SanDiegoVille / September 4, 2024
Opening this weekend in the space that long housed Cheswick’s West in San Diego’s Ocean Beach neighborhood is a new dive bar called Kustom Kulture. [Editordude: How can a brand new bar be a “dive bar”? Does not make sense.]
In 1983, Ocean Beach resident Dean Hall opened Cheswicks West, a tiny biker bar with a big window. Over the more than 40 years in business, the dive bar has hosted eclectic blend of patrons ranging from bikers, to surfers, to hippies and musicians, and everyone in between.The founder and owner for the past 40 years, Ralph Hall, passed in 2021 and he left the bar to his longtime manager, Michelle Driscoll, who due to illness had to retire.
Last year, a large brawl occurred outside of Cheswick’s, resulting in a stabbing and multiple people injured. Reportedly 17 Hells Angeles were indicted connected with the incident. Following the fight, the bar was put up for sale late last year. The space was previously eyed by a group of investor that included Miles Doughty, the frontman for San Diego-born rock band Slightly Stoopid, but they ultimately purchased nearby The Harp.
The 1,400 square-foot space is now ready to reopen as a new dive bar named Kustom Kulture. Now owned by Julius & Kimberlly Ulrich, Francesca Lawrence and Annamarie Spenner, the renovated interior offers free pool, a full bar with cocktails and multiple tap handles, and capacity for 49 people inside with additional outside curbside seating.
Kustom Kulture grand opens on September 7 at 5038 Newport Avenue in San Diego’s Ocean Beach. For more information, visit kustomkulture.com.
This looks pretty cool. Cheswick’s could be fun but a bit scary at times.
One can tell that this new place, just by the name “Kustom Kulture” (and website) will have a sort of punk rock/rockabilly vibe (think music festivals like The Hootenanny and Ink N Iron). I think this will be a good addition to OB. I look forward to hitting it up.
Separate note. Didn’t the stabbing turn out to be in front of The Sunshine Company?
The KKK took my baby away from me:
https://youtu.be/XbVhlozAWcY?si=QExeyLy8h1mdCDMM
This was supposed to be a response to Justin Kid’s post.
“ROGER MIRET – AGNOSTIC FRONT – GODFATHER OF HARDCORE”
Yes this is definitely going to be a very punk rock bar.
Isn’t “ Kustom Kulture” a handle for 50’s motorcycle revival?
ie., Ed Roth, Von Dutch, etc…
Yes it is, but it’s also tied to retro hot rod art and culture which of course means the two artists you mentioned. Put aother way, cars as well as motorcycles.
https://www.speedhunters.com/2020/03/the-art-of-kustom-kulture/
“eclectic blend of patrons ranging from bikers, to surfers, to hippies and musicians, and everyone in between.”
That just sounds like, well, a regular bar crowd, what is “eclectic” about that?
They can fit 49 people in a 1,400/sf place? Amazing, must mean standing.
Wouldn’t you say that depend on the location and bar? I can think of many places where you’d never see that kind of mix (or very little) under the same roof.
With possible exception of bikers as a group, all the others listed, surfers, musicians, and everyone in between” can be fount in almost any beach bar, Well, maybe not “hippies.” Most of them are too old to go out to a bar.
Hey, I have to take exception to that last statement. I went to 2 bars 5 months ago. Or was it 5 bars 2 months ago? No, definitely 2 bars but it was 7 months ago.
I rest my case.
Yep.
Eclectic?… not so much.
Just another bar.
Whether or not Cheswick’s fit the definition of “eclectic”, it will be interesting to see what transpires when this place goes in. If I can’t hit it up this weekend I’ll try next.
Okay, it’s opening this weekend supposedly.
Yep. If I can’t make it this weekend then hopefully next.
Just look for the spandex bike shorts. It did say bikers, right? Is the bike rack in the back?
Maybe some of those kinds of bikers are hung like NBA stars.
Could be a merch area in the rear peddling neon spandex bike shorts, branded black wife-beater tanks and trucker caps.
It’s all about da Kulture!
KKK. That 3rd K was not a best marketing choice maybe.
Great. Is Klantee just now here, blocks away.
Best thing they have there is the beer shade tents at the street rail.
Just what OB needs….another new old bar.
I still miss Shades….no OB bar was ever as cool as it was, in my opinion.
I could see this becoming the main watering hole for OB’s own (by way of Alabama) The Screaming Yeehaws:
Sure thing…
… the SYs seem like an extremely soft (& quite old) version of the Mentors.
Follow the leader…
I’d imagine The Mentors are quite a bit older than the SYs. Big difference is The Mentors were out to shock, where as these guys are simply tongue n cheek. Saying they’re soft is sort of like accusing the Monkees of not being real band.
A song about “killing a b_tch cause she don’t wanna go home wit ya… cancel that mf”… ahhh… the stuff of 50 year old geniuses.
To each his/her own I reckon.
Indeed.
Way back machine. The Mentors on Wally George:
While I’m honored that you read and share my articles on your website, I wanted to address the manner in which they are being published. I’ve noticed that my articles are being posted verbatim without prior communication or permission from my team.
I certainly appreciate the credit you’ve given, but as a matter of professional courtesy and intellectual property rights, it would be ideal to establish a dialogue before reposting any content in full. This ensures that we’re aligned on how my work is being used, and it allows us to maintain a collaborative relationship moving forward.
Okay, thanks for your patience and understanding as we are a no-money model of a neighborhood platform. And whom shall we address to establish that dialogue and with what address. You can contact us at obragblog@gmail.com
I will be happy to certify this brand new establishment as a dive bar by puking, farting or making outrageous politically incorrect statements.
But no violence, please! Only in Football, where those cowards are padded from head to toe. I like the sports where you can play and watch without too much uniform control
I still miss Shades….no OB bar was ever as cool as it was, in my opinion.