San Diego Brewing closing Callahan’s Pub

Many were the evenings I spent watching basketball, sucking down beers and challenging my resistance to capsaicin devouring hot wings at Mira Mesa’s Callahan’s Pub. Opened in 1989, it was a favorite hang for me and my beer-buds long before there was anywhere near the number of spots geared toward the ale-enamored that now exist throughout San Diego. The owners of Callahan’s were among the first local restaurateurs to see the value of hand-crafted beer. So all-in was their belief that, four years after opening Callahan’s, they went on to build their own fermentation operation, San Diego Brewing Company. That company celebrated the opening of a satellite brewery and tasting room in North Park in January, but that new arrival brings forth the end for Callahan’s

The pub’s employees were informed last week that it will close by the end of February. Owner Lee Doxtader says this decision was made in the interest of focusing on brewing operations and the new tasting room, which is one of three tenants at the CRAFT by Brewery Igniter complex on El Cajon Boulevard. Doxtader and business partner Scott Stamp say Callahan’s had a good run during its nearly 28 years, and want to express how truly thankful and appreciative they are for the customers and employees that spelled its success.

Callahan’s “house beers” will continue to be available at San Diego Brewing’s locations. No official last-day has been decided on for Callahan’s, which will be converted into the latest location for local daytime eatery chain, The Broken Yolk Café. Dozen-egg omelet challenges are cool, and its highly likely the community will be elated to have a good spot for AM eats, but it’s sad to see a piece of San Diego’s early suds history call it quits. Cheers to good times and a business that showed entrepreneurs craft-beer’s potential when there were so few examples, here or anywhere.