Willie’s Shoe Shine in Ocean Beach Has to Either Be Sold or Moved Now – And Why

Willie’s Shoe Shine building, with Willie speaking to an unidentified woman with her dog. Photo from K. Hastings facebook post.

Willie’s Shoe Shine building along Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach has been forced out of its location by the new landlord. He must either sell the building or have it moved by this Wednesday, November 23rd – the day before Thanksgiving. Reportedly, he wants to sell it for $1,000. (As to why he has to move, see below for some background.)

Willie – the only African-American businessperson on Newport – has been doing business on OB’s main commercial street for nearly 50 years – first as an employee of a shoe repair shop on Newport and then later as the proprietor of his own “shop” at the corner of Newport and Cable.

Everybody knows Willie. And so, OB’s social media blew up this weekend with news that he was being forced out.

Many saw this coming. As the OB Rag reported last August:

Willie’s store has been pushed back – more into the interior of the parking lot. And new asphalt has been poured in the immediate site.

Not only was Willie’s building moved, but the OB Town Council’s bulletin board and the palm trees at the corner were all taken out. And according to our sources within the OBTC, the bulletin board was removed without their knowledge. (More on that later …)

But back to our current situation. On one of OB’s facebooks, it was announced Saturday morning that Willie’s building is being forced off the property, and that he must sell it and it must be gone by Wednesday. People are being asked to contact Willie while he is out there (where does he go in the rain?), and that he’s usually there Monday – Wednesday 9:00 am – 5:00pm.

All weekend commenters offered their condolences, their love, and their offers of assistance. OB resident Kevin Hastings – who helps head up OB’s anti-graffiti work – then took it upon himself to organize the offers. Here’s what Hastings wrote:

This is a new post on Willie’s Shoe Shine, with the specific purpose of getting his shed purchased and/or stored within the next few days. I went through the other threads and compiled everyone on here who expressed interest: [Kevin listed several potential purchasers].

Offered temporary storage only [Kevin listed nearly half dozen offers]:

And one, perhaps two people with a trailer have offered to help transport. If you are serious about purchasing, that’s the best start. Willie was hoping for $1000. Or fight over, it that’s fine too. If anyone listed, or anyone else is serious, please arrange purchase with Willie directly in person at his shop this Monday or Tuesday, or Wednesday if it takes that long.

The shed measures about 8’4″ by 8’8″  with small overhang all around. It was built in about 1996, has nice windows and roof, is wired for electrical, and is on a raised wood frame. It’s on wheels but they are just small rubber wheels for pushing it around. It is not on a trailer frame or anything. you should have a flat space cleared in your yard prepared for it, (preferably with gravel for drainage, and weed-blocker laid down).

To be clear I am not personally in charge of selling it, I’m just trying to help ensure it happens so that Willie doesn’t get into a tight spot when his deadline comes and it’s removed by force or something. I believe his deadline is Wednesday. And if nobody can commit to buying it by then, we have some willing to store it to buy some time.

Also as a personal request, I’d hope that anyone who purchases it is willing to preserve it for a month at least in the event that by some miracle Willie is able to find a place for it and meet the city requirements somehow. Willie seems content on the changes forced on him, but it would be cool if we helped him keep his options open.

Thank you, Kevin Hastings.

Back to some of the background.

In or around 1996, Willie’s building was burnt down, reportedly by a transient, but Ocean Beach responded, and people bought and built him a brand new one. He’s used it ever since.

As to why Willie has to completely move, this is what we reported in August:

Apparently, a new renter has taken over the parking lot area. The new leasee wanted the changes and went right to work, altering a small corner that had been dedicated to the community by the Town Council. All of it is now gone.

And who is this new leasee?

It turns out it’s Ronson “Ronnie” Shamoun, the wealthy tax attorney, who owns a number of businesses around Ocean Beach. He and his family own the OB Quick Stop on Voltaire Street, the Newport Quick Stop, the property where O’Bistro’s was and where a new cowboy sports bar is supposed to be going in.

Shamoun and company also own the property where the proposed 7-Eleven is going to be – across from Olive Tree. (Shamoun was once on the OB Planning Board.)

And now he has sub-leased the property where Willie’s Shoeshine is and made the changes, without notifying the OBTC. …

Mallories also used to let OBMA use the parking lot for free for the farmers market (for vendors). Now, Shamoun will be charging OBMA for the booth spaces.

Reportedly, Shamoun plans on putting a coffee cart in the corner parking lot, like the one over on Voltaire on the property of the OB Quick Stop. Already eyebrows are being raised. Is it legal to have a drive-through right off a main street? some local business owners are asking.

So, that’s why Willie’s Shoe Shine company must fold.

Way back in 1970 and early ’71, I used to hawk the original paper-version of the OB Rag – the underground newspaper for the community. And I would stand at the corner of Bacon and Newport and ask passersby or drivers for a quarter donation. I sold quite a lot.

And Willie – who worked in the local shoe repair shop up the block – would always walk down and flip me a quarter for a copy.  Without a comment, he would start reading it as he strolled back to work. This was in 1970.

Now because of changes coming on Newport – and around OB – Willie has to go.

If you can offer any assistance, please contact Kevin Hastings – or contact us via our email and we’ll connect with him. obragblog@gmail.com