Sunday, August 23, 2026
New openings, closings, and business news from Santee's local economy.
A La Mesa used and rare bookseller says he canceled large book orders after learning some booksellers were supplying volumes for destructive AI scanning. The East County story connects a local Main Street business to a national fight over books, copyright and artificial intelligence.
Via East County Magazine
Mary Cheeks is stepping down after eight years leading Jamul Casino Resort, according to East County Magazine. The move comes after a major hotel expansion that reshaped the property into a larger regional hospitality destination.
Via East County Magazine
La Mesa and the East County Economic Development Council are reopening the city’s entrepreneurship accelerator with a new focus on established businesses. Applications for the 10-business LEAP Forward cohort close Aug. 15.
Via East County Magazine
Long lines at Handel's Homemade Ice Cream on Carlton Hills Boulevard became part of Santee's heat-wave weekend. Employees told 10News the shop staffs up when temperatures rise and families head out looking for a cooler break.
Via 10News
La Mesa Pizzaworks has become one of San Diego County's few full-service kosher pizzerias. Owners Yuda and Sarah Piha are balancing religious dietary rules, mainstream pizza tastes and the same cost pressures facing small restaurants across East County.
Via Times of San Diego
San Diego County health inspectors temporarily closed 524 restaurants in 2025, with vermin-related violations accounting for most of those shutdowns, according to Times of San Diego. For Santee diners and restaurant operators, the trend is a reminder to check inspection records and take sanitation concerns seriously.
Via Times of San Diego
A new Grocery Outlet Bargain Market is scheduled to open July 30 in Ramona, Patch reported. The independently owned store adds another discount grocery option for inland East County shoppers.
Via Patch
Downtown El Cajon Business Partners has added tables, chairs, planters, refreshed banners and LED lighting along Main Street, 10News reported. The work is meant to make the district more inviting for visitors and small businesses in East County's historic core.
Via ABC 10News
Better Buzz Coffee Roasters opened its newest Santee cafe Friday on Cuyamaca Street, bringing the San Diego-born chain deeper into East County. The shop is marking its opening with grand opening festivities and a Santee-only drink for the next 30 days.
Via Patch
Bass Pro Shops says it will open its first San Diego County store at Grossmont Center in La Mesa. For Santee and East County shoppers, the project adds another major regional draw to a mall already set for an AMC theater comeback.
Via ABC 10News
A new Business Network International chapter called East County Networkers has formed with 46 members and a July 29 grand opening ahead. For Santee-area business owners, it adds another local option for structured referral networking close to home.
Via East County Magazine
Cafe Amor in Spring Valley is getting attention for crepes, pastries, coffee drinks and brunch favorites. The neighborhood cafe sits on Sweetwater Springs Boulevard, a quick East County stop for Santee residents looking for a casual breakfast or dessert run.
Via East County Magazine
The Heritage Steakhouse has named Meredith Manée as executive chef ahead of its expected August opening in Santee. The update gives locals a clearer look at the restaurant planned for Lantern Crest's Legacy Building.
Via Patch
A new flight school at Gillespie Field is giving East County residents another local path into aviation, from private pilot training to advanced ratings. The El Cajon center also plans a June 14 open house and barbecue for pilots, students and aviation-curious families.
Via East County Magazine
AMC Theatres is set to replace Reading Cinemas at Grossmont Center in the first half of 2027. The 10-auditorium theater will get new seating and other updates, keeping a major movie option close to Santee and East County.
Via ABC 10News
Village Pet & Feed founder Devon Julian has been named California’s 2026 Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration, according to The East County Californian. The recognition comes less than a year after the family-run Santee pet store opened.
Via The East County Californian
Einstein Bros. Bagels on Mission Gorge Road and Omelette Factory on North Magnolia Avenue were ordered temporarily closed May 4 after county health inspections. County SD Food Info records show both were approved to reopen May 5 and later received A grades.
Via San Diego County SD Food Info; SanDiegoVille
A new analysis cited by East County Magazine estimates San Diego County farms lose about $1.7 million each year to weather-related hazards. For Santee shoppers, the takeaway is simple: flooding, drought and other climate shocks can show up later in grocery prices.
