Page 4 - Del Mar Book

Dining & Shopping
For a small community, Del Mar has a large number of superb restaurants, located mostly on the main street of Camino Del Mar, by the beach, and along Via De La Valle. Small boutiques abound, both on Camino Del Mar and in the Del Mar Plaza which is on the corner of Camino Del Mar and 15th Street. A number of the dining establishments are dog-friendly.
Del Mar’s History
(For a full history of Del Mar, read Del Mar Looking Back by Nancy Hanks Ewing and The Del Mar Picture Book by Dr. Lisa Pluth)
In 1882, the Southern California Railroad began its new route from San Diego to San Bernardino. Theodore Loop, an employee of the railroad, instantly fell in love with what he called “the most attractive place on the entire coast.” He and his wife, Ella, built a tent city on the beach, which Ella called Del Mar after a popular poem titled, “The Fight on Paseo Del Mar.”
The same year, Colonel Jacob Taylor Shell stumbled upon Del Mar and the following year bought 338 acres of land for $1,000. Colonel Taylor built a seaside spot named Casa Del Mar, which he thought would become a resort destination for the rich and famous. The hotel, dance pavilion, bathhouse and pool, and railroad depot thrived briefly before succumbing to bankruptcy, flood, and fire by 1890.
Several years later, the South Coast Land Company eventually built a new hotel called The Stratford Inn. From the moment it opened its doors in 1910, the hotel became a focal point of town and a magnet for Hollywood stars.
During the 1920’s, San Diego Gas and Electric brought electricity to San Diego, at which time the residential areas of Del Mar began developing at a record pace. The town received a facelift with a rebuilt pier and new roads into town. The Fairgrounds opened in 1936, and the racetrack a year later.
By 1958, the residents of Del Mar were faced with the decision of remaining part of the city of San Diego or achieving independence through incorporation. In 1959, residents chose incorporation and established a council-manager form of government, which continues today.
The CITY of Del Mar (encompassing Beach Colony, Del Mar Bluffs, and Olde Del Mar) is now distinct from the rest of Del Mar 92014. There is a five-member City Council, elected by voters, that sets city policy, determines budget priorities, allocates city resources, and hears Planning Commission appeals. The Council appoints the City Manager and City Attorney. The rest of 92014 has a Del Mar Post Office zip code but is governed by the CITY of San Diego.
02/2019 - INFORMATION IS DEEMED RELIABLE, BUT NOT GUARANTEED. 3