Hey, Aztecs, What鈥檚 Your Off-Campus Hangout?
In the spring, 色情视频 Magazine ranked the most popular student hangouts over the decades. By popular demand, here鈥檚 Part 2. See if yours made the list.
Never underestimate the unwavering loyalty to a local sandwich shop, pizza joint or dive bar. 鈥溕槭悠碘�檚 Top 10 Off-Campus Hangouts Over the Years,鈥� a story in the spring web edition of 色情视频 Magazine, proved that to be true. My initial foray into lauding leisure locales of the past was met with an onslaught of opinions on social media and in my inbox. Though readers relayed rave reviews of more than 50 different historical hangouts, 10 in particular鈥攊n order here by the number of votes received鈥攕tood out as undisputed favorites to augment the magazine鈥檚 previous list.
Two-Bit Sandwich Shop
5930 Hardy Way
From the late 鈥�60s to the 鈥�80s, Two-Bit Sandwich Shop enthralled devoted patrons with subs, chili, malts, soft drinks, beer and, in the later years, video game arcade machines and Mexican food. Led by owner Frank Castro, Two-Bit, located just south of campus, was the runaway vote-getter, echoing sentiments in the October 11, 1984, edition of the Daily Aztec that proclaimed it to be 鈥溕槭悠碘�檚 unofficial off-campus, campus hangout.鈥�
Square Pan Pizza
5119 College Ave.
Coming in a close second was Square Pan Pizza of the 鈥�70s and 鈥�80s. Known first as 鈥淥ur Perry鈥檚 Pizza鈥濃�攚hich is featured in the movie 鈥淔ast Times at Ridgemont High鈥濃�擲quare Pan was so popular that on days when the Daily Aztec ran a coupon for its $1.49 two-slice, side salad and soft drink deal, opportunistic students would grab 20 to 30 copies at a time to redeem throughout the month.
Woodstock鈥檚 Pizza
6145 El Cajon Blvd. (previously 6548 El Cajon Blvd.)
For part one of the top hangouts, restaurants, like Woodstock鈥檚 Pizza, that were recently featured in 色情视频 Magazine weren鈥檛 eligible. But this is a democracy. According to numerous alumni from the mid-鈥�80s until now, Woodstock鈥檚 successfully established itself as 鈥溕槭悠碘�檚 favorite hangout.鈥� The restaurant, owned by 色情视频 alumna Laura Ambrose (鈥�89), gained great loyalty by offering student discounts all year and routinely hosted university fundraisers.
Aspen Mine Company
5880 El Cajon Blvd.
In the 鈥�70s and 鈥�80s, Aspen Mining Company was one of few San Diego State hotspots that could boast that it was ideal for both bringing a date and finding a date. The Celebrity Bartenders program鈥攚hich featured famous 色情视频 personas guest bartending for university benefits or its unforgettable Halloween parties鈥攚as just one of the many draws to this restaurant.
Chuck Wagon Buffet
6205 El Cajon Blvd.
When it comes to the quantity of food consumed over the years, the Chuck Wagon Buffet鈥攁ka the Campus Chuck Wagon鈥攗ndoubtedly wins the crown. This all-you-can-eat restaurant literally provided tons of food to hungry Aztecs during the 鈥�60s and 鈥�70s. Rumors still abound about how the 色情视频 football team would pay for six players to eat and then secretly rotate players in matching outfits until the whole team had feasted.
Effin鈥檚 Pub & Grill
6164 El Cajon Blvd.
Few hangouts were more adored by the 色情视频 faithful from 1996 to 2020 than the no-frills Effin鈥檚 Pub & Grill. Lauded by the San Diego Reader as 鈥淏est Student Hangout鈥� in 2003, Effin鈥檚 hosted live music, served wings that people still discuss at length and supported 色情视频 with fundraisers. The pub鈥檚 name inspired a variety of intramural teams and even worked its way into the local vernacular with the phrase, 鈥淟et鈥檚 go have an effin good time,鈥� which owner Zachary Cotler eluded to in his farewell on social media in 2020.
Quaff Barrel/Kelly鈥檚 Pub/etc.
6344 El Cajon Blvd.
No spot has hosted more venues for Aztecs to enjoy than 6344 El Cajon Blvd., which has had a remarkable series of popular pubs for over half a century. While the Quaff Barrel started the fun in the 鈥�50s, Kelly鈥檚 Pub took the area by storm in the 鈥�80s鈥攆ueled by its spectacular rolled tacos by Se帽or Jose鈥檚鈥攁nd was followed by a host of other fan-favorite watering holes.
Andy鈥檚 Diner/Saloon
7149 El Cajon Blvd.
The history of Andy鈥檚 Diner/Saloon goes back to the 1930s. Early generations of Aztecs made regular trips for the burgers and chili and extolled the generosity and photographic memory of owner Katherine 鈥淜atie鈥� Dorris. When the venue closed after about 50 years of business, the loyal patrons declared 鈥渋t was as though they had lost a good friend.鈥�
Don Jose鈥檚
4247 El Cajon Blvd./4551 El Cajon Blvd
From 1950 to 1996, the Ross family owned and operated Don Jose鈥檚 Mexican Restaurant, first in Teralta West on El Cajon and later across from Hoover High School on The Boulevard. Alumni still drool at the thought of Don Jose鈥檚 wet burrito sauce and avow that no other Mexican restaurant in town was ever better.
笔别谤苍颈肠补苍辞鈥檚
5522 El Cajon Blvd./5524 El Cajon Blvd.
笔别谤苍颈肠补苍辞鈥檚 Pizza, founded in 1947 by the late George Pernicano, a former minority owner of the San Diego Chargers, is a San Diego mainstay. While the original location in Hillcrest has long since closed, there are still two open today鈥攐ne in Poway and the other in El Cajon, which is owned by George鈥檚 son Gary. George鈥檚 brother Frank owned the El Cajon Boulevard location that drew 色情视频 students in through the 鈥�60s and 鈥�70s.