also the home of UCSD and SDSU collegiate crews. (Photo by Erickson, courtesy of SanDiego.gov)
Built in 1900, the San Diego Rowing Club building spans about 9,000 square feet and features a wraparound patio, boat dock, and 56 parking spaces. The board-and-batten structure was originally raised on pilings over the harbor and served as a social hub for the city’s civic and business leaders, in addition to hosting rowers and swimmers. Over the decades, it has adapted to changing waterfront life, including a renovation in the early 1980s when it was leased to the Chart House restaurant group. The building has also witnessed century-old traditions like the New Year’s Day Plunge, which continues today, according to historical sources.
As the Port continues to reimagine the downtown waterfront — from Seaport Village to Portside Pier and the Rady Shell — The Rustic’s arrival would add another destination to the growing lineup of places that blend San Diego’s past with its present-day energy on the bay. From historic rowing traditions to modern culinary experiences, the boathouse is poised to write a new chapter along the water.
—City News Service contributed to this report
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