The Return of China Max on Convoy
Plus: LV News Briefs, Friends of the LV Library Looking for Members, Rebuilding Together Looking for Applicants, and Remembering Westgate Park in MV
The Linda Vista Update
I noticed an article recently stating that China Max Chinese restaurant on Convoy Street was reopening after a massive fire that occurred 5 years ago. China Max was a very popular restaurant so I was excited to know it was going to be back in business. I looked on their website to find out more. China Max is located at 4698 Convoy St, in the Convoy Pointe Plaza Shopping Center. China Max was known for its dim sum, so I was anxious to go up for lunch.
I think one of the first times I had dim sum was when we went to Hong Kong while Steve was in the Marines. This was in the 1980’s. Back then, we went into this ginormous two story restaurant and I was shocked to see it packed with people and servers walking up and down continuously with large carts filled with steaming baskets. We got seated and received a menu which was not in English. We didn’t have a clue what anything was so started pointing to what others had and often found what we ordered did not look edible to us; however it was very reasonably priced. I’m not sure we ever got enough to eat there, but we hightailed it out and went on the lookout for a McDonalds. Happy to say we have become much more sophisticated since then. 😊
We went to China Max for lunch because I read they only served Dim Sum until 1:00 pm and after that everything on the menu, and we were after dim sum. China Max is located right beyond the new Convoy District Gateway Sign (I would like to say here that I like our Linda Vista sign portrayed recently in a Linda Vista Update much better than the Convoy sign, but that’s just me). Parking was not a problem, but might be in the evening. I had made reservations, so I wasn’t concerned about finding a table. However, when we got inside, I learned that the reservation system on the website with Google is not operational, so we had no reservation. I told the hostess I had tried to call, but she said the number on the internet is not correct. They are working on making everything operational. Fortunately, there was a table for two available so all was well.
In looking at the menu, we noted only four kinds of dim sum, three of which were meat, so I asked if there was a dim sum menu. We were then informed by a very friendly server that China Max was still in the “soft opening” stage and had a very limited menu which they were trying out. He said they would be interested in our feedback and were in the process of going through “trials and tribulations” prior to a formal grand opening. He also said although they are now only using the one floor, eventually they hope to expand to the upper floor perhaps for parties and maybe even karaoke. He explained which items were vegetarian and although limited, we were able to make our selections. I really wanted dim sum so the only one I could order was Har Gow which was $8.95 for three pieces. Steve ordered the Noodles with scallion oil which was $11.95. The menu included appetizers, Peking duck tacos, egg drop and hot and sour soup, pork long bao, potstickers, and beef and veggie steamed dumplings, among other dim sum such as shumai, bbq beef buns and lo mai gai. A nice touch was an area behind glass where women were preparing dumplings one at a time and doing it very expertly.
Inside the menu was a document explaining that although China Max is retaining the name, it is under new ownership and is a new restaurant with a modern approach with a handcrafted menu designed to provide the best possible experience. Their focus is “quality over quantity.” They state each item is made fresh in house.
Our food was very good. The shrimp in my dish were delicious and Steve’s noodles were excellent. He opted for the mild with scallion rather than the spicy sesame and was glad he did. The server was anxious to hear our opinion and he said they are happy for the feedback and will be making adjustments as time goes on. He did not have a firm date for the grand opening but thought sometime in April. I do hope they have more vegetarian dim sum next time.
We hope you will give it a try and provide the feedback to the establishment. I am anxious to go back when all the kinks are worked out.
LV News Briefs:
—Passport applications: Do you need to apply for a passport? The Office of the City Clerk is hosting a passport pop-up event at the Linda Vista Library tomorrow Friday, March 7 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Click HERE to see passport requirements. Click HERE to schedule an appointment for Friday’s pop-up event.
—Francis Parker Boys Basketball Advance: This Tuesday night the Francis Parker School Boys Basketball team (19-11) scored a dramatic last minute 63-62 victory over Irvine in the first round of the state Division II playoffs. The Lancers trailed Irvine throughout the game, at some points by double digits, but were able to overcome by pulling ahead in the last minute and hold on for the win. Francis Parker will now visit Chatsworth High School tonight at 7:00 pm in the next round of the state championship playoffs.
—Upcoming Production of Welcome to Wonderland: The Linda Vista Theater Arts Program welcomes everyone to WONDERLAND at the Linda Vista Recreation Center! The production is a retelling of the Alice in Wonderland story. Performances will be held on the following dates: Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 6:30pm (Sneak Peek/Dress Rehearsal); Friday, March 21, 2025 at 6:30pm (Opening Night); Saturday, March 22, 2025 (Double Feature)@ 2:00pm (Matinee) @ 6:30pm; Friday, March 28, 2025 at 6:30pm; Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 6:30pm. Check out the flyer below for details on how to purchase tickets for each show.
—Art & Essay Contest for Students: The Linda Vista Multi-Cultural Fair/Parade is sponsoring its annual Art & Essay Contest for students in grades 2-6. This year’s theme for the contest is “Food From the Heart.” Check out the below flyer for more details. You can also go HERE to obtain detailed contest guidelines.
—Linda Vista Planning Group Elections: Check out the below flyer to learn details about the Linda Vista Planning Group’s Annual Election on March 24.
Friends of the LV Library Looking for Members
The Linda Vista Library is one of the most popular places in all of Linda Vista. It is not only a place to check out books—the library also serves as a meeting place for local organizations, a site where students can go for homework assistance, a place for people of all ages to conduct online research, and a venue that hosts regular learning activities for kids. The library staff is very effective in designing interesting activities and providing resources for local residents; however, they are always looking for community feedback to further improve services. One source that can provide this type of feedback is the organization Friends of the Linda Vista Library.
