La Plaza La Jolla shopping center opens with first tenants

Fifth tenant announced: Joie luxury women’s clothing

The dust and noise have largely settled at the corner of Wall Street and Girard Avenue and the much anticipated luxury shopping center, La Plaza La Jolla, has finally opened its doors.

Owner-operators Davlyn Investments held an invitation-only ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the ornate, Moroccan-inspired center Monday morning, March 16. Although the only tenant officially open Monday was Catania restaurant on the third floor, other announced tenants are soon to follow, including: Elixir Espresso & Wine Bar; the organic superfood café, Beaming; and La Scarpa (Italian for “The Shoe), which will offer custom women’s shoes.

An additional tenant announced during the ceremony by Davlyn Investments CEO Jon Williams, is Joie luxury women’s clothing, which has only nine other stores in the United States.

“They’re in the best locations, the best streets in the best cities in the country,” Williams said. “We’re very happy to have them share this vision with us.”

Williams thanked surrounding merchants for bearing the brunt of jackhammers during the two-year construction cycle, and gave props to Krista Stafford Interior Design and David Snyder of Unique Stone imports for the center’s ornate decor and detailing, including three-dimensional stone mosaic floor tiles imported from Columbia, and reproductions of historic Moroccan tiles.

Williams said their collaboration with his wife, Tammy, “provided the finishes that many of you in La Jolla I know would expect.”

Proclaiming it “La Plaza La Jolla Day” in the City of San Diego, Council President Sherri Lightner said the past two years of work on the three-story, 27,000-square-foot center have paid off. “This site has held many businesses over the years but I cannot recall a time when I have seen it look so terrific,” Lightner said. “The style and décor fit seamlessly with the rest of the Village.”