I worked at that Chili's for five years during college, and that pond remained empty every single day. I've heard rumors that the site was supposed to be a Joe's Crab Shack (before the original one next to Cracker Barrell was built then demolished making way for Saltgrass), an upscale Chinese restaurant (like PF Changs) or possible for a Ted's Escondido (before the new one was built next to Saltgrass).

It's true, the owner would come into the restaurant in the middle of the afternoon, sit at the table closest to the back window on the patio and just watch the construction or go over his notes. Sometimes he would have somebody with him, but most of the time he was just by himself. My customers always asked me what was going in there, but we never knew the answer. It was funny b/c everybody assumed the initial construction phases were a sign that a new restaurant was coming in soon, however they didn't realize the construction had been going on since before 2002!

If you drive by the site now, there are some steel beams going up, but I don't remember seeing a sign or anything w/ more info on it.