Today, museum officials announced a new retail partnership with South Park-based Gold Leaf and a new café partnership with The Craft Taco, based in Sorrento Valley. These local, independently owned and operated businesses align with The Nat’s regional focus—to study and conserve nature in Southern California and the Baja California Peninsula—and its goals to feature artisan brands and sustainable products.   

Both operators will open in the first floor Atrium this October for the Museum’s 150th anniversary.  

“Museum stores and cafes are an extension of our mission and offer a way to ‘take home’ a piece of the museum,” said Judy Gradwohl, the Christy Walton president and CEO of The Nat. “Gold Leaf and Craft Taco’s fresh and exciting offerings will enhance a visit to The Nat.”  

Gold Leaf at The Nat  

Gold Leaf is located in San Diego’s South Park neighborhood within the historic Burlingame Garage building. They offer a curated selection of home goods, unique gifts, natural beauty products, nature-centric art, and sustainable products and toys for kids. Given their proximity to the Park, this new, second location inside The Nat felt like “the right next step” to the owners.   

“Getting to know our South Park customers and their kids is truly the best part of having a shop, and we’re really looking forward to being part of the Balboa Park community too,” said Sonya Kemp, who established the South Park store in 2016 along with her husband Kevin.  

“Nature has always been a source of inspiration for Gold Leaf,” explained Kemp. “We are excited to expand on that inspiration and we plan to focus on all things bird, beetle, butterfly, rock, shell, and dinosaur! We’ll have special pieces by smaller, local brands, lots of beautiful books, outdoorsy things, and so many fun puzzles, kits, and crafts for kids. We’re also planning to host story time for families as well as other events.” 

Gold Leaf at The Nat will be in the 1,700-square-foot retail space next to the Atrium, just inside the Museum’s north entrance.  

Craft Taco at The Nat  

The Craft Taco is a vibrant taco restaurant offering a delectable fusion of flavors and artisanal creations. Owner Eddie Tamayo operated a successful food truck for three years before opening his first brick-and-mortar store in 2023 in the SOVA Science District and Tech Campus in Sorrento Valley.  

Craft Taco at The Nat will offer made-to-order tacos featuring signature blue corn tortillas, along with delectable burritos and bowls. They’ll also offer coffee with beans from Talitha Coffee Roasters, specialty drinks, and prepared, grab-and-go food options like pollo asado bowls and torta sandwiches.  

The addition of Craft Taco offers a point of differentiation, as it will be the only Mexican restaurant in Balboa Park and it also highlights The Nat’s binational mission region.   

“Being born and raised in San Diego, it is an absolute honor to serve this community and be part of something great here at the San Diego Natural History Museum,” said owner Eddie Tamayo.  

Craft Taco will have a fully equipped kitchen just off the main museum floor but will operate from a centrally located cart in the middle of the four-story Atrium, which has been recently reimagined into a park-like setting, featuring trees, benches, new seating, and a mural by artist Eva Struble.  

About the San Diego Natural History Museum   

The San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) is one of California’s oldest and most respected cultural and scientific institutions. Founded in 1874 by a small group of community scientists, the Museum works to preserve and protect this amazing place we call home. The Museum is located at 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 in Balboa Park. For more information, call 877.946.7797 or visit sdnat.org. Follow The Nat on Twitter and Instagram and join the discussion on Facebook.   

### 

Visit Dropbox for Gold Leaf product images, Gold Leaf store images, and Craft Taco images. Photos of the new spaces at The Nat will be available in late 2024.