Locals’ and visitors’ favorite burger joint and sports bar has been missing from the Coronado eating scene since last fall. After being closed since last October, Nicky Rottens is in the midst of a renovation and original owner Tim Aaron is excited to bring the eatery back.

Aaron purchased the building at Orange Avenue and First Street, that previously housed a laundromat, in 2010 from the Forsythe family trust. He opened Nicky Rottens Bar & Burger Joint in 2011 with some partners and sold it in 2016. Over the years he regretted selling the business, and about seven weeks ago he sent an email to the current owner asking whether he would be wiling to sell. “I was thinking I could so something with it again,” Aaron said.

Coronado is a fantastic and unique city for fitness. The diverse demographic lends itself to a spectacular array of activities for everyone to find their own special routine. Whether you are just starting back after a hiatus or starting a new workout, Coronado’s top fitness experts share advice on getting started, staying healthy, and how to stay motivated.

Jean Pierre and Linda Marques, Master Teachers and owners of Coronado Yoga have over 100 years of expertise combined. Their bright, calm yoga studio on Eighth Street and Orange Avenue is comfortable and inviting, a reflection of their personalities.

What we tell ourselves and those around us play important roles in how we think, feel, and behave. With the passing of St. Patrick’s Day, I have been thinking about how much we incorporate “luck” in our understanding of our experiences and the consequences of attributing our successes solely…

When Mark Westphal was a teenager in the early 1980s he was looking for a summer job. He would get a ride from Imperial Beach, where he grew up as the son of commander on the USS Kitty Hawk, to Coronado and knocked on people’s doors to see if they wanted some painting done. He did small jobs like repairing peeling paint and painting garage doors. Little did he know this summer job would become his career. In 1994 Westphal got a license and officially became a painting contractor.

Dr. Joe Mullins and his staff are ready to welcome back patients to their new custom designed office space at 1116 First Street. Mullins began practicing orthodontics in Coronado in 2007 (in a shared dental office space on C Avenue with Dr. Hutchison). “The timing was right for this new opportunity to have my own space,” shared Mullins. His new office is just around the corner, but feels completely different thanks to a custom design/build from local builders Mark and Susan Hunt of Sand Castle Homes. The space is light and airy with a hint of ‘vintage farmhouse’ that makes it feel warm and welcome.

The Coronado Chamber of Commerce and the City of Coronado are adding a bit of pizzazz to the Coronado Food Hall website by hosting a table decorating contest! The idea is pretty simple. Order takeout at any one of your favorite restaurants in Coronado, and set your yummy food in your dishwar…

The Rotary Club of Coronado is honored to present Leslie Kennedy, nurse and Advanced Illness Management Coordinator at Sharp Coronado Hospital with its 2021 Peacemaker Award. Kennedy gives the wonderful gifts of compassion, understanding, and knowledge to her patients and their families.  

“Leslie is involved in some of the most difficult of circumstances,” says Susan Stone, Sharp Coronado Hospital CEO. “Her talent of educating, caring and supporting everyone involved is truly remarkable. Thank you for recognizing this extraordinary individual who demonstrates every day a level of service above self that is unparalleled.”

The Hotel del Coronado is more than just a hotel to locals. The iconic landmark that is synonymous with our city is also the place of multi-generational memories, childhood adventures (and maybe some shenanigans), and milestone celebrations from proms to birthdays to weddings. Over the years…

In recent years, Valentine’s Day has not been a holiday that I have taken very seriously. However, in the wake of (almost) a full year of social distancing, this holiday felt a bit different to me this year. Instead of focusing on ordering Valentine’s Day cards for my children to distribute to their friends or making sure we had matching holiday outfits, I found

Do you have a drawer full of plastic silverware from all the take-out you have ordered during the pandemic? Are you now in the habit of eating directly from the cardboard box or plastic tray in a bid to enjoy your food while it’s still warm? Do you miss the coziness of a booth or a candlelit nook with real tablecloths and condiments that don’t come in disposable packets? There is a way to continue supporting local restaurants but have a more elegant experience while also staying safe. And you can win a $100 gift card to the Coronado restaurant of your choice while doing it!

If you take a stroll around the Ferry Landing, you may notice a new shop that has taken up residence by the bay, the Coronado Tasting Room. Coronado resident Colleen Cavalieri with help from her husband, Jay, have officially opened their Vom Fass business in town with a brand new addition of the Tasting Room and are eager to share the shop’s unique experiences and high quality products in their new location.

Cavalieri previously operated her Vom Fass store in Hillcrest for a number a years before the opportunity arose for her to bring it to Coronado. “When we found this location,” Cavalieri said, “we

With the return of outdoor dining and COVID-19 vaccines underway, restaurants around town are gearing back up for some semblance of normalcy. Among them, Nado Republic looks forward to welcoming the community back to their outdoor living room for an inviting meal and family atmosphere. The Italy-inspired restaurant at 1007 C Avenue recently welcomed a new head chef that has made waves in Italy and San Francisco before making his way to San Diego, adding another enticing reason to stop by for

Bay Books may have had to downsize to squeeze into its stylish new location at 1007 Orange Avenue, but owner Angelica Muller has found a way to expand their inventory beyond measure, and offer customers a viable alternative to Amazon at the same time!

