A 5,000-square-foot building on La Mesa Boulevard is being considered for a new gathering spot. The husband-and-wife team behind Lost Cause Meadery and Oddish Wine are associated with a proposed concept at 8495 La Mesa Boulevard.
Bica is described as a neighborhood cafe, according to San Diego Magazine.
A Building With Decades of Neighborhood History
The owners are renovating the structure for a new use.
Design and construction details have not been specified in the available material.
According to the City of La Mesa, its Municipal Code is available online, with a printed code book also available at the City Clerk's Office and the La Mesa Library at 8055 University Avenue. According to the City of La Mesa's Community Development Department, its Planning and Zoning Division assists with project planning, land-use decisions and zoning.
Coffee In The Morning, Cocktails By Night
The concept is described as an all-day food-and-beverage project with coffee, alcoholic drinks and a retail component.
The proposed space is described as an all-day food-and-beverage venue.
Proven Track Record With Shared Hospitality Spaces
The Beltzes aren't newcomers to multi-vendor hospitality projects. Lost Cause Meadery, which they founded in 2017, has received recognition in Mazer Cup International competitions. In late 2022, the couple co-developed The Gärten, a 2,500-square-foot European-style communal patio in Bay Park that unites Lost Cause Meadery, Oddish Wine, Deft Brewing and Pizza Cassette under one roof, as detailed by the Times of San Diego. That model brings multiple producers together in a shared hospitality venue.
Part Of A Bigger Wave On La Mesa Boulevard
The La Mesa project lands amid a broader commercial surge along the boulevard. Stella Jean's and Pop Pie Co. are scheduled to arrive in La Mesa later this year. Other businesses and restaurants are also part of the boulevard's broader commercial context.
The hybrid, all-day format combines food and beverage offerings in a multifunctional venue.
Transit Questions Loom Over Downtown Corridor
The renovation also arrives as downtown La Mesa grapples with larger infrastructure and housing questions. A 2026 SANDAG feasibility study evaluated concepts ranging from $428.7 million to $740.9 million to separate Orange Line trolley tracks from vehicle and pedestrian traffic along Spring Street and La Mesa Boulevard, though as Hoodline has previously reported, funding for that fix remains elusive. Meanwhile, the project is discussed alongside broader questions about growth around La Mesa. The project is proposed for La Mesa Boulevard.
