After Skateboarding for 17 Years and Cashing Out Over $100 Million, ‘Birdman’ Tony Hawk Makes an Unlikely Career Shift

Tony Hawk joined the list of celebrity athletes like Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, and others who have their own restaurants. He is starting his new venture in collaboration with chef Andrew Bachelier. The restaurant was scheduled to open last year but due to some delays; it is all set to open this summer.

After two years of hustle and waiting for permits, the Birdman has girded up to open his first-ever restaurant. This new investment venture will help him stay connected with his fans. Initially, it was set to start with the hot chicken sandwich but the menu got beyond that. It will include dishes based on poultry and seafood.

Tony Hawk’s restaurant is all set to open

In an Instagram story, the Birdman expressed his elation as his restaurant got the green light to open after obtaining the required permit. In the story caption he wrote, “Is finally happening we got permits” tagging his restaurant’s Instagram page. Interestingly, in the picture, Hawk also captured a still of Chick and Hawk’s chef Marlaw Seraspi, who can be seen preparing food in the deep frying cannister.

Tony Hawk named his restaurant Chick and Hawk in honor of Foghorn Leghorn, a character in an animated comedy short film Looney Tunes. The restaurant is built on a 1,421-square-foot space and includes the structure of the old restaurant. The interior of the restaurant is designed by a local firm, Starch Creative Studios. The interior design is influenced by the 90s surf and skateboard culture along with the chicken motif.

Tony’s Chick and Hawk Story

Tony Hawk was a fan of chef Andrew Bachelier’s cooking. Andrew was instrumental in the success of Jeune et Jolie, a restaurant that opened in 2018. Under his watch, the eatery got the prize of Eater’s Restaurant of the Year in 2019. But after the pandemic, things didn’t go well, and he stepped away from them. Later, he met the Birdman and decided to open the restaurant with him. Initially, the thought of a food truck that serves his version of hot chicken. But, when Andrew got the space, they switched their plan. The menu grew with dishes of poultry and seafood.

Read More: How Tony Hawk Created His Business Empire by Turning Skateboarding Into a Multi-Billion Dollar Industry

The restaurant will offer both fast-causal and fine dining options. The food will include fried chicken sandwiches, oysters, and seafood with Chef Bachelier’s global concept of Southern California cuisine. It will also have a bar that will serve craft beer, wine, and cocktails. The eatery is located at  145 Leucadia Boulevard, Encinitas, San Diego.

When there were delays in the opening, they started a holiday pop-up tour with their signature sandwich ‘The Birdman’. They first served them at their favorite local breweries, like South O Brewing, Harland Brewing, and others.

Watch The Story: Burdened With ‘Two Mortgages, a Newborn, and Dropping Income’, Tony Hawk Thought His Skateboarding Career Was Done in the 90s