Friends of the Linda Vista Library is a non-profit organization made up of local volunteers that supports the library community through advocacy, fundraising, and book sales to provide critical support for the branch and larger library system. It is one of 33 chapters of the larger Friends of the San Diego Public Library
Fundraising through its on-going used book sales program serves as its major source of monetary contributions to the library. Library visitors will often see stacks of donated used books available for sale at the entrance. Friend of the Linda Vista Library then uses this money to help purchase such things as snacks for certain kids activities, craft supplies and decoration/prizes to supplement certain programs, improvements to the staff room, Turkey giveaways during Thanksgiving, and other “fun stuff” non-essential items not covered by the library’s official budget.
The Friends of the Linda Vista Library is currently looking for new members who can help the organization engage with the community. As explained by the organization’s Treasurer, Christa Gush, “We are looking for new ideas to determine what the community needs…especially ideas from younger people who can serve as members, as well as seniors to give us feedback.” She added that “Members are needed who can be advocates for the library in the community and let people know what the library can offer.”
Being an effective advocate for the library is especially important in light of the City’s budget crisis, which may result in cutting the library system’s programming budget.
The Friends of the Linda Vista Library meet the first Saturday of each month from 12:30-1:30 pm in the Linda Vista Library. One way to become a member is to go to the organization’s web site and apply for membership. You can do so by clicking HERE. Or you can go to the next monthly meeting on April 5, meet the board officers, provide them with feedback, and then sign up.
Joining the organization is a great way of supporting one of Linda Vista’s most valuable assets.
Rebuilding Together Looking for Applicants
Rebuilding Together San Diego (RTSD) is a national nonprofit organization that repairs homes, revitalizes communities, and rebuilds lives. In striving to help seniors, disabled, veterans and families who are low-income homeowners in need of home repairs, the organization is asking local residents to pass the word along to potential low-income homeowners so they can learn how RTSD can help with free repairs. RTSD also assists with community facilities.
We first wrote about Rebuilding Together in the February 16, 2023 issue of this newsletter, when we detailed how the organization helped revitalize a home for a disabled Navy veteran in Chula Vista, and how the organization conducted similar efforts for a home here in Linda Vista.
Should LV Update readers have someone that could take advantage of this program, they can call Deanne Hutchison, Sr. Project Director for Rebuilding Together San Diego at 619/ 818-2466 (cell) to discuss their needs. While certain criteria fluctuate as programs, grants and sponsorships vary, the basic guidelines are as follows:
Owning and living in a single-family dwelling that is in bad shape, (cannot be apt., condo, mobile home or manufactured home)
Owner cannot own other property
Low income who are veterans, elderly, disabled and/or low income, in a hardship
Most projects include exterior painting and/or landscaping in addition to minor repairs.
This time every year the organization’s Annual National Rebuilding Event with 150 affiliates across the U.S. makes a concentrated effort to help families in dire straits with home repairs. As explained in the organization’s website, National Rebuilding Month is an annual month-long call to service during April, culminating with National Rebuilding Day, the last Saturday of the month. Throughout April, Rebuilding Together affiliates and volunteers will serve veterans, older adults, families and neighbors recovering from natural disasters by providing them with a variety of essential health and safety home repairs. Rebuilding Together provides these repairs at zero-cost to neighbors in need, who are often faced with diminishing resources and must choose food and medicine over critical home repairs.
National Rebuilding Day is the culmination of a year of planning, training and mobilizing thousands of community volunteers. It is embraced by community leaders, and corporate and community partners as a way of bringing immediate, large-scale impact to communities across the country in a single day. National Rebuilding Day is held the last Saturday in April to honor the history of the organization’s founding. This year it is on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
Please check out the above flyer that provides contact information and identifies some of the organizations that Rebuilding America partners with to help revitalize communities.
Nostalgic Reflection
Remembering Westgate Park in Mission Valley
Opening Day for the San Diego Padres is just 21 days away, which means fans will soon be returning to popular Petco Park to enjoy another season of baseball. Though many new San Diego residents rightfully view Petco Park as synonymous with the Padres organization, they are usually unaware the team once made Mission Valley their home while playing at Qualcomm Stadium (previously known as Jack Murphy Stadium)—now the site of Snapdragon Stadium. However, there are even more Padres fans (and new Linda Vista residents) that know nothing about Westgate Park, the ball field that the minor league Padres of the Pacific Coast League played in before moving down the road to occupy for one year the newly constructed stadium that would eventually host the major league franchise of the San Diego Padres.
Westgate Park operated in Mission Valley, on the grounds of what is now the Fashion Valley Mall, from 1958 to 1967. The minor league Padres moved there from the aging Lane Field, which was located along Harbor Drive. Looking at the Fashion Valley Mall today, it is hard to imagine a ball park ever existing there. We recently came across a photo of Westgate Park (see above) on another social media site and took notice of the familiar Mission Valley slopes in the background. At the time Mission Valley was largely undeveloped and the idea of luxury mall shops like Gucci and Versace was a distant dream.
According to a Wikipedia site, the ball park was named after the Westgate-California Tuna Packing Corporation.
Westgate Park was short-lived. With the expected arrival of the major league Padres and the new stadium, plans for the Fashion Valley Mall were unveiled in December 1967, and Westgate Park was razed in 1969 to make room. Mission Valley has been evolving ever since.
Check out below how part of the Westgate Park area looks today (photo taken from the west side of Bloomingdale’s).
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The Linda Vista Update is a weekly digital newsletter that publishes informative, interesting, and fun news about Linda Vista and its neighboring communities. We welcome ideas for stories. Let us know about any interesting people, places, or upcoming events.