Today Is the 20th Anniversary of OB’s Green Store

David Brower-silver haired older man at center of photo - joins the Green Store on opening day, Earth Day, April 1989. Colleen is to Brower's right and Kip is behind him.

Everyone is welcome to drop by the store to celebrate – 4827 A Voltaire Street – from 2pm on…

OCEAN BEACH, CA. Twenty years ago today, Colleen Dietzel and Kip Kruegar and other local environmentalists opened The Green Store on Voltaire Street for the first time.  It was Earth Day 1989 – April 22nd.

Ever since, the iconic ecology store has steadfastly held its ground, offering books, magazines, bumper stickers, buttons, T-shirts (OB Rag blog has our shirts there), posters and other green products and mementos, while also serving as an anti-corporate space, a lending library, a meeting site for area groups, and the headquarters for any thing green in OB.

For instance, during the days that OB Grassroots Organization was alive, it used to meet at the Green Store. Plus when the group sponsored the garden at Voltaire Park in the empty lot across the street from the Green Store, the store was the center for maintaining the garden.

Colleen at the first protest against Starbucks in OB, Spring 2001.

Twenty years ago, Colleen and Kip were synonymous with OB’s Green Party.  As their activism in that group faded, they kept active around any and every environmental issue, whether nukes, Styrofoam or protesting Starbucks.

Colleen can still be found in the store most days. She does recycling for a number of Ocean Beach bars and restaurants as her other paying job.  A few volunteers help her out in the Store.  Kip works for the Urban Corps.

There is a celebration starting at 2pm at the store. Everyone is welcome to come by for cake and other goodies. The store is located at 4827 A Voltaire. Go by and wish them a happy anniversary. Twenty years – most businesses never last that long.  Colleen and Kip have made it happen.