Downtown San Diego nightlife in 1987

Downtown San Diego was coming back to life at night in 1987. Horton Plaza Mall was a big factor when it opened in 1985. Restaurants were attracting customers attending The Civic Theater and the Lyceum. A jazz club owned by Jim Croce's widow Ingrid--Croce's was a popular new hot spot. This was the beginning of its renaissance and downtown continues to be a top destination for locals and tourists.
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[@tpolerex7282]

Love this! I arrived in San Diego in 87 and opened Croce’s with Ingrid and the gang. The shot at 1:49 is from the stairs to the mezzanine dining level there where I flipped a whole tray of six dinners onto the wall catching it on a sconce on a packed Saturday night with Ingrid and her husband holding court to a table of friends below witnessing the whole thing, haha! It was pretty sketchy there still as Croce’s really was the pioneer of a reputable establishment amongst sex shops and Navy dive bars. But what a blast we had!

[@mr.m.o.g.o.m.]

I grew up in San Diego. Except for the time I served in the Marine Corps, I spent a great deal of time all throughout San Diego county. Croches was a very good restaurant. I met the owner one time when they had a welcome back parade for Gulf War veterans downtown on 5th avenue that was 1991. If I remember correctly sadly Croches is closed. Time never forgets us. Semper Fi

[@mr.m.o.g.o.m.]

All those Navy dive bars are gone. My father and mother were stationed here in the Navy in the 70s and 60s. My dad retired at a 32nd Street and my mother out of DC. My father took me to a bar downtown called the Orient when I got out of boot camp. Back in the '70s it was a brothel. Now they just had a bunch of old ladies trying to have you buy them drinks. My father looked at me and said son this is what the Navy is all about. I'll never forget that it was a crack up. I miss my mother and father greatly. I turned 60 next month and my son is 21 I hate growing old best of luck to you

[@tpolerex7282]

@@mr.m.o.g.o.m. my father and uncle were both Marines, Korean War veterans, I turned 60 this year too. There is definitely still a military presence here but it was a vastly different place - at once more rough and more innocent - 35 years ago.

[@tonyp5997]

I would give anything back just to live back in the 80’s

[@roberthansen4673]

I remember when 24hr arcade was where the Emerald Shapery Center. The grayhound station on broadway. The theater was the new hotel san diego. With the tiny liquor store on one side. And wendy's on the other.

[@loyalsmith9795]

1987 is when I graduated high school from Washington State and moved to San Diego. Found work downtown across from Groces and would walk down from my home On the hill through the gangs, prostitutes and adult theatre crowds. It was a lot to take in for an inexperienced 18 year old. 35 years later and I live in the same home minus the XXX nightlife and still find work downtown.

[@mr.m.o.g.o.m.]

I grew up in San Diego when I was in high school thanks to go down to Horton plaza and buy pot. But that was 1977-78 in round there. I hate to say it but downtown's dead now especially after this bullshjt virus scenario. I was down at a comedy store down there on Saturday I couldn't believe of all the stores that were closed all the empty window fronts. It angers me a great deal of what are politicians have done to this place. I miss the old Horton plaza prior to being rebuilt that had character now it's an empty ghost town it's soulless

[@roberthansen4673]

Longview, WA here. But finished up school Darby MT. Now live back in SD

[@KametaBoucher-ei6cc]

I miss old san diego

[@j_u_ss_y]

Great video.

[@malcorub]

I lived in downtown East Village from 2003-2006, I always preferred to take the trolley to Tijuana instead to have fun. Hanging out downtown was too expensive for this 25 year old at the time.

[@mr.m.o.g.o.m.]

I remember when I was in Okinawa they had bars that were called "Buy me drinkie girls.". Barely closed was called The Orient downtown. I visited there with some other friends who are vets it was funny. But that bar is long gone as part of the history of San Diego.

[@mcfluffynips]

Rip Horton plaza 😆

[@commanderbell1965]

Year! arrived in San Diego

[@Lux2]

Gaslamp is back to being ghetto, but without the XXX businesses. I've seen homeless loitering on 4th and 5th Avenues.

[@rogeliomanuelcontrerasgari6921]

Horton plaza is closed now and all those people is dead

[@jayb4344]

Lmao, now downtowns dead 😭😭😭🤣🤣🤣 it grew up, lived its life, then hung itself

[@malcorub]

Yea, LIttle Italy is the new hot spot down there.

[@cboy0394]

It's not dead lol it's just different and not catered to people from the 80s.

[@Squeakypickles619]

​@@cboy0394Different in a shitty way Homeless tweakers and lame woke hipsters with mumble rap and bad bunny blasting everywhere wooo✊️😮

[@joecarter2727]

Downtown is not dead at all, although it's allot more poverty stricken