A Day on Voltaire Street in Ocean Beach

By Samantha Mason

This is my third of a series of exploring new or interesting businesses in Ocean Beach and this time it’s all about my impressions of Voltaire Street. I spent my Tuesday morning traversing this avenue, meeting new people and seeing cool things. You know the drill!

Dog Lodge (4844 Voltaire St)

I kicked off my adventure at Dog Lodge, a dog daycare and puppy heaven. Open since January, Dog Lodge offers a variety of services for furry friends, like grooming and overnight boarding. I got the chance to speak to the owner and founder, Donovan, who opened the lodge after getting a dog of his own. He’s been in the animal care industry for seven years, and is truthfully living my dream life as a fellow dog lover.

He said there’s nothing better than spending time with the dogs, and that being in OB is the cherry on top. “It’s such a small community, and it feels like it gets smaller by the day,” he expresses, “I love seeing all of the familiar faces.” I’m glad we had the chance to connect, because now I know where to bring my pup the next time I go out of town! Check out their website .

Coffee Cycle Roasting (4856 Voltaire St)

Next up was Coffee Cycle roasting right next door. If there’s something I’ve learned from this experience covering OB it’s that I am a sucker for a cute chalkboard sign on the sidewalk – theirs said “For the love of coffee! We’re happy you’re here” and that made me smile. Extra points for Coffee Cycle!

I chatted with Chris, the owner, who has been operating the location for the last nine years. They roast all of their beans in-house, and also make their own syrups. Chris started his store as a coffee cart on the back of a bicycle, and also used to be a part of Bird Rock Coffee Roasters. He told me how their whole model focuses on the entire community that goes into making the coffee; from the farmers, to the roasters, baristas and more! I appreciate that; people behind the scenes rarely get their flowers.

His passion for coffee and community was very apparent in our conversation; he also asked me where I was from, which I thought was nice (as a reporter, I’m always in the driver’s seat!) Chris noted that having his storefront in OB was “always the goal” because it is “fiercely local.” Overall, the ambience and people made for a fantastic energy in the shop. I was craving a matcha so I ordered one of their iced matcha lattes with oat milk and vanilla. It was just what I wanted, and it came with a cute straw! See what they’re up to here .

Imperfects (4887 Voltaire St)

I ventured next to Imperfects, a clothing store. I walked in and saw I was the only person there. Score! But, to my horror, I quickly realized they were actually closed. When an employee came out, Keaton, he was very kind and welcoming and allowed me to stay to ask my questions anyways.

As the operating manager, he told me about how they’ve been operating for about five years, and have been in Ocean Beach ever since relocating their store from Liberty Station. All of their products are their own, with the exception of a few local brands they also carry. I also met their founder, Mike Lynch, who was just as inviting. He created Imperfects when he was working to shape surf boards after making his own workwear. He grew up in the apparel world, and one thing led to another – hence Imperfects was born: workwear with a twist. Mike describes his clothing as “SoCal utilitarian” – think blue-collar but also beach. They started out making everything by hand in San Diego, before expanding their presence to LA and beyond.

Their store has all of their offices, and even a surfboard factory in the back! Just in my conversation with both Keaton and Mike, their passion for their craft was evident. Mike also noted that the “classic tight knit” energy and “SoCal nostalgia” makes OB the perfect venue for their brand: “we hope to kind of carry that torch of beach culture.” I’m definitely glad they let me stay and chat even though they were closed, thanks guys! Their website is here.

Sine Wave Cafe (4810 Santa Monica Ave)

To end my day, I popped into Sine Wave Cafe on Santa Monica Avenue (who also had an adorable sign!) The owner, Chandler, was kind enough to take some time to tell me about the place. Opened on May 1, they did all of the renovations themselves after relocating to San Diego from Hawaii. “We really take pride in the community,” he said. The inside had a clean aesthetic and a small menu, making for a modern and minimalist vibe, but still beachy.

Some goodies they offer include breakfast calzones, banana bread, egg salad, and more; he also recommended the brown sugar vanilla latte. Another special aspect of Sine Wave Cafe is that they host a live music/BYOB event once a month! I’m for sure going to mark my calendar for their next one, which is being held in late September. Learn more information here https://www.sinewavecafe.com/

Samantha Mason is a journalist based out of the northern part of the City of San Diego. An alum of San Diego State University, she has written for Coast News, the San Diego Gulls and now the OB Rag. When she’s not chasing a good story, you can find her trying out a new brewery or walking her 3-year-old lab, Clover. Follow her on X @samantha3mason.