The Trellises at Town & Country Hotel
Playa Grill & Margarita Bar in Fenton Marketplace
All American Grill - Hazard Center
San Diego Restaurant Week - January 17-22, 2010
MISSION VALLEY NEWS & VIEWS The Positive View of the Community www.missionvalleynewsviews.com January 2010
San Diego, California
Volume IV – Number I
Town & Country Hotel & Convention Center Celebrates 56 Years In Mission Valley By Mike McDowell, Exec. VP/CEO San Diego Lodging Industry Association and assisted by Terry Brown, Owner/Operator of the Town & Country Hotel
In 1953 the venerable Town and Country Hotel & Convention Center opened as a 46 room motel beside highway 80, then a two lane ribbon of a road running through Mission Valley. Built on the edge of the valley created by the San Diego River, in its earliest days the Town and Country Motel sat among open farm land, pastures and a horse ranch. Founder and patriarch of the family that continues to own and operate the hoThe Trellises Restaurant and pool at the Town tel, Charles H. Brown & Country Hotel & Convention Center. had the foresight to Photo courtesy of the Town & Country Hotel. realize the direction that the city was growing, and the vision to see that San Diego would become a world famous tourism destination. While Charlie Brown expanded his hotel holdings to include several other properties in Mission Valley and Los Angeles, the Town and Country has continued as the company's flagship and is a recognizable San Diego landmark for visitors and locals alike. The National Cyclopedia of American Biography recognized Mr. Brown as one of the leaders in the development of the modern motor hotel. It was at the Town and Country that he introduced many industry "firsts." In addition to originating the coffee-in-room dispenser at the Town and Country, the Gourmet Room restaurant and Gold Coast Lounge (now known as Trellises) was the first restaurant in San Diego to be air conditioned. In addition, the Town and Country was the first lodging establishment to offer free newspapers and in-room televisions, and the first to offer free outside dialing for guests' local telephone calls. Throughout the 1950's and early '60's Charlie Brown continued to expand the Town and Country on his 22 acre parcel, adding the trademark low-rise, bungalow style hotel rooms, swimming pools, tennis courts and a private club Continued on page 10
The Town & Country Hotel & Convention Center viewed from across the Riverwalk Golf Course. Photo courtesy of the Town & Country Hotel.
Mission Valley Needs You! By Brian Schoenfisch, Senior Planner, City of San Diego
As we begin the new year, an exciting undertaking is emerging within the Mission Valley community - an update to the 25-year old Community Plan. The Community Plan is a comprehensive and longrange document, adopted by the City Council to express a vision for the future and to guide how that vision is implemented through private and public development. It includes ten elements that provide a comprehensive approach to guide the community's growth over the next 20-plus years. These elements include: Land Use; Mobility; Urban Design; Economic Prosperity; Public Facilities, Services and Safety; Recreation; Conservation;
Map of the Mission Valley Community Plan.
Continued on page 8
Map courtesy of City of San Diego.