Meet Liam and Collen who just opened their yoga center on Newport in August. (All photos by Frank Gormlie)
Join us as we cruise up and down Newport Avenue – the main business street in Ocean Beach. This is one of our irregular columns on the very latest goings on in the commercial zone – what’s new? What’s old? Who’s in? Who’s out? Who is opening and who is closing? (Pics were taken Friday afternoon – a fine day, Nov.6th.)
Facade of OB Brewery looks done.
OB Brewery Exterior Looks Done … But …
The latest brewery happening in OB is the OB Brewery – whose exterior looks great. But one look inside and you can tell it’s not there yet – it’s not ready for public consumption. The establishment, owned by the same folks who own Newport Pizza across the street, will have a brewery downstairs – the vats have been in for awhile – and there will be 2 floors of dining, including roof-top eating and drinking.
Inside the brewery tells another story.
This project has been going on for a very long time. Years ago, during the 1970s, the building used to house the Inbetween – a youth drop-in center. Then for years it was a fortress-like counseling center, then it was vacant for a long time, … and now… another beer and food gig. Very symbolic of the changes since last century on Newport Ave.
Early Friday afternoon at the BBQ House.
BBQ House Booming
In the middle of a Friday afternoon, the OB BBQ House was crazy – very busy – and more so than other locales on the street. I was told a wedding party just walked in unannounced.
Don’t look vegetarians. But this is where’s it really at inside the BBQ House.
Another expansion that took a long time, OB’s one-time hole-in-the-wall BBQ treasure that was a secret of the locals, has all grown up.
A rare moment . No line in front of Hodad’s
Look, ma! No Line at Hodad’s!
That’s right, kids. On this day and at this time – roughly 2pm – there was no line in front of Hodad’s – perhaps the most famous restaurant in all of San Diego.
Interior garden at arcade.
Garden and Ebikes Inside Arcade
Newport’s only arcade often gets overlooked. When we did look, we found an Ebike place – electronic bikes and bikes for rent, deep inside the Arcade.
Deep within the arcade is a bike rental.
Plus, we found a real garden – with light from a large sun-roof above.
Nothing new here.
No Progress at AppleTree Market
There’s been absolutely no progress – that we can see – at the fabled new Apple Tree Market that is supposed to be opening on Newport.
We took the exact photo last time we looked and saw the exact same items
Inside looks the same from when we last took a peek through the front windows.
Another closure on Newport Ave.
Indulgence Closes
One of the mainstays on Newport Avenue has closed – Indulgences – a long-time women’s hair-dressing salon.
Inside …
We’re not certain why – but it looks like there’s already a new, but smaller business inside in the back.
Humble Hippie closed.
Humble Hippie Is Gone
Another victim of the times, the economy, or what? the Humble Hippie at the prominent corner of Newport and Cable has closed. It was one of 2 stores the owner had – the other in Colorado we believe. This is a tough corner. Before the Humble, there was a high-end furniture and housewares store. And before that – as locals know – there was a locally-owner pet store, with pet food and supplies, but also with birds, fish, turtles and other pets. When you walked in, you knew it was a pet store with those wonderful smells. And the owner of the shop was more interested in talking to you about your pets than making money. After – what? 3 decades there – he had to move because his rent was raised 3000% (that is not a typo – 3 thousand percent) by the landlord.
A busy Friday afternoon.
New Barbershop on Cable Is Busy
A quick drop by at the new barbershop on Cable shows that they are busy and are doing well, according to the owner. Three chairs were filled.
Waiting for this eatery to open.
Hummus Cafe Not Opened
An eatery that some have anticipated to be opened soon is Hummus, a Middle-Eastern type place on the 4800 block of Newport, is still closed.
Looking through the window, what do you see?
A look inside shows much of the interior seems to be ready for business. This is another business that just is taking forever to open their doors.
Liam and Colleen’s place.
