There is some good news on Newport Ave in OB. Four locals have purchased The Harp Irish bar and grill — including Miles Doughty of Slightly Stoopid and 3 friends — and they opened not coincidentally on St Patrick’s Day this past weekend. It’s at 4935 Newport Avenue.
The 3 friends include Jeremy Diem, the current president and CEO of Hodad’s, and longtime OB fixtures Tyson Green and Steve Ashton who are some of the people behind OB bars like the former Mother’s Saloon, the all-time popular Sunshine Company Saloon, and Aquarius Bar & Grille in closeby Mission Bay.
When the former owner of The Harp, Anthony “Tony” Fleming passed suddenly last October in an unfortunate and tragic incident, the four friends saw an opportunity to keep, for some, their beloved Irish pub local.
The quatro amigos had been looking around for a restaurant/ bar to buy, according to San Diego Magazine. The Rag heard the rumor over a month ago, but with this weekend, it’s all official with the owners living out their dream to keep it local.
Miles Doughty, of course, is the frontman and lead singer of OB’s most famous band, Slightly Stoopid. He started it in 1994 with Kyle McDonald and Adam Bausch.
Doughty told SD Mag that he hoped to leverage his music industry experience to bring more bands and live music to The Harp.
“It’s cool to be able to do it with your friends that have been in the bar business for 25-years plus.”
Reporter Beth Demmon wrote:
The four friends initially banded together in order to get into the hospitality business, hoping to purchase Cheswick’s West on Newport Avenue. Negotiations didn’t pan out, and when Fleming passed away, Green says the opportunity to buy The Harp instead felt like fate. …
Doughty is the only born-and-raised OB local, but everyone has roots in the beach town that go back decades and intend to keep the spirit of The Harp and Ocean Beach as it has been. However, Doughty adds, they do plan to eventually renovate and rebrand the space once they have a few months of summer service under their belts. But he assures me that everyone will still be welcome at the all-ages space with plenty of good music, food, and family fun.
Open … St. Patrick’s Day as their first official debut. “We’re going to throw ourselves to the wolves and let it rip,” laughs Green. “We’re super fired up—OB’s in for some cool shit.”
Here’s more from SanDiegoVille:
Founded in 2003 by Anthony Fleming, The Harp is an Irish bar and eatery located on Newport Avenue in the heart of San Diego’s Ocean Beach neighborhood. Last October, Fleming suffered a stroke and subsequently died on October 18, 2023, at the age of 63. Earlier this year, news broke that the 5,000 square-foot bar and grill was being sold for the asking price of $495,000. …
The Harp’s daily operations will be in the hands of long time Sunshine Company bartender Steve Ashton, industry veteran Tyson Green, and Hodad’s company president Jeremy Diem. The 20-year-old Irish bar will remain mostly as-is for the time being but will eventually close for a renovation and rebranding. With a rockstar as part of the new ownership team, expect the venue to host more musical acts.
For more information, visit harpob.com.
Stoked for Miles and his crew. Keeping it local…