Trish Watlington Longtime Mission Hills BID Board of Director and Owner of The Red Door and BAR by Red Door is Moving On
When Trish Watlington and her family opened farm-to-table restaurant The Red Door and their steakhouse The Wellington, both on West Washington Street in Mission Hills, she quickly immersed herself in the Mission Hills Business Improvement District (BID). Within a year of opening Trish became a board member and later an officer of the board serving as board secretary, then as president and is currently its vice president. Her tireless efforts helped elevate the work of the BID in the areas of promotions, design, and economic development.
If you know Trish, you know she sometimes arrives late to meetings carrying evidence of her work in her vegetable garden. At heart, Trish is a farmer. Her daily work is only made easy by the farm’s location adjacent to her home on Mount Helix. Trish is a passionate advocate for sustainable and fair food systems and educating the community about supporting local farmers.
With people’s waning fancy for hearty beef steaks, Trish, and her son and General Manager Justin, transformed The Wellington into the new craft cocktail spot, BAR by Red Door. She has worked hard for a number of charities throughout the San Diego area and has been featured on radio, television, in publications, and as keynote speaker at seminars and events. How quickly these eight years have passed.
San Diego Magazine and Eater San Diego recently completed articles on this big step, including what’s next for Trish.
As we reflect on Trish’s generosity of time and talent and say our good-byes, we count her as a true blessing in our Mission Hills Community.
Please stop by to say your good-byes.
Here are a few for now:
Congratulations Trish! I hope you got your price. You and your team set a high bar for the other restaurants to reach. Jackie and I will personally miss your ownership given the unyielding quality we have learned to expect at The Red Door. I only hope we will not miss you and Tom in the neighborhood.
–Stuart White
Trish, you contributed greatly to our neighborhood and local food scene and we will miss you.
-Krista Lombardi
Trish, I enjoyed serving with you on the MHBID board for many years, thanks for your knowledge and dedicated service. I wish you the best and also wish soon-to-be new Red Door owner Chef Luciano Cibelli the best too!
-Troy Curnett
Trish Watlington has been a valued community member and active business owner in Mission Hills for years, and has been instrumental in building our local farm-to-table food scene. We will feel her absence greatly, but I’m heartened that her legacy will live on at The Red Door and in all her future pursuits to keep the movement thriving.
-Councilmember Chris Ward
Trish, your enthusiasm, style, and leadership were a gift to the Mission Hills Community. It was my pleasure to work with you. Now that you have some free time, let’s go horse around.
-Gerrie Trussell
To say that Trish Watlington has been a breath of fresh air for the San Diego restaurant scene doesn’t do her contributions justice. Her genuine dedication to the absolute freshest farm-to-table cuisine and zealous support of local food producers are models for others to follow. I was a little bit saddened to learn that she is selling The Red Door, one of the highest-quality eateries in San Diego, but also pleased that she has found a buyer who will carry on her mission. I thank Trish for her longstanding commitment to Mission Hills and her major role in establishing the community as a dining destination, and I wish her all the best in her future endeavors.”
-Senator Toni Atkins