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Flying Bridge Restaurant in Oceanside eatery may close
By: KEITH RUSHING - Staff Writer | ∞
OCEANSIDE -- The Flying Bridge Restaurant, an institution for many Oceanside residents, may close by the fall of 2008.
Shantu Patel, who owns the property the restaurant sits on, submitted plans last month to demolish the popular eatery and the Guesthouse Inn, which is on the same lot, city officials said. Patel said Thursday he plans to build a 127-room Hyatt hotel on the property, at 1105 N. Coast Highway, near the harbor.
Patel said the restaurant, which opened in the mid-1960s, will remain open until he receives approval to start construction, perhaps as long as two years.
Patel, who's also a physician, said the 80-room Guesthouse Inn and the restaurant don't generate much income.
"The business is very marginal," he said. "It requires a lot of repairs."
Patel said he thinks the Hyatt would increase occupancy rates on the property because it would offer the public a more upscale hotel that is more consistent with recent condominiums and time share developments in Oceanside.
Patel said he hopes to get a conditional use permit to build the hotel approved by year's end, adding that construction could start in 18 months to two years, with an opening in 2010.
City Redevelopment Manager Kathy Baker said projects such as Patel's tend to take a minimum of between 6 and 9 months to get through the city's approval process. She said there are some coastal, traffic and environmental issues because of the property's location near the banks of the San Luis Rey River.
Baker said the city's staff is just beginning to evaluate the application. If the city determines the project requires an environmental impact report, Baker said it could take between 12 and 18 months for it to get through the process. In addition to a hotel, plans also call for constructing 24 condominiums, said Baker.
Sad reaction
For those who work at the Flying Bridge, news of the planned closing has left them sad about leaving co-workers and customers that they've grown close to over the years.
"Working here is like family," said Mary Marrs, a hostess who has worked at the Flying Bridge for 27 years. "I've made a lot of friends here."
Marrs pointed to photographs on the wall that showed how the restaurant looked decades ago when it was first bought by Dorothy Satten and her husband, Frank. Years ago, it was frequented by California Highway Patrol officers, she said, and local officers when the police headquarters was located nearby. When the parking lot outside had spaces for trucks, truckers heading up and down the highway would regularly stop off for meals.
"We're really a local place that people love to come to all the time," said manager Candy Stacy.
Restaurant employees and their longtime customers think of the Flying Bridge as one of the few older places left in Oceanside, where everyone from politicians to local business people to regular Joes and Janes stop off for a good meal and friendly service.
Well-known celebrities and politicians, including former presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, actor Sean Connery and singer Bing Crosby have visited the restaurant, employees said.
Marrs remembers the time comedian Flip Wilson, who had a variety show on television for years, stopped by the counter for a meal, shielding his face with a small newspaper.
"I got him a big paper and he said, 'Thank you,'" she said. "I didn't tell anybody he was here until he left."
The Flying Bridge has a large bar area and a small dance floor that can accommodate a DJ and band. The restaurant has dozens of tables and booths that overlook the San Luis Rey River and the Pacific Ocean.
Mercedes Fields, who goes to the Flying Bridge regularly with her husband, Al, said the thought of the restaurant closing makes her want to cry.
"The busboys the waiters are fantastic," she said minutes before eating lunch.
Fields, who smiles and laughs easily, rattled off nearly a dozen names of busboys and waiters.
"I can't say nothing bad about this place," she said. "I love this place."
The Flying Bridge still caters to local groups such as the Kiwanis Club, Oceanside MainStreet and The Optimist Club.
The restaurant features brunch on the weekends, jazz on Sundays and karaoke on Wednesdays. Various bands play blues, jazz and Latin music on Friday and Saturday nights. Hip-hop and old school R&B are played downstairs on Fridays.
Tracy said she wants people to enjoy the restaurant while it's still open.
She said the banquet hall and patio below the restaurant will still be available for weddings, quinceaneras, receptions, memorials, baby showers and conferences.
Fields said if she had the power to stop the restaurant from being demolished she would do it because she feels the restaurant is a historical landmark.
Patel said he knows there's going to be some sadness about the Flying Bridge closing, but he thinks the public will appreciate a new hotel and restaurant in its place.
"I'm sure there's going to be a lot of fond memories of the restaurant and the hotel," Patel said. "I'm sure when those facilities are built, people will continue to enjoy the restaurant (inside the Hyatt) and the hotel.
"We can only fix an old building so many times."
-- Contact staff writer Keith Rushing at (760) 901-4151 or krushing@nctimes.com.
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Keith wrote on May 4, 2007 2:57 AM:How much money will the Oceanside Redevelopment Agency give to build a 127 room Hyatt hotel on the property?
awesome wrote on May 4, 2007 4:11 AM:Another positive development for Oceanside! Thank you Mr. Patel for having some vision and for attempting to improve the area.
