Coronado Brewing and Filippi's Pizza Consider Move to IB

Updated 11:20 a.m. to clarify Filippi's Pizza Grotto's interest in moving to IB.

Coronado Brewing Company has expressed an interest in moving to a property at the corner of 3rd Street and Palm Avenue, said Ron Chapman Tuesday who owns the company with his brother Rick Chapman.

"We are and have been negotiating with the owners of the property but as of yet have not come to terms on the deal," said Imperial Beach resident Ron Chapman, who expects a final decision within a week.

"I think it's undeserved as far as restaurants go," he said, noting that IB could use more quality restaurants.

Coronado Brewing Company serves a broad variety of food, from burgers to pizza to seafood and salads.

The company has made near a dozen different stouts, ales and other beers, most recently Blue Bridge Coffee Stout due out this fall. A new brewing, bottling and tasting facility off SeaWorld Drive that will open in a month will increase the company's brewing capacity 10 times over. If a new location is opened in IB, beer would also be brewed here.

The two brothers have not yet determined when their second location could open, whether an IB themed brew may be made in the future or other details.

"I love IB. I grew up in Coronado but it's so much quieter down here," Chapman said.

"I think everything's happening and evolving nicely," he said about Old Palm Avenue and the IB waterfront. "Hopefully it continues."

The size of the property also leaves room to grow, Chapman said.

According to a commercial real estate ad, the restaurant is 4,875 square-foot and comes with a bar, outdoor seating and more than 50 parking spaces on a 21,000 square-foot lot.

Though Marisa's closed about a month ago, the restaurant has been on the market since last fall.

Owner Mary Ramanpour of the Ramanpour Family Trust declined to comment.

Filippi's Pizza Grotto also considered opening a location in Imperial Beach at the restaurant that used to be Marisa's Mexican Seafood Grill. Before that it was IB Rockin' and before that Bryan's Landing.

There are 10 Filippi's Pizza Grottos locations in San Diego and further away in Temecula and Napa in northern California. Each Filippi's is owned by various members of the DePhilippi family.

Speaking to IB Patch last month, Bob DePhilippi said the family franchise has a rule that they like to open restaurants within five miles of the owner's home. His wife and daughter live in the nearby Coronado Cays.

DePhilippi said he wanted to purchase the property for $1 million, but an initial asking price was too high.

"It was a possibility a couple of months ago," he said. "We might have to take another look."

DePhilippi's office called Wednesday morning to clarify that Filippi's is still interested in moving to the 3rd Street and Palm Avenue location. The pizza restaurant is currently in negotiations as well and hope to reach some decision soon.

According to the company's website, Bob's parents Vincent and Madeleine DePhilippi opened their first store on India Street downtown in 1950.

Correction: The original version of this article stated that the property is being sold by Mary Pour when in fact deals are being handled by Mary Ramanpour of the Ramanpour Family Trust.