La Mesa’s Hearth House Changes Ownership

Hearth House, a local dive bar that has served La Mesa for decades under various names, has officially changed owners at 5505 Jackson Drive.

Since opening in 1985 under original owner Joseph Leinenbach, the concept has changed owners a handful of times, most recently landing with Amy and Peter Luster. Now, Hearth House is getting ready to change owners once again; this time, Chad Cline and Jason “Rocky” Nichols have obtained ownership, according to a recent liquor license application. The dive bar is closed for renovations, but SanDiegoVille points out the space is expected to reopen in Summer 2024.

“Peter Luster contacted me about the place a while back and shared his interest in passing the spot along,” Chad Cline explained to SanDiegoVille. “It’s an old 48 [liquor license], which my cousin and I generally want. Dive bars have a special place in our hearts, as I may have said before. They’re the type of place where everyone is treated the same; you end up talking to strangers, and judgment isn’t allowed inside. At least that’s how we view them.”

Cline and Nichols, who are cousins, have an extensive history with San Diego restaurants, starting with their great-grandfather acquiring Little Italy’s historic Waterfront Bar in the 1960s, a concept the two still operate. Other concepts attached to Cline and Nichols include Werewolf, Sycamore Den, and the now-closed Banzai Bar in the Midway district. This isn’t the first time the duo has taken over a San Diego concept, as the two obtained the Aero Club for $1.4 million before the pandemic. Now, the cousins are planning to take over another beloved bar. The new ownership group will keep the name and vibe the same but will upgrade the space and potentially add a food truck outside.