A $1.5 million project is planned for the space once occupied by Coyote Ugly inside San Diego's historic Keating Building, where Copper Cowboy — a Western-themed restaurant, live music saloon and bespoke hat shop — is slated to open at 820 Fifth Avenue in January 2027.
The project comes from Alessandro Minutella, a co-founder and partner behind the venture, as reported by San Diego Magazine. Minutella has also operated Romanissimo Cucina Italiana, Zama and AKA Gaslamp, and per the same outlet, he said he admires the understated sophistication of Aspen and the mountain West, adding that Copper Cowboy will offer great food, genuine hospitality and a welcoming atmosphere with San Diego flair. He also called the project a major bet on the Gaslamp's future.
Minutella is a key principal in San Diego Dining Group alongside chef Vincenzo Loverso, a hospitality team whose broader local portfolio includes Greystone The Steakhouse, Osetra, Osteria Panevino and Romanissimo, according to SanDiegoVille. AKA Gaslamp, an Asian fusion restaurant and nightlife spot, is at 611 Fifth Avenue, the former Lavo Italian space, the outlet notes.
Trading a Rowdy Chain Bar for Something More Polished
Copper Cowboy will explicitly not be another Coyote Ugly, the high-energy Western bar chain that previously operated in the same space from February 2014 through May 2020, closing permanently during the early pandemic shutdowns, per San Diego Magazine's reporting. The five-story Keating Building itself dates to 1890 and was one of San Diego's earliest multi-story commercial landmarks, originally featuring state-of-the-art steam heating and the city's first passenger elevator, according to the San Diego History Center. The building sits within the Gaslamp Quarter Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The makeover is being designed by Greg Mueller, CEO and principal designer of Tucker Sadler Architects, the magazine reports. The firm previously designed the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, an $85 million outdoor concert venue on San Diego's waterfront that opened for the San Diego Symphony's summer 2021 season, along with Portside Pier, according to Metropolis. Inside Copper Cowboy, the interior will feature warm wood floors, exposed brick walls, tan leather banquettes and bar stools, and a stamped copper ceiling, per the same San Diego Magazine account.
A Chef With Fine-Dining Roots Behind the Stove
Leading the kitchen is chef James Montejano, who has worked at the Four Seasons, L'Auberge Del Mar, La Valencia Hotel and the Mina Group, which is associated with James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Mina, according to San Diego Magazine. Per Minutella, the menu will offer a polished interpretation of classic American cuisine with Western influences.
The saloon portion of Copper Cowboy is designed to emulate Nashville honky-tonks with a San Diego spin, according to the magazine's reporting, and will host live music regularly on an elevated stage above the bar. The concept will also offer an interactive cocktail experience as part of its nightlife ambitions, with the venue aiming to become a new destination along Fifth Avenue.
A Hat Bar Backed by the World's Largest Western Hat Maker
Rounding out the concept is Stets & Stone's Hat Bar, an interactive experience letting customers design one-of-a-kind cowboy hats, per San Diego Magazine. That piece is backed by partner Dustin Noblitt, who is also owner and CEO of Hatco, a company associated with the Stetson and Resistol brands.
