Pear Plum, an all-day cafe, specialty coffee shop, and wine bar, is getting ready to open in downtown San Diego at 101 Island Ave.
The new concept will move into a space that has remained vacant for the past three years, according to a recent press release. Pear Plum is scheduled to open in January 2027 near the New Children’s Museum, the San Diego Children’s Park, the waterfront, and the trolley line. Owners St. Elmo and Christina Crawford are behind the new concept, designed to serve downtown residents, families, dog walkers, and visitors seeking a casual gathering place.
Pear Plum is being introduced as an all-day concept that transitions from a daytime cafe into an evening wine destination. The owners say the space was designed to fill a gap in downtown San Diego by creating a comfortable environment where families and residents can spend time throughout the day. The cafe will sit within walking distance of Petco Park, the Convention Center, and several family attractions, making it an excellent landing space for both locals and tourists. The business will also include seating intended for customers stopping in after waterfront walks, museum visits, or neighborhood outings.
The wine program will be a major focus for Pear Plum. St. Elmo Crawford, a member of the Court of Master Sommeliers, and Christina Crawford are longtime wine collectors with a personal collection of more than 10,000 bottles. The cafe plans to offer wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Rioja, Barolo, Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Barbara, and Oregon’s Willamette Valley, along with rare vintages from the 1960s and 1970s. Pear Plum will also serve its own house wines, Cuvée Gia and Cuvée Aliesa, created in partnership with Violin Wines in Oregon.
In addition to wine, Pear Plum will feature a specialty coffee program curated for both experienced coffee drinkers and casual customers. The menu is being developed by Lesa and Violette of The Handmade Chef Meal Prep Co., who bring nearly four decades of combined experience working in San Diego cafes. Food offerings are expected to include farm-to-table dishes, kid-friendly options, and pairings designed to complement the wine program.
“Pear Plum was born from a simple idea: what if the best spot near the park wasn’t just for the kids? I wanted somewhere I could take my daughters to play, let the dogs run, hear great music in the background, and sit down with a really beautiful glass of wine, or a perfect coffee, while I actually caught my breath,” Christina Crawford said in a press release. “We’re bringing in farm-to-table food with real options for kids, specialty coffee for the morning crowd, and a wine program that can hold its own anywhere in the world. But more than anything, we’re building a place where San Diego families feel completely at home. Moms especially, you deserve a moment. Come find yours at Pear Plum.”
