What is the best neighborhood in San Diego to open a Smoke Shop?

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the best neighborhood in San Diego to open a Smoke Shop is Kearny Mesa, ranked #1 at 84.2% Best and 76.5% Typical. 23 of the 83 ranked neighborhoods are at or above 70% Typical.

What is the average survivability for Smoke Shop across San Diego's ranked neighborhoods?

Across the 83 ranked neighborhoods in San Diego, the average projected chance that a Smoke Shop lasts two or more years is 67.4% Typical. Kearny Mesa, ranked #1, is at 76.5% Typical.

What are the worst neighborhoods for Smoke Shop in San Diego?

The most challenging neighborhoods in San Diego for Smoke Shop include Countryside (ranked last, at 61.2% Best and 57.2% Typical), Ocean Hills, and Palm City. Remember that a neighborhood average smooths over wide variation: your exact block could significantly outperform.

What should I consider when opening a Smoke Shop in San Diego?

When evaluating a potential location, Revenue Capture Score should be the first number you look at. StreetSpring computes Revenue Capture Score by projecting the business's market share based on competitor quality and quantity, mobility patterns, and forecasted consumer spending for the specific business type.

Survivability Rankings for Smoke Shop in San Diego

Q: Where in San Diego would a Smoke Shop make the most money?

It depends on 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. Check it in the live tool for each San Diego address you are weighing.

Q: Can a Smoke Shop succeed in lower-ranked neighborhoods in San Diego?

Yes, neighborhood rankings are averages that 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. 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 2026 ranking of San Diego neighborhoods to open a Smoke Shop, on Best, from Kearny Mesa (84.2% survival) to Countryside (61.2%).

September 22, 2026•13 min read

By Robert Koons | Last reviewed: November 2026 | Methodology

Quick Summary

Survivability Score: the projected chance a business type lasts two or more years at a specific address

Best, Typical and Worst: Best is the average chance of lasting two or more years for the better of two addresses picked at random in the place, in a smaller space; Typical is the average address; Worst is the same for the worse of two, in a larger space

#1 Neighborhood: Kearny Mesa: 84.2% Best, 76.5% Typical for Smoke Shop

The range inside Kearny Mesa: the best locations reach 90.0% and the most challenging sit at 50.4%, a spread of 39.6 points. Picking the neighborhood narrows the search; the specific address is what settles it

Neighborhoods at or above 70% Typical: 23 of 83 ranked

Average across the 83 ranked neighborhoods (typical address): 67.4% for Smoke Shops

Most challenging area: Countryside: 61.2% Best, 57.2% Typical

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 →

Summary
10 Best Neighborhoods
Where Would a Smoke Shop Make the Most Money?
What Should I Consider?
Where Should I Start?
FAQ: Best Neighborhoods
FAQ: Can a Smoke Shop Succeed in Lower-Ranked Areas?
FAQ: How Often Are Rankings Updated?
FAQ: Is a Smoke Shop a Good Tenant?
Landlord Survivability Data
Best Neighborhoods for Any Business

Summary

Kearny Mesa leads San Diego's 2026 survivability rankings for Smoke Shop operators, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 84.2% Best and 76.5% Typical. The last-ranked neighborhood is Countryside, at 61.2% Best and 57.2% Typical. These rankings are based on the latest available data; check StreetSpring for real-time updates.

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

Kearny Mesa 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 84.2% Best as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:

Rank	Neighborhood	Metro	Best	Typical	Worst
1	Kearny Mesa	San Diego	84.2%	76.5%	71.2%
2	Old Town	San Diego	83.5%	77.0%	72.5%
3	Miramar	San Diego	82.8%	75.6%	70.0%
4	Morro Hills	San Diego	82.7%	76.1%	71.2%
5	Eastlake Vistas	San Diego	82.0%	77.3%	74.0%
6	Feaster	San Diego	79.6%	75.1%	70.8%
7	La Playa	San Diego	78.9%	74.9%	70.8%
8	Peacock	San Diego	78.8%	73.9%	69.1%
9	Guajome	San Diego	78.7%	73.6%	68.6%
10	Central Chula Vista	San Diego	78.6%	73.0%	67.5%

Best and Worst are the average results for the better and the worse of two addresses picked at random in the place: a weighted average of every scored location in which the best locations count the most for Best and the weakest count the most for Worst. Typical is the average address. Best is shown for a smaller space (half the standard size) and Worst for a larger one (half again as large), at the metro's median asking rent, using the same rent rule as our tool; Typical is at the market rent.

For the most current predictions, visit StreetSpring to analyze your specific location in real-time. Real-time data from StreetSpring accounts for recent openings, closures, and seasonal shifts that static rankings cannot.

The ranking runs on Best. Every figure is the projected chance of lasting two or more years, as printed in the linked file. See our full methodology →

These figures assume a lease at the local market rate. The live tool adjusts the figure when you enter a lease that is cheaper or more expensive than that.

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.

Kearny Mesa is ranked #1 for Smoke Shop survivability, at 84.2% Best and 76.5% Typical; Countryside is ranked last of the 83, at 61.2% Best and 57.2% Typical. 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 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% Typical. The interplay between location characteristics and business type produces unique survivability scores for every combination.

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. When evaluating a potential location, Revenue Capture Score should be the first number you look at. 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. Clustering works when it draws more customers to the area than any single business could alone. StreetSpring's predictions leverage proprietary datasets covering competition, spending, and mobility. 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

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 Smoke Shop?

The strongest survivability scores belong to Kearny Mesa, Old Town, and Miramar, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Countryside, Ocean Hills, and Palm City. Remember that a neighborhood average smooths over wide variation: your exact block could significantly outperform. StreetSpring refreshes survivability data continuously: check the tool for the most current score at any 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 Kearny Mesa, at 84.2% Best and 76.5% Typical, followed by Old Town and Miramar. 23 of the 83 ranked neighborhoods are at or above 70% Typical.

Static rankings provide a useful baseline, but the live tool captures changes that have occurred since publication.

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. For the most current predictions, visit StreetSpring to analyze your specific location in real-time. 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 Kearny Mesa, the projected chance that a new Smoke Shop lasts two or more years is 76.5% Typical and 84.2% Best, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.

Landlord Survivability Data for Smoke Shop in San Diego

For Smoke Shop tenants in San Diego's three top-ranked neighborhoods, the projected chance of lasting two or more years is:

Kearny Mesa: 84.2% Best
Old Town: 83.5% Best
Miramar: 82.8% Best

See which business types are most likely to succeed at your property address right now.

StreetSpring provides highly detailed forecasts: revealing how long hundreds of business types are likely to last at a specific address.

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.

Business Survivability Rankings: San Diego: See how Smoke Shop compares to all other business types in San Diego
Best Cities to Open a Smoke Shop in the US: National city-level survivability rankings for Smoke Shop
Business Survivability in Kearny Mesa, San Diego: All business types ranked in the #1 neighborhood
Business Survivability in Old Town, San Diego: All business types ranked in the #2 neighborhood
Business Survivability in Miramar, San Diego: All business types ranked in the #3 neighborhood

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.

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