Halcyon brings on the fun

At least one San Diego coffee shop features a ping pong table. The Halcyon coffee shop experienced a game reimagining in September. Since opening, the Texas based business has shared real estate with a sister restaurant, Stella Public House, much like similarly shared locations in Austin and San Antonio.

However, the side of the building that previously housed the pizza-minded Stella Public was revamped over Labor Day weekend. Now the entire building, and its open patio overlooking Fault Line Park, fits under the Halcyon concept. That continues to include coffee bar service, food, beer, and cocktails — open from early morning to late night.

Where the fun comes in is what used to be the Stella side of the property has now been dubbed the B-Side, and outfitted with vintage arcade games, foosball, and a large assortment of board games, in addition to ping pong. Most of the games require multiple players to encourage social interaction. According to co-owner John Long, “We set our intention to become a community gathering place, and we’ve done just that."

In the meantime, the marriage of Halcyon and Stella Public House will continue elsewhere in the region, as both properties were slated to open by early October in North County. They're being included as one of many hospitality businesses in the massive, 200 acre North City development in San Marcos, designed to create a walkable urban hub in the area around the city's Cal State university.

Again, the two brands will remain together but separate. Halcyon will occupy its own 1700 square feet (250 North City Drive), while sharing a lounge and outdoor seating with the pizza property, and like its East Village location, the coffee shop will also serve food and cocktails.