The restaurant located at the intersection of Woodside Avenue and Winter Gardens Boulevard in Lakeside is commonly known as ‘Lakeside BBQ’, but it’s actual name is ‘Fast Eddie’s Lakeside BBQ’.
It’s a business its namesake “Fast Eddie” retired to, rather than retired from.
The restaurant located at the intersection of Woodside Avenue and Winter Gardens Boulevard in Lakeside is commonly known as ‘Lakeside BBQ’, but it’s actual name is ‘Fast Eddie’s Lakeside BBQ’.
It’s a business its namesake “Fast Eddie” retired to, rather than retired from.
Eddie Diaz, who will turn 70 on January 20, explained that his involvement in the barbecue restaurant as manager and owner, is more than just supplementing his Social Security income. “It’s like an ambition I wanted to fulfill,” he said.
Diaz was born in Eagle Pass, Texas, and spoke only Spanish before economic circumstances led his family to move to Detroit when he was four years old.
In March, 1963 Diaz joined the Air Force, which included a 1966 tour of Vietnam before his discharge after four years of active duty. He spent two additional years in the Air Force Reserves.
Diaz moved to California in 1968, settling in Santa Maria before his eventual relocation to San Diego County.
A job at a Santa Maria radio station led him to seek upward mobility through a larger radio market, and in 1971 he moved to San Diego to work as a sales account executive at KOZN (103.7 FM).
Diaz then took a management role at XHRM (92.5 FM), later went to KCBQ when the station was on Mission Gorge Road in Santee, and eventually became the sales manager for KSON.
At one time Diaz’s cousin, Victor Diaz, owned California Radio Group, which consisted of Z90, Radio Latina, and Fiesta Mexicana. Diaz worked for his cousin before returning to the restaurant business for the first time since he was a food manager at a Santa Maria McDonald’s.
In the early 1990s Diaz opened ‘Fast Eddie’s Bar and Grill’ in the Glenview area on the Lakeside-El Cajon border.
“I picked it because it was an easy name to remember, and after I closed ‘Fast Eddie’s’ the moniker stuck,” Diaz said of what later became his nickname.
Diaz had the restaurant for approximately three years before taking a Security Surveillance position at Barona Casino. He retired from Barona in March 2011.
The retirement applied only to his casino position. “I (always) kind of enjoyed barbecuing,” Diaz said.
He set up his barbecue in parking lots of various Lakeside locations before utilizing a space inside Garden Farms Market – which didn’t suit his desires. “There wasn’t enough visibility. I went out and looked for a more visible location,” he said.
What had once been a Shell station at the corner of Woodside Ave. and Winter Gardens Blvd. was vacant. Diaz contacted the property owner and negotiated a lease agreement.
‘Fast Eddie’s Lakeside BBQ’ has been at that site since August, 2011. About a year later he took advantage of the outdoor barbecue grill and the outdoor seating and began selling street tacos.
The barbecue itself is Santa Maria style, which he learned while living in Central California. The offerings include sausages, chicken, and sandwiches.
In October 2012 ‘Fast Eddie’s Lakeside BBQ’ was issued its beer and wine license to complement the non-alcoholic beverages available.
In addition to offering discounts for police officers, firefighters, and active-duty military, Diaz also provides a senior discount for customers 65 years and older.
“I’m a senior and I enjoy my discounts, so I can relate to having a little extra cash,” he said.
Diaz doesn’t mind the publicity, employee management, financial management, and other tasks, which add to the cooking duties. “I enjoy it, and it’s something I have always wanted to do,” he said. ‘Fast Eddie’s Lakeside BBQ’ is open from 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. Wed.- Sat.
