Hamburger Factory Family Restaurant in Old Poway Park and The Lookout at Lake Poway are offering a few new features to attract customers.
Both venues owned by Josh and Jennifer Arbenz have had upgrades since the couple took ownership of Hamburger Factory in September 2023 and The Lookout at Lake Poway in November 2024.
The latest improvement to the family’s Hamburger Factory business at 14122 Midland Road is a covered patio that overlooks Old Poway Park.
“This is adjacent to Old Poway Park so people can sit outside now and they are really sitting in the park,” Josh Arbenz said. “It’s a great place for kids to run around and to bring a dog.”
Since the new patio is adjacent to the park’s gazebo it will give diners a front-row view of entertainers performing on the gazebo’s stage, he added.
“The covered patio doesn’t add space, but it’s a much improved use of the space,” he said. “You can’t see it from the front of the building so we’re trying to tell people about it. If you want to sit outside it’s peaceful, there are heaters and it opens to the park.”
Although Hamburger Factory had reduced its hours and was closed on Tuesdays since the COVID pandemic, the restaurant will be open seven days a week starting in late May.
The Lookout venue at 14644 Lake Poway Road is not new, although the Arbenzes say they changed its name from Lake Poway Concessions to give it personality. The concession stand that sells snacks and beverages along with fishing permits, boat rentals and archery cards on behalf of the city was formerly run by Rick Pinto of R&B Pinto Properties, LLC.
“I thought the new name was perfect because we bought bar-height furniture so every seat on the patio looks out over the lake,” Josh Arbenz said.
Along with updating the patio, the couple have have expanded the variety of fresh food served there with hamburgers, hot sandwiches and soft-serve ice cream.
They’re also selling local wines in addition to the previous selection of craft and domestic beers. Starting in another month or two, they’ll expand that further with wine tastings at The Lookout that feature wines produced by wineries in Poway, Ramona, Escondido and other nearby communities, Josh Arbenz said.
The patio offers a cozy setting for happy hours and wine tastings after work before access to the lake closes at sunset, he said. Mia Marie Vineyards of Escondido is expected to kick-off the new service.
One of the Arbenzes’ goals is to broaden the appeal of The Lookout for families, hikers, out-of-towners and other visitors who want to enjoy a relaxing day at Lake Poway, Josh Arbenz said.
“We’re seeing a lot of people meeting for coffee who are not necessarily fishermen,” he said. “We wanted more people to enjoy it other than fishermen, but we still have the tackle shop and everything the fishermen need.”
Fishing opportunities at the lake are also expanding an extra day. Fishing was formerly closed Mondays and Tuesdays, but is now available Tuesdays through Sundays. And The Lookout itself expanded from five to seven days a week and is open daily from 6 a.m. to sunset.
Josh and Jennifer Arbenz also own Stratford at the Harbor at Oceanside Harbor, Pier View Coffee Company in downtown Oceanside, and Stratford Court Cafe in Del Mar.
