Survivability Rankings for Smoke Shop in San Diego

StreetSpring's 2026 ranking of San Diego neighborhoods to open a Smoke Shop, at a good address, from Rolando (84.6% survival) to Countryside (66.1%).

•13 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: Rolando: 84.6% at a good address, 72.7% at a typical address for Smoke Shop
  • Neighborhoods at or above 70% at a typical address: 23 of 83 ranked
  • Average across the 83 ranked neighborhoods (typical address): 67.4% for Smoke Shops
  • Most challenging area: Countryside: 66.1% at a good address, 57.2% 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

Of all the neighborhoods in and around San Diego, Rolando ranks #1 for opening a Smoke Shop, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 84.6% at a good address and 72.7% at a typical address. Its highest scored address is at 85.0% and its lowest at 58.9%. The last-ranked neighborhood is Countryside, at 66.1% at a good address and 57.2% at a typical address. A low-ranking neighborhood can still contain high-potential storefronts: the address matters most.


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

Rolando ranks #1 of the 83 ranked neighborhoods in and around San Diego for Smoke Shop survivability, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 84.6% at a good address as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:

RankNeighborhoodMetroAt a good addressAverage (typical address)Best LocationsChallenging Locations
1RolandoSan Diego84.6%72.7%85.0%58.9%
2Old TownSan Diego84.1%77.0%84.6%58.9%
3Kearny MesaSan Diego84.1%76.5%85.0%50.4%
4MiramarSan Diego84.1%75.6%85.0%52.6%
5HarborsideSan Diego84.1%73.0%85.0%59.8%
6Morro HillsSan Diego83.6%76.1%85.0%52.2%
7Roseville-FleetridgeSan Diego83.6%70.8%84.1%57.1%
8FeasterSan Diego83.2%75.1%83.2%63.8%
9Chollas ViewSan Diego83.2%69.7%84.1%54.4%
10Terra NovaSan Diego83.2%69.0%85.0%55.3%

StreetSpring's Survivability Scores are updated regularly, so the most accurate prediction for your exact storefront is always available in the live tool. StreetSpring's Survivability Scores are updated regularly, so the most accurate prediction for your exact storefront is always available in the live tool.

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 Smoke Shop Make the Most Money?

Where a Smoke Shop 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.

Rolando is ranked #1 for Smoke Shop survivability, at 84.6% at a good address and 72.7% at a typical address; Countryside is ranked last of the 83, at 66.1% at a good address and 57.2% 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.

Location is one of the few things about a new business you can measure before it opens. Opening a Smoke Shop in San Diego requires careful location choice. Across the 83 ranked neighborhoods, the average projected chance that a new Smoke Shop lasts two or more years is 67.4% at a typical address. Our models show that the optimal location profile varies dramatically from one business category to the next.


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

When selecting a location for a Smoke Shop in or around San Diego, it is crucial to select a location with a very high Survivability Score. The single most important number in a location decision is the Revenue Capture Score, StreetSpring's proprietary estimate of the revenue a business can capture at a specific address. 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 apply advanced machine learning to massive commercial real estate datasets to build accurate models. Strategic clustering can actually boost performance by creating destination zones. The prediction engine behind these rankings is entirely proprietary: developed in-house over years of research. 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. Our live tool reflects the latest competitive landscape: these static rankings may already be slightly out of date.


Where in or Around San Diego Should I Start a Smoke Shop?

StreetSpring's analysis shows the best areas are Rolando, Old Town, and Kearny Mesa, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Countryside, Southwestern College Estates, and Robinhood-Bon Vivant. Neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation: always check your specific address. However, market conditions change daily, and it's best to use StreetSpring's live data to check the Survivability Score for a specific address.

Related Articles:


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

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a Smoke Shop in San Diego is Rolando, at 84.6% at a good address and 72.7% at a typical address, followed by Old Town and Kearny Mesa. 23 of the 83 ranked neighborhoods are at or above 70% at a typical address.

Neighborhood rankings are useful, but the exact odds for your location can only be seen by running a current survivability check in StreetSpring.


Can a Smoke Shop 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. Even neighborhoods with modest average scores can harbor exceptional individual locations. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.


How Often Are Smoke Shop 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 Smoke Shop a Good Tenant for San Diego Landlords?

In Rolando, the projected chance that a new Smoke Shop lasts two or more years is 72.7% at a typical address and 84.6% at a good address, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.

Landlord Survivability Data for Smoke Shop in San Diego

Should you rent your storefront to a Smoke Shop? The answer depends heavily on your neighborhood. Rolando is ranked first, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 72.7% at a typical address, followed by Old Town at 77.0% at a typical address, and Kearny Mesa at 76.5% at a typical address. Get a live Survivability Score for your specific storefront in the live tool.

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.