Shoots, the poke-and-taco spot that started as a takeaway counter in Oceanside, is planning a third San Diego County location in Leucadia, with the new restaurant slated to open at 914 N. Coast Hwy 101 in late 2027. The expansion comes with a rebrand: the business is dropping “Fish & Beer” from its name and will now simply go by Shoots.
The Leucadia build-out is expected to include a 1,300-square-foot indoor space and a 400-square-foot patio, according to San Diego Magazine. The menu is expected to mirror what regulars already know: three standard tacos, three standard poke bowls, and location-specific Daily Grinds specials, alongside a small bottle shop and 20 craft beer taps that include a house Japanese Lager. Encinitas permits are required before construction can move forward, and the project has at least a year of construction ahead of it per the same report.
Timelines diverge depending on the source. San Diego Magazine reports the Leucadia restaurant is hoping to open by fall or winter of 2027, while SanDiegoVille reports that no opening timeline has actually been set for the Encinitas location. Shoots currently operates at 602 South Tremont Street in Oceanside and 2956 Roosevelt Street in Carlsbad, per SanDiegoVille.
From a Bottlecraft Counter to a Growing Brand
Shoots' origin story also carries some conflicting details. San Diego Magazine and SanDiegoVille both describe the concept launching in late 2021 inside Bottlecraft at the Tremont Collective, while a separate account from the article notes puts the debut in 2022 as a small takeaway counter at the same Bottlecraft location. Either way, the original menu leaned on poke bowls and tacos made with locally caught seafood, and the business expanded to Carlsbad in 2023 as its first independent location, complete with its own craft beer program and signature house beer.
That growth tracks with what the brand says has been consistent demand. The concept quickly gained an impressive following behind a menu of poke bowls, innovative seafood specials and locally brewed beers, according to San Diego Beer News. Shoots has also built its identity around sourcing: all seafood is purchased fresh from quality purveyors in Southern California and Baja, per Brewbound, which also reports that there is no waste, with all fish utilized head-to-tail in daily specials. The Carlsbad location's 20-tap bar, stocked with Shoots' growing assortment of house beers, offers a preview of what the Leucadia bar program could look like.
Who's Behind the Expansion
Reporting on the founding team also differs slightly between outlets. San Diego Magazine identifies the founders as Cheyne Magnusson, Chris Slowey, Davin Waite, and Craig DeMarco, while SanDiegoVille describes the venture as bringing together Davin Waite, Chris Slowey, Cheyne Magnusson, and branding pro Mike Weeks. Davin Waite is the founder and chef of Wrench & Rodent Seabasstropub and The Plot, according to San Diego Magazine, and the outlet notes that partner Chris Slowey said the team wants to remain consistent with what it has created while staying excited about the Leucadia project.
Shoots isn't stopping at three locations. The company's stated plan is to eventually run a total of four or five restaurants, with potential future sites ranging from San Clemente to Ocean Beach, per Chris Slowey as reported by San Diego Magazine. The approach has centered on integrating into coastal communities, hosting surf and skate events, and serving local seafood, a formula the brand intends to carry into Leucadia.
Construction Headaches Already Hitting Leucadia
Whenever Shoots does open, it will be entering a stretch of North Coast Highway 101 that has already tested local businesses. A roughly one-mile stretch of the corridor in Leucadia has been under construction for more than two and a half years, with business owners telling NBC San Diego that the work is driving customers away. Construction between Jupiter Street and La Costa Avenue began in 2024, with completion anticipated by summer 2026 according to the project information cited in that report, and the work has involved traffic control, intermittent lane shifts, noise, dust, and large construction vehicles. Whether that streetscape project is finished by the time Shoots breaks ground has not been established.