North resident wrote on May 4, 2007 5:44 AM:Look at the plans...the building is going to be a six and a half story tall building with a little coffee shop in it. What a sad, sad, sad, day for Oceanside to lose the great dinning view for more condo's.
Renovate Oceanside wrote on May 4, 2007 6:40 AM:This is one of those places that could be retro-cool if it was renovated and marketed properly. Think South Beach, Miami. Worked for that city.
Mad as Hell wrote on May 4, 2007 7:04 AM:I have a tough time imagining a Hyatt hotel at that location. 127 rooms is way too small for a Hyatt. It would be relatively small for a Holiday Inn! Also, take a look at some of the other motels and businesses near the property. A Hyatt would seem way out of place.
Vista Granny wrote on May 4, 2007 7:47 AM:Iremember dancing with my husband at the Flying Bridge nearly 40 years ago. It has gone downhill since then. The Hyatt sounds a wee bit too big for the location.
Oh come on! wrote on May 4, 2007 8:55 AM:127-Room Hyatt, geez, leave the Flying Bridge right where it is, and build your Hyatt somewhere else Shantu Patel.....
Oceanside Friends wrote on May 4, 2007 9:24 AM:You obviously haven't been to the Bridge in recent years, Vista Granny. We love to go for dinner, cocktails, and dancing all the time. There is live entertainment almost every night, which is hard to find around this town. We eat dinner there quite often and the food is wonderful! Perhaps you have memories of old red curtains on the floor to ceiling windows, but those are gone and the view is fabulous. We will be sad if the Flying Bridge closes. Until then, we will continue to enjoy many good times.
Jeff wrote on May 4, 2007 9:56 AM:I disagree with Vista Granny! We go to The Flying Bridge all the time for dinner & entertainment. Every time we have family or friends from out of town, we take them to dinner there..everyone is so impressed with the view, the food, and the atmosphere. Where else can you go with such a great view anywhere you sit? We also love the live entertainment..not too many places in Oceanside we can go to see bands perform live. I hope Vista granny goes in soon to see how the red curtains are gone, the view is amazing, and the food is wonderful.
Oh Brother! wrote on May 4, 2007 10:00 AM:Can anyone say "Coastal Commission"? Do you really think they are going to allow something this huge while it destroys a restaurant with views? Hopefully the developer is being wise and understands the rules- no way will this get through the process in 2 years. It requires an EIR, which will probably not comply with Coastal rules...more delays..hope this guys does it right from the start and doesn't waste our time or his.
Go see it now!! wrote on May 4, 2007 11:13 AM:Vista Granny should go see The Flying Bridge now! We go all the time for lunch and dinner and we love it there. To say it has gone down hill is silly!!
JS wrote on May 4, 2007 12:00 PM:I'm with Oscar, I got sick from dinner there a while back. Its just an old motel and the bar has become a police problem. O'Side needs decent rooms to encourage tourism.
Love the Place... wrote on May 4, 2007 12:17 PM:I love the place and have been going there since it reopened under Ron a few years back. Great Food, Great Drinks and even better service. Lovely views of the sunset and harbor. Dancing to great music along with dinner. It will be missed. It's more valuable to many as it is. I doubt that it's business is marginal since it has been getting harder to get in without a reservation. I hope the Hyatt does not make it through the City and State "paper mill".
Done Right wrote on May 4, 2007 12:34 PM:If it's done right, this project could be great. Yes the Flying Bridge is much nicer than it was a few years ago, and it has some fantastic views. But those same views will be available for a new restraunt as part of the hotel. And for those that think nothing big can be built there due to coastal commision, look just down below at the condos being built. And this project won't be blocking anyone's views. Lastly, that whole stretch along the Coast Highway needs to be redeveloped anyway, and maybe this will kick-start the process. How about a series of nice hotels and restaurants instead of a strip club and surf shop, both surrounded by empty lots. I keep hearing about improving the northern gateway into Oceanside and this is just what it needs. I think Shantu is onto something!
Old Timer wrote on May 4, 2007 12:47 PM:I hope we do get something nice built there. And who says a new restaurant will not have a view? It has gone downhill for sometime now and is not the best entrance into Oceanside. This is good news.
RG wrote on May 4, 2007 1:06 PM:Does anyone have any vision in this city? So, you will replace a historical building with a stucco hotel? Why not renovate it....build the hotel to match the stone work of the Bridge? It could be fantastic...hire an architect! Why is the Main Attraction still standing? No one will want to go to a nice hotel to have that place just yards away! That is the problem!
I'm with Renovate Oceanside!!! wrote on May 4, 2007 2:00 PM:The architecture of the Bridge is so great....it would be an awesome "Tiki" inspired place!! Come on Shantu, fix things up a bit, plant some fabulous palm trees and ferns, get rid of the hideous white lattice out front and you'll have a swinging Tiki Bar that will be a huge hit! A Hyatt, next door to the Main Attraction??? Yeah, that will really class things up!
