La Jolla is closing out 2023 with a bump to the business community. Here’s a look at enterprises that have opened recently or undergone changes.
Meanley & Son Ace Hardware
After decades in La Jolla under the ownership of the same family, the Meanley & Son Ace Hardware store at 7756 Girard Ave. has been sold “to a nice young family looking to build a chain of hardware stores in San Diego,” according to former owner Bob Meanley.
Meanley, 74, said he decided to sell so he could retire. He plans to stay on until the end of the year to help with the transition.
The new owners, which Meanley declined to identify, also own an Ace Hardware store in Tierrasanta. Efforts to reach them were not immediately successful.
Despite the sale, little about the La Jolla store’s day-to-day operations or offerings will change, Meanley said.
“My father started this store in 1948 and my mother, brother and I have run it ever since,” he said. “But there is not another family member that is willing or able to run the store after I retire, so there didn’t seem to be too many other options but to sell. But the [new] owners plan for it to stay for many years. That’s partly why we sold it to them.”
Meanley said the new owners are considering adding local delivery, screen door repair, and barbecue sales and installation.
“I think it will be an improvement and provide better services,” Meanley said. “The new owners appreciate the reputation and want to keep the name and our traditions. They just want to add improvements where they can.”
The decision to sell comes with mixed feelings, Meanley said. “I grew up here, so I have an attachment to this store. There are some strong attachments I have to let go of. On the other hand, I’m happy to retire.”
Cup a Cheer
Cup a Cheer supporters show various offerings at the cafe in Bird Rock.
(Provided by Anseth Richards)
Cup a Cheer, a juice bar and grab-and-go market, opened in August at 5646 La Jolla Blvd. in Bird Rock.
The cafe, owned and run by La Jollan Anseth Richards, offers pre-bottled pressed juices, cold brew coffee and healthy snacks, with a percentage of proceeds going to the La Jolla-based National Cheers Foundation, of which Richards is president.
The National Cheers Foundation is a nonprofit that raises funds to support medical research and health institutions, health advocacy groups and outreach programs that work to benefit women. Its name is based on the words “care,” “honor,” “events,” “education,” “resources” and “support.”
Cup a Cheer is an extension of that, Richards said. “I wanted to bring health to everyone of every age with some kind of product,” she said. “In the grab-and-go market, we sell pre-packaged items, but everything is sustainable, healthy and nutritious.”
Plans are underway to add health and beauty products, she said.
“We want it to be a place where you can come and feel better,” Richards said. “We’re like a farmers market every day, and we source our materials from local farmers.”
The cafe is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Learn more at cupacheer.com and nationalcheersfoundation.org.
HLLK Architects
HLLK Architects recently opened a Bird Rock office at 5727 La Jolla Blvd. with an emphasis on residential developments in the coastal zone.
Co-owners Lindsay King and Hilary Lowe previously had an office in The Village but moved to Bird Rock in late August.
“Because of our familiarity with La Jolla and the coastal zone, we wanted to stay local,” King said. “We were there for a while and then we started looking for a new space. We were interested in Bird Rock because it feels up and coming with a lot of opportunities in the area. Bird Rock allowed us to stay in La Jolla and get in more with our clientele. It felt a little more local to us.”
She said the firm’s focus is on residential remodels or new construction in the coastal zone, though it also does commercial work.
The office plans to turn the front portion into a gallery space for local artists.
Learn more at hllkarchitects.com.
Cheer Home Care
Cheer Home Care opened this summer at 5685 La Jolla Blvd. in Bird Rock.
(Provided by Gabrielle Pumpian)
Cheer Home Care, also in Bird Rock, opened over the summer at 5685 La Jolla Blvd. to provide in-home care and companionship for older or homebound adults.
“We like to think of it as an extension of a family member caring for a loved one,” said Gabrielle Pumpian, chief development officer and investment partner. “Most older adults want to stay at home long-term. Society has said when we age, we move into an old folks home. But today, the number of people that are older is outpacing the options for senior living and people don’t want to be stuck in a place where they don’t have the freedom to live their lives that they want.”
The company provides caregivers for varying levels of service, from companionship to prevent feelings of loneliness or isolation, to more hands-on services like assistance with bathing and dressing.
“We can also help those that are disabled or bed-bound or at the end of their life,” Pumpian said. “We want to make sure the client has dignity in those times they might feel helpless.”
For more information, call (858) 868-5500 or visit cheerhomecare.com.
Windansea Pilates
After more than 20 years on Nautilus Street, Windansea Pilates recently moved to Fay Avenue and held a grand opening at its new location in October.
The studio offers private and semi-private Pilates instruction at 7556 Fay Ave. in Sycamore Court.
Owner Rachel Kanter said the private instruction allows for tailored sessions. “We work with a lot of people that might not feel comfortable in a group setting, like seniors or those with injuries,” she said. “All the instructors are experienced, so we’re all seasoned and have received a lot of training. It feels like a co-op in that the instructors have their own clients. They rent the space from me and are not my employees. So there is a cooperative vibe to the studio.”
The studio is open daily by appointment. Learn more at windanseapilates.com or (858) 229-7071.
Go Deck
An enterprise intended to get people outdoors has been launched, with La Jolla locations heavily featured.
The Go Deck features 52 cards (one for every week of the year) that suggest outdoor adventures in San Diego ranging from short walks to rolling trails.
“La Jolla is my go-to spot when guests are in town and want the quintessential beach experience,” said founder Deanna Ratnikova. “A walk along the coastline from Coast Walk Trail to the Children’s Pool is one of my favorite strolls, with frequent stops for photo ops that inevitably end up on social media profiles.
“Additionally, there’s the Scenic Drive route from Windansea Beach to Bird Rock, which also happens to be a splendid walk. To the north, you have La Jolla Shores and its nearby Scripps trails, as well as the UC [San Diego] campus and, of course, Torrey Pines State [Natural] Reserve.”
Those locations and more are included as suggested excursions, she said.
Learn more at thegodeck.com.
Calibre One
La Jollan Tom Murphy is a new partner at global executive search firm Calibre One.
(Dennis Trantham)
La Jolla resident Tom Murphy has been named a partner at Calibre One, a global executive search firm for public companies, venture capital and private equity firms and their portfolio companies in the technology, financial services, health care, industrial and consumer sectors.
Murphy will focus on recruiting for executive and board positions in industries such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, devices, diagnostics, instrumentation, tools, genetics and more.
Murphy, a San Diego native, has 30 years’ experience in building management teams for health care and life sciences companies, including at Boyden International, Russell Reynolds Associates, Advanced Tissue Sciences and others.
He also has served on the boards of the San Diego Venture Group, San Diego Social Venture Partners, Voices for Children and The Foundation of La Jolla High School.
“Tom is a wonderful addition to our health care and life sciences practice,” said Tom Barnes, Calibre One’s managing partner. “He’s focused his career solely on this important sector for decades and has watched it grow, change and evolve. His level of knowledge about the people, the companies and San Diego’s important role in life sciences is truly unsurpassed.”
La Jolla Business Roundup is published monthly by the La Jolla Light. Send your business news to staff writer Ashley Mackin-Solomon at ashleym@lajollalight.com. ◆
