Cardiff-by-the-Sea had the good fortune to become the home of Cardiff Seaside Market in 1985 when John and Pete Najjar opened their 12,500 square foot store in the Cardiff Town Center.
After 29 years of making shopping a wonderful experience, we look forward to the upcoming expansion, which will include a bakery department; wine and prepared foods, as well as many other departments will also be enlarged.
Through the years Cardiff shoppers have seen changes.
As the market area became a gathering place for people to meet for something delightful to eat from the deli or just enjoy a cup of coffee.
A trip to the Seaside Market is an adventure because one can always find exactly what one wants and the pleasant service with a smile makes it all delightful.
John and Pete are often on the floor also to greet you with a smile and a fitting comment.
With the introduction of the Rewards Card program, one can look forward to either a buy-one-get-one free or a totally free item on a weekly basis as well as checks if you reach a certain amount in purchases.
Gabe Aguirre, Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library Librarian II likes Seaside Market Deli sandwiches, Chicken Tortilla Soup and regional products like unique chips plus prepared, boxed salads. Lori Turley, Library Tech I, likes Burgundy Tri-Tip, the fact that veggies are bought from local growers plus their fresh fish and wonderful cuts of meat. She is also a fan of the Rewards Club Program.
Some of my favorites are their great soups, boxed salads, fresh veggies, 10-ounce cartons of milk (I call them school milk) and the free flowers.
Seaside is a wonderful place for the person dining alone. You can grab a fresh salad or something from the deli to pop in the microwave — add fresh fruit and one has a gourmet meal. Every week the tent goes up for Taco Tuesday and on weekends you can enjoy a Tri-Tip (called Cardiff Crack) sandwich, quite often accompanied with music, while dining in the sunshine.
The Najjars were early members of the Friends of the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library, and have contributed to our building fund and donate a fantastic fare for our April volunteer breakfast each year. They recently received a proclamation from the city of Encinitas for their contributions to schools, local organizations and causes.
John was quick to point out that it is the local support that has made the store popular, local shoppers, local vendor products.
At the Taste of Seaside event, booths of local vendors introduce the public to their new creations, which customers will then be able to find on the shelves when they shop.
The entire Town Center, sometimes referred to as the uptown of Cardiff-by-the-Sea, has taken on a new face down through the years and is the scene for local events, i.e. banner auction and Kringle Mingle.
Teresa Barth, who happens to be our present mayor, provides the beautiful Christmas tree yearly.
Cardiff Seaside Market rates at the top of the list of wonderful reasons that Cardiff-by-the-Sea is such a fantastic place to call home.
A founding and life member as well as past president and current board member of the of the Friends of the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library, Irene has lived here since 1982.
