The Headquarters at San Diego’s Seaport District is giving new life to the historic waterfront. This gorgeous outdoor venue features specialty shops, restaurants and a piece of San Diego history.
A slice of San Diego’s past
San Diego’s Police Headquarters was built in 1939 to serve as the first police facility in the world to incorporate all police operations under one roof. A 274-bed jail, five courtrooms, an emergency hospital, an indoor shooting range, a law library and a large 17,000 square-foot automotive maintenance garage. It also served as an espionage command center during WWII, and its emergency hospital was one of the first trauma-style units on the west coast.
By the mid-1950s the police department had outgrown the 100,000 square-foot space and it was abandoned in 1987. In 1998, the National Register of Historic Places recognized Old Police Headquarters for its civic contributions. The prestigious listing made the Old Police Headquarters only the twenty-fifth police facility in the U.S. — and only the second in California — to ever be recognized as a national landmark.
Bringing it into the future
In May 2008, Terramar Retail Centers began the rehabilitation of the Old Police Headquarters into a vibrant shopping, dining and entertainment destination. David Marshall, an historic architect and president of Heritage Architecture & Planning, identified elements like carved wooden doors, ironwork, light fixtures, ceramic wall tiles, windows and skylights and they were restored and reused to ensure the historic integrity of the Old Police Headquarters. Even the old cell block doors that marked the entrance to the tunnel where prisoners were escorted to their cells have been restored and the area now serves as an onsite museum that includes several of the jail cells.
The Headquarters San Diego is a piece of local history that now provides a home for local retailers and restaurants.
What used to be the filing room is now home to Puesto which serves up gourmet Mexican dishes and hand-crafted cocktails using fresh fruit and organic juices.
Seasons 52, located in the former garage, is a fresh grill restaurant offering an upscale, healthy lifestyle cuisine. Nothing on the menu is over 475 calories!
Dallmann Fine Chocolate Boutique specializes in exquisite artisan chocolates. Their chocolate pairing boxes — Wine And Chocolate, Chocolate and Cheese, and “Chocolate and Beer” — make perfect gifts.
Venissimo Cheese sells all of the the best cheese from all over the world. They will put together unique cheese platters for parties.
Madison San Diego has a great selection of fine leather goods and fashion accessories for men and women.
I really loved the beach inspired fashion, accessories and gifts at Urban Beach House.
Simply Local is a like an indoor farmer’s market featuring over 50 local merchants and artists.
The Aaron Chang Ocean Art Gallery features mediums and large format photographs by the world-renowned surfing photographer.
For more information about The Headquarters visit www.theheadquarters.com. You can like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.
