Lutapaj, a San Diego area artisanal beverage brand tied to Horsethief Canyon Vineyards, is putting down roots in Santee’s Town Center with its first brick and mortar storefront. The two story building, roughly 2,000 square feet, is designed to combine small scale production with retail on a quarter acre lot at 282 Town Center Parkway. Construction is underway, and the site is planned to serve as Lutapaj’s main public facing hub.
Plans and permits
City planning documents describe the project as a two story, 2,016 square foot specialty food store with a mezzanine and a maximum height of about 28 feet. The paperwork also details site upgrades that include new landscaping and ornamental grape vines, and notes that the development received approval through a development review permit. Those specifics appear in the project’s Notice of Exemption filed with CEQAnet.
Who’s behind it
Lutapaj is the latest venture from Del and Charity Hanson, who operate Horsethief Canyon Vineyards and oversee the beverage brand. What Now San Diego reported that the Santee project surfaced in a liquor license application and that Charity Hanson said the team still had work to do ahead of opening. Del Hanson also told the outlet he had hoped to see the building completed around September 2025, although the site was still under construction as of the January report.
From the farm to the shelves
The operation is closely linked to Horsethief Canyon Vineyards, which supplies grapes, manzanita, and blue agave used in Lutapaj’s beverages. The farm’s messaging highlights a sustainability minded, small batch approach that the Hansons say shapes their lineup. Trademark records also show that Lutapaj Manzanita Cider has been registered, a move that points to the brand’s push into commercial retail, according to the filing.
Location and neighborhood
Santee Town Center functions as a busy regional shopping hub anchored by national retailers, which could give Lutapaj a steady stream of potential customers once doors open. The project site is near the intersection of Cuyamaca Street and Town Center Parkway, within the Town Center Parkway Plaza. Property materials for the center list the address range that includes the currently vacant lot where Lutapaj is rising, suggesting straightforward access from nearby freeways and surrounding shopping corridors.
What’s Next
The building still needs to be completed, and the business must secure final approvals and any required liquor licensing before opening to the public. What Now San Diego notes that a liquor license filing is often an early hint that a concept is moving toward an opening, although no firm date has been given. For now, the Santee storefront is poised to serve as Lutapaj’s main public hub while the Hansons continue to develop the Horsethief Canyon farm and work on longer term tasting room plans.
