Newport Avenue

Scores of Windows and Glass Doors Etched Along Newport by Vandals

January 26, 2011 by Frank Gormlie
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This is an update from the earlier post about the vandalism in Ocean Beach against Newport Avenue businesses. This morning (1-26-11) I walked up and down Newport Avenue taking an informal survey of the businesses who had windows and doors etched by vandals probably during the early morning hours of Tuesday, January 25th. I had […]

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Dozens of Ocean Beach Businesses Vandalized

January 26, 2011 by Source
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Editor: We will be posting an update on this story later today.

By Jen Lebron Kuhney / SignOnSanDiego / Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 5:46 p.m.

OCEAN BEACH — The windows of at least 31 Ocean Beach businesses were etched by vandals, apparently between midnight and 5 a.m. Tuesday, San Diego police said.

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Newport News and Attitudes – what’s shakin’ on OB’s main drag

January 13, 2011 by Frank Gormlie
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Every now and then, we’ll do a review of what’s been going down on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach, what’s new with the businesses, who has opened, who has closed, the current rumors and attitudes. On this subject, however, we have been lax of late, so this will hopefully catch us up. There are changes […]

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How about a ‘Local Small Businesses Support Their Local Community Day’?

November 30, 2010 by Source
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by Sarah Little

Support Your Local Small Business Day?

How about a ‘Local Small Businesses Support Their Local Community Day’?

It’s not that I’m anti-small business. I’m not. I whole-heartedly support small, local businesses. Heck, that is one of the reasons I love Ocean Beach.

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In the early seventies Gary Gilmore found ‘heaven’ and he’s been in Ocean Beach ever since.

October 26, 2010 by Frank Gormlie
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Gary Gilmore – Newport Avenue’s goldsmith par excellence – is proud of the fact that he arrived in Ocean Beach in 1973 with nothing else but the clothes on his back, his guitar, and his leather tools. He had journeyed across the country and had found heaven. And he’s been in OB ever since. His is a true classic rags to riches story. Yet it’s an OB hippie version of the classic. For Gary Gilmore certainly looked like a hippie when he arrived 37 years ago.

Gary’s love for OB is so evident that it’s almost difficult to get him to talk about anything else. This was all apparent as we took our seats for a lunch at the quintessential OB restaurant – the Old Townhouse – featured prominently in the current television series “Terriers” which was filmed in OB.

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Cheap Thrills Satisfy on Newport

July 24, 2010 by Brenda McFarlane
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Damn! Another reason never to leave Ocean Beach. 2 Dollar Thrill is a tiny little store making a big bang on Newport.

When I first wander in I admit I’m a bit confused. I ask the friendly sales clerk “So, not everything is two dollars, is it?”

“Yes it is.” she answers and adds; “Everything is 2 dollars, that’s all.” I’ll hear her repeat a version of this litany several times to other people while I’m in the store. Why is this question necessary when the store is called 2 Dollar Thrill and there’s signs everywhere saying “Everything Two Dollars?” Because 2 Dollar Thrill is too good to be true.

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Newport News – Cottage Antiques and Stuff 2 Puff

July 5, 2010 by Brenda McFarlane
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Cottage Antiques Closing

Cottage Antiques is closing its doors to focus on ecommerce, private sales and antique shows after 22 years contributing significantly to the antique scene on Newport Avenue. Ocean Beach will sorely miss the presence of Cordelia and Bob who have contributed so much to the commercial ambiance of Newport for 22 years. Cordelia is quick to let me know that the choice to close the shop is a very positive move for the pair as they are eager to focus on their online business without being tied down to the demands of the store. They are looking forward to their new found freedom to travel and do select antique shows “And,” Bob throws in with a smile, “some golf.”

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The Black Refuses to Remove Hate Sticker Against OB Homeless

June 12, 2010 by Frank Gormlie
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I just got off the phone with Ken Anderson, one of the co-managers of The Black. He has worked on Newport Ave for 18 years and has seen everything. He is the one who ordered the new, controversial anti-homeless stickers that say “Welcome to Ocean Beach. Please don’t feed our bums,” with a graphic of a 1930’s hobo and dog.

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Newport News – OB’s Main Street and Beyond

March 15, 2010 by Source
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by Kristin Condon

The building with Ace Tattoo and El Rodeo is looking spiffy – it has gotten a new paint job and new banisters and signs, including the new “L Rodeo” sign.

Ciao Bella Ristorante e Pizzaria at 4953 Newport opened at the end of February, and appears to be doing a brisk business. Their extensive menu features soups, salads, antipasto, pasta, panini, risotti, pizzas, and handmade desserts. They have a very nice dining room, and also will take phone orders to go….

SEE MORE INSIDE…..

