Fox Restaurant Concepts (FRC), headquartered in Phoenix, positions Culinary Dropout as a scratch-made, hospitality-driven concept - an ethos founder Sam Fox has cultivated since dropping out of the University of Arizona at 20 to build a restaurant empire. Now majority-owned by The Cheesecake Factory after being acquired in a $308 million deal in 2019, FRC operates as a subsidiary with over 60 locations nationwide, including San Diego outposts of The Henry, North Italia, Flower Child, and Blanco Cocina + Cantina. The Del Mar opening marks a westward push, with more Southern California sites teased to follow, including a new branch of The Henry coming to Carlsbad.
Announced today via a press release, the 8,000-square-foot venue aims to be a "neighborhood staple," as founder Sam Fox puts it, tapping into Del Mar’s laid-back ethos near One Paseo and Cinépolis Del Mar. The space, formerly home to Tilly’s clothing store, sports eclectic art celebrating local culture, a robust menu of shareables like Soft Pretzels with Provolone Fondue and BBQ Pork Belly Nachos, and entrées such as the Korean Style Ribeye Cap and Black Truffle Mushroom Detroit Style Pizza. Cocktails like the Giddy Up Espresso Martini and Full Moon Party round out a beverage lineup touting local beers and curated wines. Live music, a hallmark of the chain's 13 other locations across states like Arizona and Texas, will soundtrack daily lunch, dinner, happy hour, and weekend brunch.
Yet, FRC's track record invites scrutiny. In March 2020, amid COVID-19’s first days, Sam Fox launched a GoFundMe "Team Relief Fund," raising $90,000 toward a $500,000 goal to aid furloughed staff - a move that rankled critics given The Cheesecake Factory’s deep pockets and Fox's recent big payout from selling his company. More troubling, FRC dodged San Diego County Health Department mandates by failing to report employees testing positive for the virus during the pandemic’s peak, a lapse that undermined public trust. Fox, who reportedly splits time between Arizona and a Coronado home, has since expanded locally with a second area Blanco Tacos + Cantina unveiled in Coronado last summer, but these incidents linger as the company courts Del Mar's affluent crowd.
Yet, FRC's track record invites scrutiny. In March 2020, amid COVID-19’s first days, Sam Fox launched a GoFundMe "Team Relief Fund," raising $90,000 toward a $500,000 goal to aid furloughed staff - a move that rankled critics given The Cheesecake Factory’s deep pockets and Fox's recent big payout from selling his company. More troubling, FRC dodged San Diego County Health Department mandates by failing to report employees testing positive for the virus during the pandemic’s peak, a lapse that undermined public trust. Fox, who reportedly splits time between Arizona and a Coronado home, has since expanded locally with a second area Blanco Tacos + Cantina unveiled in Coronado last summer, but these incidents linger as the company courts Del Mar's affluent crowd.
The Del Mar Highlands Town Center location - nestled in a $120 million-updated retail hub - offers strategic allure, with its proximity to shopping and event spaces. FRC touts the site as an "ultimate hangout," hiring for front- and back-of-house roles via a job fair running through April 13. Reservations will soon open on OpenTable, promising a polished rollout. Still, the $353 million Cheesecake Factory acquisition (including $45 million tied to future profits) looms large. Critics question whether FRC’s "independent" ethos holds under corporate ownership, especially as The Cheesecake Factory eyes Culinary Dropout for broader growth, per a 2023 earnings call citing $175,000 weekly sales at its Charlotte, N.C., location.
For San Diegans, the April 30 debut brings a fresh dining option - 8,000 square feet of bold flavors and live tunes. But it also imports a corporate giant's baggage. Will Culinary Dropout’s "damn good food for damn good people" mantra resonate in Del Mar, or will FRC’s past missteps and The Cheesecake Factory’s shadow temper the hype? As the doors open, locals can judge for themselves—plate by plate, note by note.
For San Diegans, the April 30 debut brings a fresh dining option - 8,000 square feet of bold flavors and live tunes. But it also imports a corporate giant's baggage. Will Culinary Dropout’s "damn good food for damn good people" mantra resonate in Del Mar, or will FRC’s past missteps and The Cheesecake Factory’s shadow temper the hype? As the doors open, locals can judge for themselves—plate by plate, note by note.
Culinary Dropout grand opens on Wednesday, April 30, at 12875 El Camino Real within Del Mar Highlands Town Center in San Diego's Del Mar area. For more information, visit culinarydropout.com.
Originally published on April 1, 2025.
