A Pictorial Tour of Ocean Beach on a Friday Morning

It was hoping down at the beach this Friday morning in Ocean Beach. Lots going on. The surf was jumping. Palm fronds were being cut down. The Oktoberfest stage was going up. Streets were being repaired. It was a beautiful morning with the sun hitting the surf right next to the OB Pier.

Around 7:30 am at the lifeguard parking lot. All photos by Frank Gormlie

When the weatherperson says “high surf – be careful” – the surfers converge looking for large surf. And they found it this morning. Lots of folk out to see it.

Despite warnings of rain this weekend,

workers were preparing the stage for this weekend’s Oktoberfest gig.

The OB Pier parking lot was closed –

and ‘no parking’ signs were going up along Abbott Street.

There’s a brand new pet store, Bancroft Pet Shop, that has opened up on Bacon Street (where the former surf wetsuit storefront was – and before that – where there was another pet store, right?)

It’s very visible and hopefully it will succeed – although parking in that area is always a challenge.

Nati’s has finally closed.

Yet those small businesses within the old building appear to be still going.

There is activity at the future (groan!) Target store on Newport.

Although they don’t want you to see anything – a witness told me there are people inside working, that they park in the back, and lights are on at night.

Letting the tour take us off Newport Avenue, the new OB bowling alley in the small mall at Voltaire Beach House deserved a check.

Rumor has it they’re going to open the 4-lane place in a month or two.

But looking at how much there is to be done – this sounds unreasonably optimistic.

Also on Voltaire a new gym has opened up – above Plant Power – at the corner of Sunset Cliffs and Voltaire.

They have the entire top floor and

offer every martial art imaginable.

Also opening up soon, apparently, is a store front right next to ABC Liquor near the corner of Voltaire and Ebers.

Some kind of high-end shop called Petra de Luna Shop – “modern vintage home decor”….

Love has the final say in our tour of OB on a sunny Friday morning. Seen on an alley wall.