In a turn of events that mirrors the all-too-familiar story of local businesses being sold to make way for modern development, Perry's Cafe, an Old Town San Diego landmark since 1985, served its last meal on Monday, August 6 – a week earlier than the previously announced closure date. The early shuttering came as news not just to patrons but also to the cafe's staff, as evidenced by a Reddit post that alerted locals that it was their final opportunity to enjoy the diner's offerings.
The decision to close early was taken after recognizing the toll the swan-song-crowds were taking on the cafe's employees. "Perry said that staff is completely burnt out and working non-stop because of the crowds. She moved the close-up because she was worried about them," a user called AcceptableMinute9999 commented on Reddit. The beloved eatery, serving thousands of customers weekly, was planning to close its doors on August 15. Instead, the cafe reached its unexpected denouement, leaving a community to lament its loss and staff to seek new opportunities hastily.
Behind the familiar breakfasts and landmark status lays a journey that started with Constantine "Costas" and Margaret Georgakopoulos, Greek immigrants who opened Perry's in 1985, naming it after their daughter Perry Eulmi. Decades later, Eulmi decided to retire and sold the property to a developer, a move chronicled by NBC 7 San Diego. The cafe was more than just a place to eat for the regulars and the staff. It was a second home where memories were made, and a sense of community was fostered. "I'm numb. This morning I cried and cried and cried. Now I'm happy, seeing everyone," server Christina Costa told Fox 5 San Diego.
Though Perry's will now exist only in the memories of its patrons and in archival photos, the city has ensured that part of the original cafe will physically survive. According to plans divulged by the new developers, the site's unique architecture, bearing a historic designation, will be preserved and integrated into the new housing project. "The new owners, because it has been designated a historic site, they're obligated to preserve parts of the building because of the architecture," Perry Eulmi shared with NBC 7 San Diego. The development will not only transform the land that Perry's once occupied – it’s set to introduce more than 200 apartments, with provisions for moderate and very-low-income units.
