Survivability Rankings for Deli in San Diego

StreetSpring's 2026 ranking of San Diego neighborhoods to open a Deli, at a good address, from Old Town (84.0% survival) to Southwestern College Estates.

•14 min read

By Robert Koons | Last reviewed: October 2026 | Methodology

Quick Summary

  • Survivability Score: the projected chance a business type lasts two or more years at a specific address
  • #1 Neighborhood: Old Town: 84.0% at a good address, 77.1% at a typical address for Deli (2 ranked neighborhoods share the 84.0% good-address figure)
  • Neighborhoods at or above 70% at a typical address: 24 of 83 ranked
  • Average across the 83 ranked neighborhoods (typical address): 66.2% for Delis
  • Most challenging area: Southwestern College Estates: 57.5% at a good address, 56.8% at a typical address
  • Revenue Capture Score: the most important factor in choosing a location, StreetSpring's proprietary estimate of the revenue a business can capture at a specific address
  • Data freshness: 2026 data · Full methodology →

Table of Contents

Summary

Opening a Deli in San Diego? Our 2026 analysis identifies Old Town as the top location, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 84.0% at a good address and 77.1% at a typical address (2 ranked neighborhoods share the 84.0% good-address figure). Its highest scored address is at 84.0% and its lowest at 60.2%. The last-ranked neighborhood is Southwestern College Estates, at 57.5% at a good address and 56.8% at a typical address. The highest and lowest scored addresses inside one neighborhood can sit far apart, so the neighborhood figure is a starting point.


What Are the 10 Best Neighborhoods in and Around San Diego to Open a Deli?

Old Town ranks #1 of the 83 ranked neighborhoods in and around San Diego for Deli survivability, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 84.0% at a good address as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:

RankNeighborhoodMetroAt a good addressAverage (typical address)Best LocationsChallenging Locations
1Old TownSan Diego84.0%77.1%84.0%60.2%
2HarborsideSan Diego84.0%73.8%84.0%56.6%
3Kearny MesaSan Diego83.6%76.2%84.0%49.4%
4MidtownSan Diego83.6%70.4%84.0%53.4%
5Barrio LoganSan Diego83.0%73.9%84.0%50.7%
6MiramarSan Diego82.7%72.4%84.0%50.7%
7Morro HillsSan Diego82.6%75.3%84.0%50.2%
8RolandoSan Diego82.2%72.3%83.6%54.3%
9Roseville-FleetridgeSan Diego82.2%70.4%83.1%53.8%
10Lincoln ParkSan Diego82.2%66.9%82.6%48.9%

Remember that a neighborhood average smooths over wide variation: your exact block could significantly outperform. Our live tool reflects the latest competitive landscape: these static rankings may already be slightly out of date.

The ranking runs on the good-address figure (the 90th percentile of the scored addresses in each neighborhood). Average is the typical address; Best and Challenging Locations are the highest and lowest scored address in the neighborhood. Every figure is the projected chance of lasting two or more years, as printed in the linked file. See our full methodology →

Try StreetSpring to see if this location is still the best and see if there are locations to rent in this area right now.


Where in or Around San Diego Would a Deli Make the Most Money?

Where a Deli would make the most money in or around San Diego comes down to the exact address. The Revenue Capture Score is the most important factor in choosing a location: StreetSpring's proprietary estimate of the revenue a business can capture at a specific address.

Old Town is ranked #1 for Deli survivability, at 84.0% at a good address and 77.1% at a typical address; Southwestern College Estates is ranked last of the 83, at 57.5% at a good address and 56.8% at a typical address. Revenue at a specific storefront is what the Revenue Capture Score estimates, so check it for each address you are weighing.

Your choice of location is one of the few business decisions you can test against data before you commit. Opening a Deli in San Diego requires careful location choice. Across the 83 ranked neighborhoods, the average projected chance that a new Deli lasts two or more years is 66.2% at a typical address. The interplay between location characteristics and business type produces unique survivability scores for every combination.


What Should I Consider When Opening a Deli in or Around San Diego?

When selecting a location for a Deli in or around San Diego, it is crucial to select a location with a very high Survivability Score. Revenue Capture Score comes first when comparing locations: it turns local competition and consumer spending into the share of revenue a business can expect to win. StreetSpring computes this by projecting the business's market share, which is based on the quality and quantity of primary, secondary, and tertiary competitors. We incorporate data from thousands of neighborhoods and hundreds of thousands of individual businesses. Some competition is beneficial to attract customers with similar intents to the same area. StreetSpring's proprietary algorithms power these predictions. StreetSpring scores 500+ business types: 153 base business types, most of them at 5 price points, which is 569 type-and-price combinations you can choose in the tool.

This can be summarized as:

Revenue Capture Score = Projected Market Share × Forecasted Spend on Specific Business

Related: Survivability Score: How We Calculate It & Why It Matters

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. StreetSpring refreshes survivability data continuously: check the tool for the most current score at any address.


Where in or Around San Diego Should I Start a Deli?

According to StreetSpring's data, optimal neighborhoods include Old Town, Harborside, and Kearny Mesa, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Southwestern College Estates, Robinhood-Bon Vivant, and Sunbow. These averages are directional, not definitive; the best decision comes from analyzing your specific storefront. StreetSpring's Survivability Scores are updated regularly, so the most accurate prediction for your exact storefront is always available in the live tool.

Related Articles:


What Are the Best Neighborhoods in San Diego to Open a Deli?

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a Deli in San Diego is Old Town, at 84.0% at a good address and 77.1% at a typical address (2 ranked neighborhoods share the 84.0% good-address figure), followed by Harborside and Kearny Mesa. 24 of the 83 ranked neighborhoods are at or above 70% at a typical address.

The live platform incorporates the most recent competitor, housing vacancy, and spending data for your exact address.


Can a Deli Succeed in Lower-Ranked Neighborhoods in San Diego?

Yes, neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation. Even in neighborhoods ranked outside the top 10, individual storefronts with strong foot traffic, low direct competition, and favorable lease terms can outperform the area average. These rankings are based on the latest available data; check StreetSpring for real-time updates. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.


How Often Are Deli Rankings in San Diego Updated?

StreetSpring recalculates survivability scores regularly using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Rankings are updated quarterly; the live tool always reflects the most current predictions for any address in San Diego.


Is a Deli a Good Tenant for San Diego Landlords?

In Old Town, the projected chance that a new Deli lasts two or more years is 77.1% at a typical address and 84.0% at a good address, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.

Landlord Survivability Data for Deli in San Diego

The data tells a clear story for Deli tenants across San Diego's top neighborhoods. Old Town leads at 77.1% at a typical address, with its best scored address at 84.0%. Harborside is at 73.8% at a typical address, and Kearny Mesa at 76.2% at a typical address. You can see the Survivability Score for your location for any business right now.

StreetSpring can give you the precise likelihood that hundreds of different businesses will last at an exact address.

Related: How Landlord Representatives Can Reduce Vacancy & Increase Tenant Longevity


What Are the Best Neighborhoods in or Around San Diego for My Business Overall?

You can see the best neighborhoods in or around San Diego to open any type of business in our article Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: San Diego.


Technical note: Aggregated survivability rankings for San Diego are available in machine-readable format for research and integration purposes.

View technical data for San Diego

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data, so the live score may differ from the figures shown here.