Bird Rock Vacant Building in La Jolla Slated for Makeover - LaJolla.com

Bird Rock Vacant Building in La Jolla Slated for Makeover

A Bird Rock vacant building in the thriving La Jolla neighborhood is set to get a major renovation.

The rundown property, which is located in the 5600 block of La Jolla Boulevard, has been vacant for at least a decade, according to FOX 5 San Diego. It was once the home of Case Street Café and Patio, as well as The French Pastry Shop.

If you’re unfamiliar with the area, the Bird Rock vacant building is near one of the newest roundabouts on a busy thoroughfare linking the way from downtown La Jolla to Pacific Beach.

Google Maps Street View of vacant building at 5500 La Jolla Blvd in Bird Rock
Screenshot of Google Maps Street View of the vacant building at 5500 La Jolla Blvd.

Local shop owner Krystia Rae told FOX 5 that the Bird Rock vacant building has been “abandoned for a really long time,” and added that it’s a “beautiful space” with “a lot of opportunity.”

According to postings on the vacant building itself, business permits have been filed with the City of San Diego to revitalize the space. However, it is currently unclear what kind of business will soon occupy the Bird Rock abandoned building, or what the timeline is for a grand opening.

For Rae, who owns Lavande Spiritual Wellness next door to the vacant property, a new cafe or other type of business would do a lot for the local community. “We’re trying to get more people into our neighborhood because it’s such a special neighborhood,” she told FOX 5.

The Bird Rock vacant building wouldn’t be the first property in the La Jolla neighborhood to see new life in recent years. Back in 2023, Bird Rock restaurant Paradisaea received a La Jolla Jewel Award for the historic preservation and renovation of the beloved Piano Building, which was underutilized in the community for many years before becoming the home of a culinary hotspot.

Media credit: Top photo licensed from Adobe