San Diego's Little Italy witnessed the closure of Wolfie's Carousel Bar & French Bistro this past weekend. The space is recognized for its unique, operational carousel bar. After nearly three years of pouring drinks and serving Parisian brasserie-style eats, the establishment held its final service on Sunday. According to SanDiegoVille, employees had not received shifts for the following week, confirming suspicions of an imminent closing.
Not one to let the carousel stop turning, Matt Spencer's SDCM Restaurant Group is now the new ringmaster, with an ownership history tied to Wolfie's and a stable of popular San Diego dining ventures like Camino Rivera and Kettner Exchange. The same carousel bar that drew the crowds, crafted by the legendary carver Charles "Wolfie" Looff, will maintain its whirl under new management. The fate of the classic furnishings around the carousel remains in the air, as reported by SanDiegoVille.
Presenting itself with a fresh twist, the establishment will emerge as Wilma’s Carousel Bar, a nod to Spencer's grandmother. With plans for a temporary closure of four to six weeks to facilitate renovations, Spencer aims to breathe new life into the bar. Along with visual enhancements that include updated greenery and a new front door, the layout and rotary charm of the bar are set to stay. Details surrounding these updates were shared by Eater San Diego.
Once the doors reopen later this summer, patrons can expect a revitalized menu courtesy of SDCM corporate executive chef Brian Redzikowski and beverage director Eric Johnson. Offering a tip of the hat to the Big Easy with selections like bananas Foster and the Sazerac, the new lineup won't shy away from the carousel's inspirational roots in New Orleans. Wilma’s Carousel Bar aspires to become a destination not only for its physical carousel but for a gastronomic ride through updated flavors and classic cocktails, "including ranch labneh with crudites and Philly beef toast with raclette and caramelized onion to a white negroni sbagliato and the Bijou, a pre-Prohibition classic," as Eater San Diego details.
