The 20,000-square-foot project will function as a reimagined dining hall and pre-theater hotspot, with local, globally-inspired experiences.

UC San Diego’s Theatre District Living and Learning Neighborhood is gaining momentum as a new community hub steps from La Jolla Playhouse, with an innovative food hall preparing to join the developed spaces.

Station8 Public Market, Tiger Hospitality’s latest project, will stand as a 20,000 square-foot complement to the forthcoming Dora restaurant, aiming to reimagine the neighborhood as a public gateway to campus for students, theater patrons and all.

Opening in August and named in reference to its location in UCSD’s Eighth College, Station8 will be a “unique” answer to the usual campus option of larger chains, offering 10 restaurants and two bars from mostly hyper-local businesses, principal partner Berke Bakay told lajolla.ca.

Station8 will also offer options that are “approachable from a price perspective too,” Bakay said.

The campus concept originated from Bakay and his partners, Eren Unur and Brett Johnson, wanting to meet UCSD’s vision to create a food hall. 

“We’re honored to be chosen,” Bakay said, “because it’s a big responsibility” due to audience and visibility.

Tiger Hospitality is set to introduce two more new design-led, community-centered food halls concepts in the coming year in Little Italy and further north in San Clemente. 

All the Station8 spaces have been leased, Bakay said. While most of the eateries are being kept under wraps for now, two of Tiger Hospitality’s developed concepts, Lobster Lab and Cosmos Burger, will appear.

Those and the rest will provide hungry folks with a “magical combination” of different cuisines, he said, offering inclusive choices at a destination for the entire community.

La Jolla resident Bakay loves the opportunity to “partner with chefs and entrepreneurs [who] are local in their own communities” and help them “take their business to the next level,” he said.

The food hall concept allows these eateries to introduce their fare and grow their followings without budgeting for a brand new restaurant space. 

“What a unique opportunity we have here,” Bakay said, on “beautiful real estate in La Jolla, at the entrance of the UCSD campus, right across from La Jolla Playhouse, that not only is relevant for the UCSD community, but also [the entire] La Jolla community and greater San Diego.”

Designed by Basile Studio of Born & Raised, Raised by Wolves and the forthcoming La Jolla spot RoseAcre, Station8 will stand at the ground level of the Survivance 11-story residential tower and feature a 5,122-square-foot mezzanine and 2,643-square-foot patio.