Lutapaj, a food store focused on making and selling artisanal beverages, is building out a brick-and-mortar location in Santee at 282 Town Center Parkway.
The concept is the latest project from Del and Charity Hanson and is currently under construction, according to a recent liquor license application. Charity Hanson tells What Now San Diego that the team is still a ways from opening, as the building itself must be completed first. The project is moving forward on a vacant lot within the Town Center Parkway Plaza, where the new structure will be developed from the ground up. Customers can expect a retail space focused on locally produced wines and specialty beverages, along with a handful of snacks for purchase.
Plans call for a two-story, 2,016-square-foot specialty food store on a 0.25-acre property. The 28-foot-tall building will include site improvements such as new landscaping and ornamental grape vines. The development was approved through a development review permit and is designed to support both production and retail sales. Once complete, the space will serve as Lutapaj’s primary public-facing location. Del Hanson tells What Now that he hopes to have the building completed around September 2025, but couldn’t provide an exact opening date.
Lutapaj’s beverage lineup will include traditional grape wines, as well as custom offerings such as Amazing Blue Agave and its flagship Lutapaj Manzanita Cider. The focus on sustainability is central to the brand’s identity and production approach in Southern California.
The operation is closely tied to Horsethief Canyon Vineyards, Lutapaj’s sister company and grower partner. The commercial farm supplies grapes, manzanita, and blue agave used in the beverages. While Horsethief Canyon Vineyards is not currently open to the public, the Hansons plan to eventually open the farm for visitors after the Lutapaj location is established.
The Santee location enables the Hansons to move forward with production and tasting room plans in a more accessible, business-friendly environment. Building the winery and tasting space off-site provides a practical path forward while long-term plans continue to take shape. Once open, Lutapaj will offer customers a place to purchase and experience beverages rooted in local agriculture and sustainable practices.
