Consortium Holdings Announces The Opening Of Three Re-Imagined Concepts For Takeout And Limited Dine-In
Consortium Holdings (CH Projects) is taking its first steps towards reopening several of its San Diego concepts, offering takeout and limited dine-in at Ironside, J & Tony’s Discount Cured Meats and Negroni Warehouse, and the Invigatorium.
The concepts, which were selected because they are spacious, nearly open-air venues, will serve as a trial phase for the restaurant group, as they explore how industry changes will affect their projects, which are known for being incredibly experiential.
Re-Imagined Concepts
As part of this experimental phase, Ironside, J & Tony’s Discount Cured Meats and Negroni Warehouse, and the Invigatorium will each be reimagined, taking on additional roles. Ironside will now offer a fish market where, in addition to a limited takeout and dine in menu, guests can come get fresh fish from local fishermen or a DIY oyster shucking kit.
J & Tony’s Discount Cured Meats and Negroni Warehouse will transform into a corner bodega fulfilling CH Projects extremely odd and specific dreams, with canned and cured meats and seafood, natural wine, and bitter liqueurs (including bottle sales).
The Invigatorium is offering Morning Glory’s renowned soufflé pancakes, as well as a new doughnut cart peddling Jason’s Shitty Chef-Driven Doughnuts in the morning. In the afternoon, guests can pick up some Venetian sandwiches.
CH Projects co-founder Arsalun Tafazoli noted that, “While we can’t energize or breathe life into our spaces in the same ways we did before, we’re trying to do something worthwhile, whether you choose to stay and eat or drink, or to take dishes or drinks home with you. Everyone’s daily routine is now radically different, so we’re focusing on ways to elevate and transform the moments we touch, even if only incidentally. If we can’t create the same inclusive, vivifying social atmosphere that animated our places before, we can still strive to deliver deferred thrills and gratification via food and drink designed for a life beyond our walls.”
Rigorous Sanitation in Place for Everybody’s Safety
In anticipation of opening, rigorous sanitation measures are in place, and CH Projects adopted modified seating for social distancing, offering dine-in on a limited first-come, first-served basis. The CH team is applying the most current scientific advice about harm reduction and hopes guests will do the same, emphasizing that the safety of guests and staff is of utmost importance.
Tafazoli adds, “If we’re going to survive, we have to find a new way forward. It has required some serious mental and emotional gymnastics to find optimism under the current circumstances. This will not be easy but we are finding excitement in embracing the challenge and anxiety of having to start over, as we did when we started almost 15 years ago.”
For the time being, CH’s other projects, which include Morning Glory, Born and Raised, and Polite Provisions, will remain closed, with the intention of learning from this first re-opening phase, and evolving from there.
As the team works through the expected hiccups of navigating this new approach, they thank guests for their patience, and look forward to creating new meaningful connections with the people who have supported them all along.
Hours of Operation
Ironside is open daily from 12:00pm -10:00pm, the Invigatorium is open everyday (except Tuesdays) from 8:00am – 10:00pm, and J & Tony’s Discount Cured Meats and Negroni Warehouse is open from 12:00pm – 10:00pm, also everyday except Tuesdays.
Stay healthy, San Diego!
