From its origins as an offshoot of Pannikin Copper, Coffee and Cookery, cottage-turned-restaurant Brockton Villa has now spent 35 years in La Jolla. And with the current owner’s daughter now on staff, the business has also spanned three generations.
From a shop and a garage to a 10-store chain
In 1968, the Pannikin chain originated with a storefront at 1296 Prospect St., supported by the business’s first coffee-roasting plant in a garage near The Cave Store. Owner Bob Sinclair oversaw the business from its humble beginnings to becoming a chain of 10 cafes.
One of the locations he selected for an additional location was a “historic, but somewhat dilapidated property” at 1235 Coast Blvd., one of the first cottages above La Jolla Cove. Built by San Diego physician Dr. Joseph Rodes, the property was occupied by residents from the late 1890s to the 1940s.
Rather than converting the cottage into another cafe, Sinclair opted to make it into a full-on restaurant. This new endeavor — initially called Pannikin’s Brockton Villa — opened in 1991.
With the expansion, a second generation of Sinclair’s family was soon brought into the fold.
Sinclair’s stepdaughter, Megan Heine, started contributing to the Pannikin chain at just 11 years old. She worked her way up through the business, ascending from lower-level staff positions to being named general manager of the larger Pannikin chain.
But once Pannikin’s Brockton Villa opened its doors, she felt a tug towards being a restaurateur.
“I was spending a little bit of time at each of our locations and once we opened Brockton, I just fell in love with it,” Heine said. “It just became clear to me that I wanted to spend more time there and focus more of my time as an owner being on site.”
In 1994, she decided to make the next step in making the business her own.
“My parents, being the way they were, were not the type of parents who said ‘OK, you could have it,’” Heine recalled. “I bought it from them, officially resigned my position at Pannikin and started operating Brockton as the sole owner … and never looked back.”
From the ‘90s to today
After taking ownership of Brockton Villa, Heine fully immersed herself in the restaurant world. She dropped the Pannikin name from the eatery, and the remaining Pannikin coffee business was sold to outside interests in 1997.
“The ownership of a restaurant is 24/7,” Heine said. “It’s a little bit different from a cafe, but I had grown up in that food industry …even though I was at a pretty young age coming into an ownership role … I had so much experience growing up in that industry.”
She added, “Having worked up through every position in our company from a very young age, I had gotten very passionate about the whole business, entertaining and the hospitality that came with it.”
Brockton Villa wasn’t Heine’s last restaurant endeavor, either, as she and her husband Dave opened Beaumont’s Neighborhood Eatery at 5662 La Jolla Blvd in 2005.
As Heine focused on Brockton Villa, her brother Torrey Lee also started a business of his own.
Lee founded Cafe Moto, whose flagship location is in Barrio Logan. But it was at Pannikin where he first cut his teeth in the business ownership world, learning to build cabinets, paint drywall, handle electrical issues and build their shops and stores.
An entrepreneurial spirit within the family, Lee says, had a strong influence on his life and career. In particular, he says he was encouraged to “just build it” and “just do it.”
Megan, Peyton and Dave Heine celebrate Beaumont’s Neighborhood Eatery’s 20 year anniversary in 2025 alongside Gavin McManes (middle, back), who worked there for a decade. Megan, Peyton and Dave are all involved with Brockton Villa Restaurant as well. (Provided by Megan Heine)
The next generation
Continuing with the family tradition of entrepreneurialship, Megan’s 25-year old daughter, Peyton, has worked “on and off” at Brockton Villa for five years. At first, Peyton said, her involvement was a product of their family needing help during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I jumped on as a busser and I always knew that I wanted to learn from the ground up. So I’ve really done every job there, from bussing to food-running, managing, serving, bartending,” Peyton said.
Brockton Villa’s 35 year anniversary graphics were created by Peyton Heine. This design and others were featured on branded mugs, shirts and hats. (Peyton Heine)
“Brockton Villa really reminds me of my grandparents, who (have) now passed away,” Peyton said. “I will always have this connection to La Jolla and my family through this restaurant. So it’s really natural and easy to go into that role.”
Today, Peyton focuses primarily on waitressing, with some management work. On the side, her father is teaching her the “handyman” side of things, from sanding and painting to power washing.
How exactly Brockton Villa plays a part in her future remains to be seen. But her involvement carries on what is now a three-generation legacy.
“We’re not pressuring her but she definitely has hospitality in her heart and is very passionate about the business,” Megan said. “She loves Brockton Villa for many reasons, so there’s our third generation right there.”