Q&A: Jarid Dietrich, Managing Partner and Founder of Mindsai Gardens
Former music entrepreneur shares his plan to build a beachfront food hall in Cardiff
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Jarid Dietrich, managing partner and founder of Mindsai Gardens, has plans to raise “millions in capital” to build a new wellness community in the City of Encinitas.
Formerly based in Arizona, Dietrich moved to San Diego in 2020, with a previous background that involved working in the music industry, festival event business, and more recently — real estate developments.
My journey has truly been a "started from the bottom" story, said Jarid Dietrich, managing partner and founder of Mindsai Gardens. “Each step has brought me closer to where I am today. As I look back on it, my entire purpose has been to create places that inspire connection and transformational experiences.”
For Business of San Diego, I spoke with the founder to learn more about Mindsai Gardens, his master plan for bringing a 12,000 square-foot project to life, and why he’s doubling down on North County San Diego versus other parts of the United States.
Q: What’s Your Founding Story?
At 23, I took the leap into event production, with my first show being a concert for Lupe Fiasco in 2011. Music festivals like Coachella, and Lollapalooza, were booming, but Phoenix lacked a platform for such events, so I decided to create True Music Festival. At just 24, I raised $1 million, convinced a brand-new MLB stadium to rent me their fields, and cold-called William Morris (WME) to secure talent for the festival. It was a risk, but it paid off—True Music Festival was nominated as the Best New Music Festival in the U.S.
That success propelled me further into the music industry. With an incredible partner, we created Phoenix Lights Festival, which still exists today and attracts top national artists. Next were collaborations with Superfly Productions which led to the creation of Lost Lake, which won Best New Music Festival in the United States, featuring iconic acts like The Killers, Chance the Rapper, and Ludacris.
But while I was riding high in the music world, I began to realize something—people were telling me they had life-changing experiences at these festivals, but the events only lasted a few days. What if we could create something with that same transformational power, but one that lasted all year long? That led to my first real estate project, a container food hall in Phoenix.
Those experiences changed my perspective on life and inspired me to launch Mindsai Gardens. I saw how deeply people connect in those places—through wellness, community, sustainability, and personal growth. I realized we don’t have anything like that in the U.S., something that connects people with art, food, and one another in a meaningful, year-round way.
Q: What are the Plans for this Food Hall Development?
The space itself will be nothing short of breathtaking, as we work with leaders in the arts community to create an incredible canvas of fixed and rotating multimedia art. Our ocean-view deck will be a destination in itself—imagine being able to gather with friends, enjoy art, catch a sunset, and indulge in fresh, local food all in one place.
Too often, developers look at properties and ask, “What’s the highest and best use?” usually leading to cookie-cutter corporate shopping centers. But what if we turned that formula on its head? At Mindsai Gardens, we’re creating a vibrant, multi-functional space that fosters connection through food, art, and shared experiences.
Restaurants face enormous pressure with rising wages and high rent costs, which is why we’re introducing a new model—where tenants lease only their kitchen space. We take care of shared services, marketing, and even provide organic produce grown on-site through our solar-powered vertical hydroponic farm. This is an innovative way to lower operating costs, reduce food delivery inefficiencies, and offer fresh, healthy food directly to customers.
Q: Can You Explain Why San Diego?
Mother Teresa famously said, “bloom where you’re planted,” and that’s exactly what we aim to do here in San Diego. The city is, in my opinion, the best-kept secret in America. It’s a progressive, outdoor-loving community that deeply cares about what they put in their bodies and their overall well-being. San Diego's unique blend of beach culture, mindfulness, and environmental consciousness aligns perfectly with the vision for Mindsai Gardens.
This is a place where people can not only nourish their bodies with fresh, organic food but also connect with their community and engage in creative expression.
The need for a project like this has never been greater. In a city that is as picturesque as San Diego, it’s hard to find an accessible space with ocean views that isn't tied to expensive reservations or limited access. People want a place they can casually drop by, a community hub that’s open to everyone without the pretense.
Q: What’s Next for Mindsai Gardens?
We’re in the exciting phase of closing our first round of capital and I’m thrilled to have the support of investors who truly understand the impact we’re trying to make.
San Diego is home, and it’s critical that we partner with people who are rooted here. Local investors bring not only capital but invaluable insights into the community, which is at the heart of what we’re building.
We’ve had great support so far, but we are still looking to add a few more local partners who share our values and can help us expand our community of impact-driven investors. Our next steps involve securing the property in Cardiff, which we plan to close on this summer. Once we have the land, we’ll move into permitting and construction.
The city has been incredibly supportive, which has made the process smoother than expected. As we get closer to construction, we’re focusing on attracting the right tenants, skilled operators with multiple existing locations who are looking to expand into the coastal San Diego market. We’re not just looking for anyone. We want to create a community of like-minded people who share our values of sustainability, wellness, and authentic community impact.
Mindsai Gardens is about transforming the way people connect with their food, their community, and each other. We believe this will become a cornerstone of the San Diego experience, and I couldn’t be more excited to bring this vision to life.
If you’re interested in learning more and attending its upcoming investor “meet-and-greet” event on May 21st at their HQ, you can request an invitation here to attend. Space at the event is limited.
Excellent write up - it’s been great following Jarid’s career and rapid rise in the real estate industry up to this point. Excited for his vision to come to fruition in the coming years!