Founded in Yuma by Chef Alex Trujillo and named after his three sons, J.T. Bros Sandwich Company gained popularity for its globally influenced sandwich menu, including short rib tortas, Wagyu meatball subs, banh mi, and vegan options like a chipotle veggie patty melt. The San Diego airport location will be operated under the franchise group Emerging Domestic Market Ventures (EDMV), a Phoenix-based, minority-owned airport concessions firm that also operates in major airports including PHX, SLC, DEN, and now SAN.
The new restaurant will open at 3225 N. Harbor Drive in Terminal 1, Unit 478, as part of a slate of new vendors that includes Mostra Coffee, Puesto, Herb & Air by Brian Malarkey, and Novecientos Grados by Tony Hawk and Claudette Zepeda. The first phase of Terminal 1’s transformation includes 19 new gates and upgraded traveler amenities, with full completion expected by 2028.
While Chef Trujillo prepares for J.T. Bros' debut in San Diego, he is also working to finalize the long-delayed Coronado opening of his upscale concept, J.T. Prime Kitchen & Cocktails. Originally slated to open in spring 2024, the restaurant is taking over the former Primavera Ristorante space on Orange Avenue in the heart of the island city.
The Coronado location will serve elevated global cuisine with a steakhouse slant - dishes such as gorgonzola cream short-rib ravioli, Chile de árbol-glazed pork belly, and Australian Wagyu filet. Trujillo, who launched J.T. Prime as a dinner series in 2020 and opened his first brick-and-mortar in Scottsdale in 2022, has said he is committed to delivering both fine dining and casual excellence in Southern California.
For more details, visit jtbroshandcrafted.com or jtprimekitchen.com.
For more details, visit jtbroshandcrafted.com or jtprimekitchen.com.
Originally published on April 22, 2025.