Yoga Center Is Ready for Everybody
One place that has opened recently, is the new yoga center right next to the new winery set to open (see separate post) in the former antique store. Colleen and her hubby Liam – both are instructors – opened their place in late August. They told me they want to make yoga accessible for everybody, and that they’ve done that by making their center a warm, friendly place, cheap and affordable lessons, and they offer classes for free.
Gilmore Family Jewelers
Gilmore’s Awesome Last Newport Sale
As many know, the Gilmore Family jewelry store is closing down at the end of the year. They plan to morph into an online business only and be housed at a facility near Liberty Station. Meanwhile, they’re having an awesome sale – 50% off select items.
Moving sale
This could be their ‘last’ Newport Avenue sale. (We don’t mind giving them a plug – Gary has worked his butt off for the community, was one of our first advertisers, is a genuine ‘OB character’ and created a real-life “mom and pop shop” that deserves the village’s support. Do a word search with his name and find the OB Rag interview.)
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
maybe we could use the Inbetween again and less beer… Or more beer and the addition of an Inbetween??
Shocker that the old Apple Tree owners aren’t progressing with their grocery store. Just wonderful stewards of the community.
Also shocker: $40 tye dye tshirts weren’t a profitable business plan.
I was once kicked out of the Humble Hippie because I disagreed with the owner/ manager.
For reals Frank!!! YOU!!?? We all might want to hear more details if suitable….
I vote for an article all about the places in OB that Frank had been kicked out of. Like a walking tour! I’ll help write it! We can start at the library, make our way toward humble hippie and then if there aren’t many more we can just start drinking beers at Lucy’s and see what happens…?
We used to say if you haven’t been kicked out of Pac Shores by Ruthie, you were not a local.
Tyler, as far as the Apple Tree is concerned…it takes a lot of time to go through the city and the health dept for permits. doing work before you have your plans approved isn’t a good idea. how many years did it take south beach to get the upstairs approved? look at the bbq house, the new brewery, huumus, etc. just sayin’
It takes 3+ years to approve and open a grocery store? That’s news to me. Are you saying you know for a fact that it’s been delayed solely due to permits?
They had stated repeatedly that they would not start the process until it was certain that a grocery store was not going in their old location. I do know for certain that it has not been 3+ years since cvs signed the lease. I’ve certainly spoken with the owners before on this matter, although it’s been a while, have you? and I highly doubt that “you know for certain” “that the old Apple Tree owners aren’t progressing with their grocery store” as you stated. I’ve dealt with the city on permitting and know what it can take. Why do you think it took south beach so long to get the upstairs? that took years.
I would like to add one more new thing to the list. There is an Indian restaurant on Sunset Cliffs down from the Olive Tree Market called Sundara, a name many folks are familiar with. Well, a new breakfast place is now open at the same location operated by two of Sundara’s employees, Jake and Marissa. The food is excellent, I will write something more detailed later but I encourage everyone to give it a try. My first meal was kimchee rice and fried eggs. VERY spicy and delicious. Check it out!
Another place close to OB, but not in OB proper that is having their rent raised 3000% too, is an old staple here in SD, Albies Beef Inn. It’s next to the Travelodge on Hotel Circle. There is even a petition to stop it from happening. This is a very popular place next door to Adam’s Eggs, who is also being squeezed out. There is going to be a multi million dollar renovation that will happen with the new owners. Closing Dec 23.
Breakfast at Sundara!!!
That sounds amazing.
Geoff- what are the breakfast hours, what days of the week? Nick the owner of Sundara has run a solid and popular business since day one. He says OB-PL needed Indian food — and it did. And Jake and Marissa have been a part of it. The addition of breakfast will be a great thing.
Mercy, this is sad about Albies.
I plan to write up a more detailed piece this weekend that the Rag will run. At the moment, it is only open on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 to 2:00 and they also do delivery. As business develops, they plan to expand the hours.
For reals Frank!!! YOU!!?? We all might want to hear more details if suitable…