A historic California roadside restaurant that once had a location in North San Diego County, Pea Soup Andersen's has suddenly shuttered its original branch without warning in Buellton, CA, after just shy of a century in business.
Located just off historic Highway 101 in the Central Coast town of Buellton, CA, Pea Soup Andersen's was first opened in June 1924 by Denmark-natives, husband-and-wife Anton & Juliette Andersen. Originally named "Andersen's Electric Cafe," in honor of the couple's prized electric stove, the highway restaurant was long a popular stop during road trips with diners popping in to grab a cup or bowl of the restaurant's namesake pea soup. Beckoning travelers with a series of retro billboards dotted along the 101, the restaurant reportedly served 2 million cups of soup every year.
Pea Soup Andersen's was recently listed for sale in 2021 for a little under $5 million and suddenly shuttered this week. According to Milt Guggia Enterprises Inc. in Santa Maria, CA, the restaurant property will be redeveloped, although there has been no notification of either a change in ownership or intended construction. The adjacent Pea Soup Andersen's Inn has separate ownership from the restaurant and will remain open. A second location of Pea Soup Andersen's, located in Santa Nella, CA, will also remain open.
Pea Soup Andersen's once had a San Diego location that opened in 1982 in the windmill-topped building that now houses Windmill Food Hall in Carlsbad. The San Diego outpost of Pea Soup Andersen's restaurant and hotel closed in 1988, and the property is now owned by RAR Hospitality and operated as the Carlsbad By the Sea Hotel.
