Five years in the making, two long anticipated restaurants, Vulture and its sister diner, Dreamboat, will close in early February, less than a year after they opened in University Heights.
What’s especially notable about the imminent closure is that the venture was a collaboration of two of San Diego’s more prominent — and successful — restaurateurs: Kory Stetina (Kindred and Mothership) and Arsalun Tafazoli, whose hospitality group, CH Projects, is behind numerous projects, including the reinvented Lafayette Hotel and Little Italy standouts Born & Raised and Ironside
Both Stetina and Tafazoli declined to comment on the closure but confirmed that the two vegan-centric restaurants will remain open until Feb. 8. Tafazoli stressed that his participation in the two restaurants is separate and distinct from CH Projects.
San Diego restaurateur Kory Stetina poses for a photo inside his Vulture restaurant in University Heights shortly before it opened in 2025. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Describing the decision to close as “heartbreaking,” the restaurant owners posted a lengthy message on Instagram, speaking of their gratitude for the support they received in creating and sustaining the dual-concept operation.
“High opening and operating costs, combined with the economic realities of today, ultimately made it unsustainable, despite very strong support and real momentum,” the social media post stated. “This chapter is ending far sooner than we ever imagined, and we are deeply grateful for the time, energy, and love these spaces were given. However brief, they burned brightly, and we are proud of what they contributed to our city’s dining culture.”
The post received hundreds of comments from disappointed patrons who lamented the closure and said they would miss more memorable meals.
Making its debut in June of last year, Vulture was designed as an elevated vegan restaurant and cocktail bar that featured fine-dining selections like a tableside Caesar salad for two and a “steak” Diane made from wood-grilled lion’s mane mushrooms. Its much smaller, more casual sister restaurant, Dreamboat, occupies the same building and is a retro vegan diner.
While Stetina and Tafazoli were unwilling to discuss the financial challenges of their joint venture, the project was no doubt impacted by the long delay in opening, in addition to the more than $2.3 million cost of purchasing the two-story building in July 2020, not long after the start of the pandemic. In the years since, food and labor expenses have risen, and consumer behavior has shifted, as fewer people are choosing to dine out.
The building, at 4608-4610 Park Blvd., is currently listed for sale, but the listing shows no asking price, according to CoStar.
Both Stetina and Tafazoli are known for sparing little expense on the design of their restaurants, and Vulture and Dreamboat apparently were no exception. Restaurant broker Nate Benedetto, who was involved in the sale of the building, confirmed that millions of dollars were spent on reinventing the space.
Designed by Brooklyn-based Home Studios, the two dining spots are distinct in size and design. Dreamboat, a micro diner with 10 counter seats, is bright and airy, but just past a velvet curtain, the space quickly transitions to the more moody Vulture. The long, narrow dining room is lined with floral-patterned walls and luxurious carpeting and features oversized head sculptures on pedestals situated above plush booths.
“Vulture/Dreamboat was a super ambitious project, but without meat dishes, I don’t think they had the volume to support the investment that was made,” said Benedetto, founder of Next Wave Commercial. “I don’t think the location was the issue. There’s been a pullback in dining and expensive ticket prices, and it’s hard to translate the vegan steakhouse to drive that investment. They had a fan base but not as devoted as they expected.
“It also definitely took longer than they expected, and it cost them a lot more money carrying all those expenses for several years.”
Dining and Cooking