“We are so thrilled to have formed a new partnership with Bookshop.org!” Muller enthuses. “It offers booklovers all across the country a way to support their favorite local bookshop, with a vast range of titles delivered directly to your door.”

Simply visit www.bookshop.org, click “Find a Bookstore” in the top navigation bar and type in either 92118 or Bay Books Coronado to get started. You can also go directly

Scanning the storefront window of Coronado Vintage invites you in, if only to browse, although multiple scans are necessary to fully appreciate all the interesting items displayed. That first impression holds true as you slowly study the shelves of vintage and modern merchandise. Having a customer say, “I always find something unusual and special,” when shopping at Coronado Vintage is high endorsement. The shop has so much to see that one trip is not enough, and the artistic touch of the owner, Sandy Jennings, makes a trip a pleasurable outing.  

Vintage Coronado has been at 859 Orange Avenue for three years and has a mixture of

My husband and I have been happily married for 37 years and have lived all but a few months of those years here in gorgeous Coronado. Last Thursday I lost the diamond in my profoundly cherished and loved 25th anniversary ring that my husband John had saved for years to give me. As you can imagine, I was shocked and very upset.

I retraced my steps to Water and Sports Physical Therapy where I had been for PT with wonderful Greg and Cassandra that morning. It was not found. I then went to Fuzziwigs where I had purchased treats for our grandchildren.

With the New Year (finally) upon us, there are likely many of us feeling inspired to make changes—big or small—to better ourselves or the world around us. As any anyone who has tried can attest, making a “New Year’s resolution” and keeping it can be quite challenging! Whether you are wanting…

If there was a position for ambassador of the Coronado Cays it would have to go to Aldo Ciani, a resident and realtor in the Cays since 1972. Ciani and his wife Alberta moved to the Cays from Orange County to Antigua Village, which was only one of two villages built at that time. The landscape of the Cays looked different then with Jamaica Village, the only other village and two houses on Green Turtle. Ciani remembers white sand dunes all over. The family bought sand buggies to ride around their new neighborhood. Around the time Ciani moved to the Cays, a condo in Antigua cost $58,000, a number that was high in those days.

As we hope for a better 2021, you may have made a resolution to take better care of your body. I’ve personally struggled over the years with keeping up on my resolutions, and often don’t follow through. As this new year approaches, I’m more motivated than ever to feel better physically, lose…

It’s that time of year again when we start thinking about the lifestyle changes we want to make as we enter a brand new year. For many, fitness plays some part in our goals for improving our lives and Chris Foote, owner of the Coronado Fitness Club gym, has a fresh perspective for positive growth.

Foote started the Coronado Fitness Club 11 years ago with the support of his family after moving to Coronado. Playing sports through college started his interest in health and physical training where he would help friends who were fellow athletes and went on to work at various gyms before starting his own. “I think I always knew that I wanted to do something in athletics, I loved being on a team,” Foote said. “I didn’t know I wanted to have a gym until I became a trainer and I just liked it. I got out of it for a few years but quickly discovered it was the only thing I was really passionate about for a career.” After working for larger gym corporations, Foote and his family, who had ties to Coronado and loved the city, decided to take a risk and open his own gym here. “I just saw an opportunity and it was a huge risk, and we just said, ‘why not?’”

The rich history of businesses in Coronado is still here today providing us with a new generation of families who own them and are dedicated to this community.

Crown Cleaners is one of those businesses. Looking back at the pictures from the 1970s the location is the same and the cleaners has modernized and changed with the times. Its current owner is Sang “Steve” Gi, who bought Crown two years ago after the previous owner retired. Gi was born in Korea and moved to Brazil with his family when he was 10 years old. He spent 15 years of his life in Brazil as a student, until his family decided to move to the U.S. in 1998 for better opportunities.

“I have lived in San Diego for over 20 years and I love Coronado,” said Gi. “When the old owner of the cleaners contacted my family, it was a great opportunity to own a well established business and be a part of this community”.

Since Hanan Martha opened her café in the Cays it has become a popular place for Cays residents as well people who live in the village and nearby Imperial Beach. Martha first opened a coffee cart in the Cays near the Homeowners Association office. Once she realized the business model worked,…

Music is a universal language which everyone speaks. We hum or sing at odd times; sway, tap our foot, or swing a leg when a melody begins. We all wish we were musically talented and often regret not sticking with those piano lessons in childhood. Ms. Mariah’s Music, a new business at 505 Orange Avenue, offers an opportunity for people of any age, even three-year old children, to pursue a love of music.

Taking lessons at any age can result in a pleasurable hobby or a profession, but Mariah Gillespie, owner of Ms. Mariah’s Music, quotes research in her brochure touting early instruction as beneficial for brain development: “Playing music has more positive impact on the brain than any other human activity.” She continues with, “Exposure to music and music instruction accelerates the brain development of young children in the areas responsible for language development, sound, reading skill, and speech perception.”