The owner of San Diego's iconic Mister A's restaurant is working on a massive, $15 million hospitality venue in Liberty Station, which will encompass a restaurant, bar, gaming facility, event space and more.
Ryan Thorsen, owner of San Diego's iconic Mister A's, is planning a new multi-million-dollar restaurant in Liberty Station. Thorsen is raising $15 million to develop "The Admiral at NTC," a hospitality complex that will include a 140-seat restaurant, cocktail bar, bakery, game room, and event venue. The project will be located on a five-acre site in Liberty Station, featuring historic officers' quarters and panoramic views of downtown San Diego.
Set to be sited at the former housing grounds and officers' quarters on the western edge of the previous Naval Training Center, Thorsen's plans include repurposing the buildings to house multiple concepts, including a new restaurant at "Quarters B." Expect an American-style menu inspired by Point Loma’s fishing heritage, with an emphasis on fresh seafood and produce from onsite gardens. The restaurant will offer al fresco dining, with cooks shucking oysters through a window.
The former officers' quarters, known as Quarter D, will be transformed into "Canteen," featuring a bakery, grab-and-go options, a floral counter, and a wine shop. The basement will be repurposed for storing handmade chocolates. Next door to Canteen, there are plans for a game room that will offer vintage entertainment like pool tables and shuffleboard, as well as lawn games like bocce ball and corn hole. There will also be a bar and communal picnic areas.
The only two-story building among the former officers' homes is set to become a grand event venue, offering lawn space and gardens for weddings, corporate events, and large gatherings. Once considered the most prestigious of the homes, it hosted dignitaries and diplomats in its prime. The upstairs will be designed like a bed and breakfast, with a two-bedroom suite reserved for special guests, such as wedding couples. Surrounding grounds will be used for wedding receptions and garden brunches. At full capacity, the venue could accommodate a 250-person wedding, with the restaurant, game room, and takeaway space all operating simultaneously. Thorsen anticipates a staff of 200 to run the entire complex.
The 1,600-square-foot former gatehouse, separate from the officers' quarters, will be transformed into a standalone, speakeasy-style cocktail bar. Its location, just a block away from the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center, makes it an ideal stop for pre-show drinks. Thorsen envisions adding a deck to take advantage of sweeping views, creating a perfect spot for guests to enjoy a martini before heading to the theater.
In early 2022, Thorsen took over San Diego's iconic Mister A's restaurant in Bankers Hill after more than two decades under the ownership of native Frenchman Bertand Hug. The longtime manager of Mister A's, Thorsen closed the restaurant later that year to perform a $2 million renovation of the space with the help of local designer and restaurateur Mauricio Couturier.
Mister A's was founded in 1965 on the 12th floor of then-newly constructed Fifth Avenue Financial Center in San Diego's Bankers Hill by John "Mr. A" Alessio. Following Mr. Alessio’s passing, the restaurant was sold to experienced French restaurateur Bertrand Hug in 2000.
Thorsen aims to break ground next year, with an ambitious target opening date in summer 2026.
Mister A's was founded in 1965 on the 12th floor of then-newly constructed Fifth Avenue Financial Center in San Diego's Bankers Hill by John "Mr. A" Alessio. Following Mr. Alessio’s passing, the restaurant was sold to experienced French restaurateur Bertrand Hug in 2000.
Thorsen aims to break ground next year, with an ambitious target opening date in summer 2026.