The former US Bank building on Girard Ave could be The Village’s first food hall next year.

Hungry for more food options in The Village, real estate developer and leasing and sales manager David Rudolph and his family’s company has applied to convert the former US Bank building at 7733 Girard Ave into the La Jolla Food Hall, with space for seven eateries to serve.

The 7,800-square-foot building has sat empty for a year and a half, since US Bank merged with and moved into the Union Bank building a block north.

When Rudolph’s family bought the property a little more than a year ago, he showed it to larger retail companies like Urban Outfitters and grocery store Erewhon, but the size makes it “an interesting space,” he said.

Rudolph considered subdividing the building into smaller retail spaces but eventually his idea evolved into answering his question: “What does La Jolla need?” 

“We need more approachable, fast casual restaurants” for people who work in the area, he said. 

The La Jolla Food Hall will function much like similar concepts at Liberty Station in Point Loma and Market on 8th in National City, Rudolph said.

The seven vendor spaces will range from 700 to just over 1,000 square feet, Rudolph said. “Everyone will have their own little kitchen area and bathroom.”

Several eateries have already contacted Rudolph for a space, he said, adding he is continuing to grow an interest list of good tenants and will begin reviewing Letters of Intent in early 2025. 

Rudolph is seeking a variety of food types to fill the building. 

The former drive-through banking window, now parking with an overhang, will become an outdoor eating space, Rudolph said. The rest of the parking lot will stay as it is.

Another part of Rudolph’s vision is to transform the bank’s large vault, still equipped with safety deposit boxes, into a bar or speakeasy.

The city of San Diego reviewed the application and issued a ministerial building permit, meaning no community review is required, in July, according to city spokesperson Richard Berg.

The scope of the work for the permit includes removing the existing bank teller canopy and a portion of the mansard roof above the canopy but does not include interior, electrical, mechanical or plumbing work.

Looking for La Jolla restaurants in the meantime? Check out our Explore page for more information.

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