Via East County Magazine
Jamul Casino Resort has received AAA’s Four Diamond designation, placing the East County property among a smaller tier of inspected North American hotels. The recognition comes about a year after the resort added a 16-story hotel tower, rooftop pool, spa and expanded dining.
Via East County Magazine
The San Diego & Imperial Small Business Development Center Network will host a Small Business Expo on June 11 at the La Mesa Community Center. The half-day event is aimed at entrepreneurs and small business owners across East County, including Santee.
Via East County Magazine
The 24th annual Grip It & Rip It! Golf Tournament is set for May 14 at Singing Hills Golf Club at Sycuan. The East County Chamber event is expected to draw more than 100 local business leaders and community advocates.
Via East County Magazine
The Heritage Steakhouse is slated to open June 30 at Lantern Crest, bringing tableside classics, prime steaks and panoramic East County views to Santee. The restaurant will be open to the public at 200 Lantern Crest Way.
Via San Diego Magazine
Lantern Crest Senior Living says it will open a new pickleball court on April 29 and invite the public to a free barbecue and games in Santee. The event will also showcase the community's new Legacy buildings, part of a 106-residence expansion now in pre-leasing.
Via Patch
A short film detailing the history and resilience of the Jamul Indian Village of California, commissioned by the Jamul Casino Resort, has won two prestigious advertising awards.
Via East County Magazine
Hazard Construction, headquartered in Lakeside just off State Route 67, is marking its centennial this June. The East County firm has shaped San Diego's roads for a century, from the original 1926 excavation crews to current work at Gillespie Field and Lake Murray.
Via East County Magazine
Both retailers opened their doors this month at Grossmont Center in La Mesa, bringing more shopping options to East County at a time when many San Diego-area storefronts have been closing. La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis called the openings a sign that the city remains a "desirable destination for shopping and services."
Via Times of San Diego
A new AP investigation finds that Trump's tariffs are squeezing the very American manufacturers they were designed to protect, with businesses facing higher material costs, shrinking payrolls, and price hikes passed to consumers. East County business owners reliant on imported parts and materials are navigating the same squeeze.
Via AP News
The Malt House held its ribbon cutting on Mission Gorge Road in Santee on Friday, March 13 — a new bar focused on fine spirits now serving East County. The Santee Chamber of Commerce attended the opening.
Via Santee Chamber of Commerce
La Roca Plaza, a 100-unit apartment community on North Magnolia Avenue in Santee, has sold for $26.5 million, with CBRE brokering the transaction. The deal highlights continued investor confidence in East County's multifamily market as rental demand remains strong across San Diego's inland suburbs.
Via RE Business Online
Wise Owl Fit and Live Life Physiotherapy will celebrate its grand opening on March 21 — offering strength training, balance classes, and one-on-one physical therapy designed specifically for older adults.
Via Santee Chamber of Commerce
Alumicraft LLC, a Santee-based off-road racing vehicle manufacturer, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection with $16.7 million in total liabilities and fewer than $23,000 in assets. The company reported a sharp decline in revenue over the past three years.
Via edhat.com
The self-storage giant that got its start in El Cajon in 1972 — complete with mariachis and bright orange doors — has announced it is moving its corporate headquarters from Glendale to Frisco, Texas.
Via KOGO Newsradio 600
After a nationwide search drawing more than 300 applicants, the East County Economic Development Council has selected Matt Sanford as its new president and CEO. Sanford, an East County resident with nearly two decades in San Diego economic development, takes over March 23.
Via East County Magazine
A proposed 6-9 cents per mile tax study advanced in the state Assembly over objections from East County Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, who called it a "sucker punch to working class Californians." The bill could affect daily commuters from Santee and East County who drive longer distances.
Via East County Magazine
A new landmark archway featuring 1,512 hand-painted tiles from local residents is rising at La Mesa Boulevard and Palm Avenue. The community-funded project, decades in the making, will serve as the gateway to La Mesa Village.
Via East County Magazine
Showing 35 stories