‘The Jetty’ to Open in Former ‘Voltaire Beach House’

Ocean Beach pub and lounge hopes to open in early spring 2025

By Beth Demmon / San Diego Magazine / December 18, 2024

Ocean Beach has always existed in its own world. It’s precisely that weird, wacky, wild, and wonderful world that business partners Kyle Jaworski and Sebastian Widman want to invest in by opening The Jetty at 4934 Voltaire Street in spring 2025.

“We want to be a place for people in town,” says Jaworski. “Ocean Beach is a very unique community, and a unique market where it’s important that you cater to the locals.”

Jaworski says The Jetty is not a gastropub but is reluctant to define exactly what it will be. He calls it a beach pub-meets-lounge with an “eclectic menu” that will draw a lot from Widman’s craft beer and cocktail experience and dishes they feel OB currently lacks. “But I don’t want to give away too much about our menu ideas yet because it’s still a work in progress,” he laughs.

But he knows one thing for sure—they’re committed to contributing to the local OB community. Jaworski estimates he worked for the NZ Eats Group (Raglan Public House, Queenstown Public House) for around 14 years and has been on the Board of Directors of Ocean Beach Main Street Association for nearly nine years. Widman is part-owner of Ocelot Brewing Company in Virginia, was the sales manager for Amplified Ale Works for years, and was the bar manager at local OB spots The Joint and The Bowl. All this is to say that one, they have the industry chops, and two, Ocean Beach has become home to both over the years. They feel ready to create a gathering space that fits with the, shall we say, particular OB flavor.

Part of that means renovating the former Voltaire Beach House, both physically and psychically. Voltaire Beach House first opened in January 2017 and unceremoniously closed this September amid allegations of theft, assault, and other accusations from both managers and employees, according to Fox 5 San Diego.

“There were some bad vibes, bad blood,” he says. “Just not a good feeling about the place from the community… [but] we really feel that with our connections to the community, we can make this an anchor for his side of town.” Renovations will be primarily aesthetic, but Jaworski says they plan to rebuild the outdoor patio and update some paint and finishes to spruce up the place. They’ll also work on community events with adjacent businesses and subtenants, such as The Artist Outpost.

It’ll take a lot of work, probably some luck, definitely some money, and heaps of resolve. But Jaworski says getting the opportunity to leave their mark, especially in that area of OB, is worth it. “To be able to actually own a business in town is an awesome, awesome feeling.”