Dean Velasco is the type of guy that can’t stand still. Most people look forward to coming home and plopping down on the couch to chill in front of the TV; but not Dean. Dean always has to be doing something. He’s never home, he’s always out. From community events, to drive-in swap meets, and live music venues, Dean’s social media posts document the whirlwind life of he and his partner Erika. Dean is living the good life that Southern California offers those who can hang on to it. Dean is a community supporter. And Dean is the owner of Deano’s Pub in La Mesa.
Deano’s pub has only been around for a few years, but has already become one of the most happening bars in San Diego; and this is by Dean’s design. He has created a cool bar with good drinks and an ample supply of live music for his guests. He has created an accepting atmosphere that is drama-free and fun-friendly. And it has become a major player in the San Diego local music scene that needs every venue it can muster.
“This whole thing started just about three years ago in December – a COVID year – December 2021, but it actually started a little bit before that in the heart of COVID,” Velasco recalled. “My buddy Joe Patrone owned Alibi, and the bar was having some hard times, and he was gonna pull the plug – let it go under. So I reached out to him – I was a corporate goon at a large technology firm here in San Diego for 25 years – and decided to take it over.”
Deano’s used to be a dank dive bar called The Alibi that came with a crusty reputation. So the first thing he did was to open the place up by doing some remodeling. “I spent a couple of weeks redoing it because it was really dark and not as inviting as I wanted to be. So we put up the roll up door, we removed the ceiling to get a little more volume and I hired a whole staff! It was the first time that I was in the bar world, I mean… bar folks are just a different breed, and it was new to me! So we had some struggles in the first six months of finding staff and what not. My vision was to make a place that was cool for anybody to come to. Doesn’t matter of you’re black, white, brown, gay, straight, whatever. I wanted a place to where people can come and feel comfortable.”
Dean and Erika Velasco at the opening of Deano’s East in Santee
Dean grew up in La Mesa and still considers it his hometown. But after having kids, he bought a home in Santee and has embraced that city as well. But he felt it was important to start a new business in his hometown as a way to support his original community. He is actively involved in both cities civic issues and participates in every fund raising event that he can. More than often, he’s there with his Deano’s pop up tent where his family pours beer that he has donated to the cause.
Dean’s love for Santee prompted him to open up a satellite bar that he has dubbed Deano’s East. Now he has a locale for both his La Mesa peeps as well as his Santee crowd, and many choose to visit both his places. He felt Santee needed a place like the original Deano’s where people could relax with no drama.
“People out here see Deano’s and they know it’s gonna be the same vibe. We don’t have no knuckleheads, there’s no fights, there’s no politics, there’s no religion, just come in and have a good time. So if you want to go out and not have to worry about knuckleheads – that’s my policy – my #1 policy is no aggressive behavior. So if you fight, if you get in somebody’s face, if you punch somebody, you’re not welcome at Deano’s. There’s 50 other places you can go to and act like a knucklehead. We took that policy with us to Deano’s East and it’s resonating well! There’s a lot of places out in Lakeside and East County that you go in there and their could be some folks that are regulars in there and they treat you ugly or they look at you ugly and I’m not down with that. I want everyone to come in and feel comfortable and its just been an amazing response out there in Santee/Lakeside.
DeanosPub.com
Deano’s Pub
5286 Baltimore Dr, La Mesa
Deano’s East
11541 Woodside Ave. Santee
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