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Breaking news on Newport, naked man nearly incites riot

January 30, 2010 by Nate Hipple
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by Nate Hipple

At 2:30 PM a naked man waded into the ocean in the ‘surfing only’ section next to the pier in Ocean Beach. This immediately caused a reaction from people who were hanging out on the boardwalk as well as those standing in the tide pools. Some were cheering. One man shouted, “Put your clothes back on!”

When the skinny dipper returned to the beach, moments later, lifeguards and police were waiting to detain him. One eyewitness saw the naked man struggle with authorities and was forcibly brought to the ground. Onlookers on the boardwalk reacted with obscenities, shouting, “F- the police!” and “Pigs!”

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Reader Rave: Loyal customers key to Newport merchants – ‘shop locally’ way to go

December 1, 2009 by Source
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by Anonymous Newport Merchant

I’m cautiously optimistic about this season for businesses on Newport Avenue.

First off there is a much more positive feel from my customers as well as from other merchants that this is going to be a better Christmas than last. Last year there was a palpable atmosphere of fear and uncertainty where as this year the mood is considerably more optimistic.

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Newport News – news from OB’s main street

October 24, 2009 by Frank Gormlie
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OCEAN BEACH, CA. Every now and then, we like to check in to what’s been going on Newport Avenue – OB’s main drag. What is going on with the community’s main business street?

Well, there’s lots to report – both good and bad.

COW IS MOVING OUT OF OB

We spoke to Greg last week, the owner of Cow, Newport’s only music store. And unfortunately for the community, his business will be moving out of Ocean Beach by the new year. He is on a month-to-month lease. The reason for the move from the beach? Well, there are two reasons:

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Chris Bowd contacts OB Rag: says he’s almost normal and is looking for a suspect

August 20, 2009 by Frank Gormlie
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Chris Bowd has contacted us at the OB Rag and says he is 85 to 90% back to normal – health and mental wise, and as of today (8/20/09) out of the hospital system. This is great news.

Bowd, the OBcean assaulted July 4th and left unconscious on the sidewalk on Newport Ave and Bacon, and then was in a coma for weeks, wrote to the OB Rag at 4:15 this afternoon and left a comment to the latest article on his situation.

Here is what Chris wrote: …

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Late Night Talk Show “Matt Cook Live” has OB Buzzin’

August 17, 2009 by Lane Tobias
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by Lane Tobias

Its easy to find talented people in OB. For such a small community, we have an unusual amount of creative people, both artists and entrepreneurs, within our midst. I learned this first hand over the last few weeks as I got to know my neighbors Matt Cook and self described “couch-monkey” Joe Clarke.

Matt and Joe have spent the last three months showcasing local residents who make OB San Diego’s most unique and exciting ‘hood on their late night talk show, Matt Cook Live.

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Vendors Strike Back at Dr Jefe of Rock Paper Scissors

March 6, 2009 by Frank Gormlie
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Many of the vendors kicked out from Rock Paper Scissors are still angry at Dr Jefe who ran the place, and who supposedly decided in one day to immediately close the business – a business that had grown to be one of the most popular storefronts on Newport Avenue. Jeff Fagan, the real Dr Jefe, had told me that the fateful day was February 2nd, when after reading his financial statements, he decided to close RPS immediately.

The vendors don’t believe that. They believe that he and his staff knew business was bad, but the message they gave out to the vendors was that ‘everything was fine.’ That’s what they heard.

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Dr Jefe Answers His Critics On the Closing of Rock Paper Scissors

February 25, 2009 by Frank Gormlie
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by Frank Gormlie

(Reposted from Feb.19th) I finally sat down with Dr Jefe inside the hollow chamber once known as Rock Paper Scissors and got his side of the controversies surrounding the closing of the popular arts and crafts store. It had suddenly closed without notice earlier this month.

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Blondstone vs OB Farmers Market, Part Three – Just Grow Up!

February 24, 2009 by Doug Porter
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To re-cap:

Flyers were passed out at the OB Farmers Market suggesting that the owners of Blondstone were seeking to have the market shut down by way of a letter writing campaign to various governmental agencies that resulted in increased scrutiny.

We met with Blondstone owner Shane Smith who asserted that his objective was never to shut down the Farmers Market.

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OB Farmers Market Story Continued….Blondstone: “Just Don’t Hurt Us”

February 22, 2009 by Doug Porter
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[Republished due to popular demand.]
Last week we ran a report about flyers handed out on Newport Avenue that pointed the finger at the owners of Blondstone as being behind a letter writing campaign that could lead to closing down the OB Farmers’ Market, the Holiday Parade, and other events that include craft fairs. That report prompted numerous people to comment on this site. Shane Smith and Heidi Holman, the husband-wife team that owns the store, also contacted us, asking for an opportunity to express their point of view. I sat down with Shane; this story is a result of that get-together.

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