La Jolla Business Roundup: Contrast therapy, dining, optometry, apparel and more
R3, Lucien, See Me Optometry, LSpace and Dreame Technology are some of the area's new or upcoming enterprises
La Jolla businesses have had a busy past couple of months with retail openings, award wins, menu changes and deals.
Here’s a look at what’s new and coming up.
R3 contrast therapy center
R3’s contrast therapy services include compression therapy, an infrared sauna, cold and hot plunges and red light therapy intended to help customers relax, recover and revive.
Its La Jolla location at 7741 Fay Ave. is set to open in mid- to late April.
R3’s five forms of therapy are available in any given session. Several limited and unlimited membership options are available, ranging from $199 to $499. Single sessions and session packs also are available.
Co-owner Jason Clements said he hopes R3 will “bring a new standard of recovery and wellness to the La Jolla community,” whether the clients are athletes, business professionals or people simply seeking to improve their health.
R3 is offering 50% discounts on six- and 12-month unlimited memberships for a limited time. Learn more at r3recover.com.
Lucien restaurant
Lucien, a new fine-dining restaurant, is nearing a mid-May opening at 7863 Girard Ave. in a space last occupied by Sushi on the Rock.
Owner Elijah Arizmendi has worked in restaurants for more than half his life, starting as a dishwasher in his early teens. He spent the next decade-plus in high-profile kitchens including Cotogna in San Francisco and Spago and L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Las Vegas, ultimately landing in New York City, where his resumé includes the two-Michelin-star Restaurant Daniel.
Early in his culinary journey, Arizmendi set an objective to launch his own restaurant by age 30. And at 29, he’s about to achieve that with the opening of Lucien, named after his young son.
Arizmendi and his team are setting the stage for a 10-course tasting menu priced at about $250 per person that will start with canapes and champagne in the restaurant’s calamansi tree-anchored courtyard, flanked on one side by a cocktail bar. A 30-seat dining room will hold booths of various sizes, plus a few tables on a third-floor balcony.
To find out more, visit luciensd.com. — The San Diego Union-Tribune
See Me Optometry
One of Bird Rock’s newest businesses says it aims to offer optometry services with more of a personal touch and less hassle.
See Me Optometry opened in February inside Be Seen Optics at 5702 La Jolla Blvd. The practice offers what Dr. Melody Tavakoli describes as “concierge optometry” — a one-on-one experience designed around the client’s comfort and lifestyle and ongoing communication beyond appointments.
See Me Optometry’s services include comprehensive eye and contact lens exams, dry-eye treatment, LASIK evaluation, consultation on computer vision syndrome and more.
Tavakoli’s experience spans from private practice and ophthalmology clinics to community health centers and veteran care. For more information or to book an appointment, visit seemeoptometry.com.
Archbel Homes
A second Archbel Homes location is coming to La Jolla this month at 1264 Prospect St.
Archbel, established in 2012 and currently at 1299 Prospect, builds custom homes and luxury properties in San Diego, with services ranging from new construction to cabinetry and interior design.
Learn more at archbel.com.
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa: Estancia La Jolla’s new executive chef has brought a new lineup of breakfast, brunch and lunch menus at the hotel’s Greenfinch Restaurant & Bar.
Katie Weber was chef de cuisine and executive sous chef at The Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla before starting at Estancia in September. The new menus were launched Jan. 29.
According to the hotel, Weber aims to bring “a fresh, globally inspired and health-forward approach to the culinary program.”
The new breakfast menu includes items such as guajillo braised short rib hash and chilaquiles verdes. New brunch highlights include Dungeness crab strata and butter-poached lobster Benedict, while lunch items feature grilled Baja fish tacos and smoked yellowfin tuna crudo tostadas.
For more information and reservations, visit estancialajolla.com/greenfinch-restaurant.
Urban Kitchen Group: Wesley Johnson and Sofia Garcia, regional executive chef and regional executive pastry chef, respectively, for Urban Kitchen Group — which operates 10 restaurants across Southern California — have launched a seasonal dinner service at The Kitchen at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla.
The Kitchen’s “sunset dinners” began March 20, and reservations are available through the fall for 5-8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.
The new “vegetable-forward” dinner menu features Mediterranean-inspired items such as hamachi crudo, broccoli tahini with red chermoula dip, braised lamb shank and grilled asparagus with whipped feta cheese.
For more information, visit urbankitchengroup.com/thekitchenatmcasd.
New at Westfield UTC
LSpace: LSpace, a swimwear and activewear store, opened a 1,600-square-foot location March 20 at Westfield UTC mall at 4465 La Jolla Village Drive.
A College Night on Wednesday, April 2, will offer discounts and giveaways to students, and an official grand-opening event will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 5. The first 20 guests will receive a gift card, complimentary drinks and light refreshments.
For more information, visit lspace.com.
Dreame Technology: Dreame Technology has filed for 785 patents and launched an extensive list of “smart” home cleaning devices since it launched in 2017. Soon it will have a storefront at Westfield UTC.
Dreame’s products — ranging from robotic, wet, dry and cordless stick vacuums to high-speed hair dryers — are used in 21 million homes across more than 120 countries, according to the company.
To commemorate the grand opening at UTC, events will be held Saturday and Sunday, April 26-27, in the store and in Pottery Barn Circle in the 4500 block of La Jolla Village Drive, with giveaways, music from a DJ and more.
Learn more about the company at dreametech.com.
Employees at two La Jolla hotels win awards
The results of the San Diego Lodging Association’s 45th annual Gold Key Awards are in, and two winners are from La Jolla hotels.
Ryan Dzierzawski of The Lodge at Torrey Pines was named Hotel Manager of the Year, while Annie Marie Flores of Inn by the Sea won Sales Professional of the Year.
The Feb. 28 event handed out a total of 10 awards for members of the San Diego hotel industry.
A full list of winners can be viewed at lodgingsd.com/past-events/gold-key.
La Jolla Business Roundup is published monthly by the La Jolla Light. Send your business news to staff writer Noah Lyons at
[email protected]. ♦