Greg in Oceanside wrote on May 4, 2007 2:09 PM:The Flying Bridge is where my wife and I had our wedding reception. If it closes and they build a big hotel, I guess we'll have to point to it when we drive by with the grandchildren (when we get some) and say "your grandma and I had our wedding reception where that hotel now sits..." They do need to clean up the area near the Bridge, especially where that old hotel sits vacant. This is the first things people see when they drive south on I-5. Getting a 'face lift' might be what we really need for that area, not a total tear-down.
Margaret wrote on May 4, 2007 2:16 PM:The Flying Bridge has great food and great service. What a shame that this might happen. how much money does Shantu need?
I'm with I'm with wrote on May 4, 2007 3:57 PM:I agree with I'm with. The architecture of the Bridge is great and it would be a awesome Tiki place. Usually new hotels bring in cookie cutter eateries. I say work with incorporating the current Bridge into the project. That's the best of both worlds..... I will be eating there tonight!!!!!
Upgrade The Bridge wrote on May 4, 2007 4:32 PM:Don't close it. It's an alright place now (good food, etc) but some redecorating could make it a great place. It would be a shame to see it go.
Business might pick up wrote on May 4, 2007 4:51 PM:I used to go there with my grandmother. While I haven't eaten there in years, they do mix a good drink, and the live music is great. A cookie cutter hotel is so blah, I'm with the reno group. A terrific tiki bar it would be! Just keep the live music, it's perfect for the 40"s something crowd. It would be sad to lose such a landmark.
More Development UGH wrote on May 4, 2007 5:22 PM:This is so wrong on many levels. Once again Oceanside is trying to be something it's not! The Harbor area should remain "quaint", that's what makes it special. It all just boils down to the rich getting richer. Forget about us residents think about this, the council will approve it! I'm sure Feller, Kern and Chavez will want this to go through. Maybe a small runway could be added so the hobby pilots will be even happier than they are now! I like our mellow Oceanside, let's work it out and restrict development in the harbor area!
OC expat wrote on May 4, 2007 8:32 PM:I've only eaten at TFB once and loved it. It's a perfect location. I like the buzz that's happening in O-Side these days, but let's be careful about tearing down stuff that can never be replaced.
Interesting. wrote on May 4, 2007 10:06 PM:It's a Shanty Town Shack because no one spent money on it over the years, to claim it needs lots of repair is the evidence right there. Of course it's tired. It looks it. Spend some bucks on it, retro is cool, retro is in, and there will be plenty of 'left over' food for Shari to sell to the City, too!
BB wrote on May 4, 2007 11:54 PM:It's always about the Almighty Dollar! Doesn't anyone ever think of the blue collar workers anymore? What about all the employees who's lives will be disrupted? You are part of the family when you are part of the bridge...How sad to tear it down, i agree, renovation should be the buzz not some boring hotel with 127 rooms...show some creativity and style...
Heidi from Seattle wrote on May 5, 2007 1:44 PM:The Flying Bridge ROCKS!! We make a stop there everytime we visit So Cal!
Pazook wrote on May 6, 2007 6:06 AM:If they can put the condo on the river what makes you think they can't put a Hilton? Don't count on the Coastal Commission to stop them. Since the MAIN ATTRACTION is just down the street wll they name the Hilton the NEXT BEST ATTRACTION? Chavez, Feller, and what's his name never met a developer they didn't like.
Veronica (England) wrote on Oct 7, 2007 3:06 PM:I would like to rip out the tongues of those making negative remarks about the Flying Bridge. I lived in LA for many years and used to spend my weekends at the Bridge, after making friends with all the staff there. Some of my best ever memories are from those days when Toni Atos was the Manager. I would hate to see it all gone forever!
KENYA wrote on Apr 4, 2008 1:37 PM:AWWW MAN! HOW ARE THEY GONNA SHUT DOWN MY FAVORITE SPOT? THATS WHERE I GO TO GET MY GROOVE ON EVERY FRIDAY NITE...HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO GET DATES NOW?
Minime wrote on Jul 5, 2008 2:46 PM:I spent five yrs as a chef at the FBR.It would be a dam shame to get rid of it! You people have no idea of the blood,sweat,tears an sacrifice that the owners have been threw to keep the place going!
Arlene wrote on Jul 20, 2008 10:31 PM:I can't express my dismay at finding out there are plans to do away with The Flying Bridge. One time was all it took to know that we loved everything about the place. The food, music, atmosphere, view and friendly staff are all unreplaceable. This is very depressing to me. I go back and forth from Dallas to San Diego several times a year and The Flying Bridge was one of the places that I always looked forward to going to the most. Somebody please do something to save it!
Simone wrote on Oct 30, 2008 6:23 PM:"We can only fix an old building so many times."
Yeah, I don't know why they don't just tear down all those other old buildings that have been fixed over and over like the Grauman's Chinese theater in Hollywood or The Alamo in Texas or what about that really old White House in D.C! I mean, they could totally build a nice big McMansion in it's place. That would be sooo much better!
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