Paul Dobson, who through his restaurant helped shape the cultural and civic life of San Diego, dies at 82

Paul Dobson, amateur bullfighter, English literature and opera lover, and, above all, San Diego’s consummate host to San Diego’s movers and shakers for more nearly 60 years, has died. He was 82.

From his perch at the front door of Dobson’s bar and restaurant in the Spreckels Theatre Building on Broadway Circle, he greeted the high and mighty as well as walk-in tourists and locals. Opened in 1983, it featured a traditional fare, led by Dobson’s signature mussel bisque. He believed martinis should be “cold, cold, cold” and sports-bar TVs were distracting.

“This is a talking bar where you have to talk to people,” he said, according to long-time investor Marcos  Luciano who succeeded Dobson as manager in 2014. 

World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma was prodded to visit after a concert. Muhammad Ali posed for photos outside. Oprah Winfrey once ordered eight dinners-to-go for her private jet and pre-presidential Donald Trump, in between court depositions in 2010, lunched on a hamburger and the bisque, a rich cream soup topped with puff pastry, which he endorsed with a thumbs up.

Lawyers, politicians,  stockbrokers and builders hammered out deals at Dobson’s. It’s decorated with photos of Dobson as matador and dozens of brass plaques honoring his most devoted patrons.

Dobson died on Jan. 5 at Sharp Memorial Hospital after a head injury, leaving two daughters who lived with him at t...