One of the most recognizable OB establishments, an icon of the counter-culture — The Black — is set to close after 57 years.
If you were a hippie or a hippie-wannabe in the late Sixties or the 1970s, The Black was the place to visit — as long as you asked for “water pipes” and not “bongs.” For a very long time, it was the only “head shop” in OB, as it sold pipes, rolling papers, records, jewelry, hippy and black light posters – and for a while it was the only hip book store in town.
The Black survived for decades despite the rage from conservatives upset with the store ‘thumbing its nose at the establishment. It also survived — never really a question — a boycott initiated by the Rag for selling decal stickers that disparaged homeless people back in 2009.
Here is a statement on the Black’s facebook page:
For 57 salty-air, sun-soaked years in Ocean Beach, The Black has been an OB staple – more than a shop, it’s been a vibe, a hangout, a heartbeat.
After 57 years in OB, Kurt is officially retiring, closing this chapter with deep gratitude for this community.
Thank you, Ocean Beach, for 57 incredible years.
2026: Tbe year we lost Bob Weir and The Black. It might not be impossible for the next generation to talk about taking over running The Black. Some younger folks looking for a business opportunity. OB Hardware, now over 100 years old, almost closed a few years back. But a new crew was able to step in and keep it open. Not out of the realm of possibility that something like this could happen at The Black.
Out of curiosity…who owns the building?
And just like that “POOF!!, just like that they are gone in a puff of smoke! OB Legend forever ??????
This is really sad, like a long time friend passing away. I’ve lived in OB for 46 years and The Black was always the heart and soul of old OB. Where do we look now to see that?
How many people here still have a dusty stack of Underground Comix on a shelf somewhere in the house? ZAP, Mr. Natural, Doping Dan, San Francisco Comic Book, Rip-Off Press, The New Adventures of Jesus, Snarf, Mulligan Stew, The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers from Issue 0 to issue 13. When did you last read about The Adventures of Wonder Wart Hot who truly was a superhero and not like all these cheap imitations now in movie formats from giant Hollywood corporate conglomerates like DC or Marvel that were actually written for the mental age of freaking 8 yr old boys during the 1930s Republican Great Depression… At least underground comix made one THINK, ya know,. unlike these stupid movies I won’t spend money on (nor will I go see ‘Melanie’ the Epstein girl from the Kit-Kat Klub!!).
I used to buy ’em from the Black and the Get It On Shoppe in MB across from Harry’s Market for 50 cents to $1.50 new but by the early 70s the price had doubled, but I still have a little stack of them sitting in the cabinet downstairs. The big stack, the real collection I had was stolen in a burglary in 1974 in MB. Stole the rent money, a lid of Columbian, and stole those comixs. Can you imagine?!
Who reading this has forgotten about Fat Freddy’s cat?? How could you?! He was an icon!
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Remember all the anti-Vietnam War posters the Black had back then? Don’t they seem so quaint now since the US has started so many other wars since then that nobody could keep up with thinking up new posters?
But I still have one classic that I had cleaned and framed more than 20 years ago that is up on the wall! It’s the very large ‘Visit Fascinating VIETNAM, The Fun Capital of the World’ poster that was given to me by a 78 yr old Mt. Shasta anti-war protester neighbor who lived across the street. She was the ONLY radical Leftie in Mt. Shasta back in the 60s and ran a way-stop house on the underground railroad to Canada for draft resistors (and never got busted). Old Doris, boy did she have some stories about 3am visits from the FBI etc etc…
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Though it’s been…26 years since I walked into The Black (when I came down to bury my last relative in San Diego), just walking in was like a time capsule with the smell of incense hitting my nose as I strolled in.
This notice of its death really makes me sad. We’ve lost so much good that came out of the 60s/70s, and now Newport is nothing but freaking alcohol bars from one end to another and we have Fascists running the country who don’t even try to hide what they are doing (unlike back then when they DID try to hide it). Yep, big sigh and a feeling of heaviness!
sealintheSelkirks
On the positive side, at least The Black is closing under the owner’s own terms basically wanting to simply retire after 57 years.
“dope will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no dope!”
That was a quote right out of the “Furry Freak Brothers” cartoons; the original paper OB Rag used to run those great graphics.
I remember having those comics and hiding them from my parents lol.
Oh gosh darn. Where do I buy my confederate flags now?
I used to buy little robots in there.
And cards. It was always fun to browse and talk with the merchants.
But now that I had to leave OB ( priced out), it will get filed away with the other fifteen years of memories.
I didn’t get there early enough to be able to afford to buy a house ( unlike most of my friends who are still there). Oh well- life goes on…
US OUT OF OB. NOW!!!
Funny Ricardo. That used to be a bumper sticker in OB.
Absolutely stunned another O.B. icon is history such a shame. I remember in the 1970’s at 14, 15 ,and 16 years old going there and throughout my life living in OB. Another reason we moved it was always better back in those days with Bull Frogs, The Strand Theater, and other establishments gone to greed. Long Live The Old O.B. lifestyles and trends from the past.
Kelly Patton
As I mentioned above, at least in this case the closure is due to the owner simply wanting to retire over 5 decades. It’s on his own terms and not because of rent increase or forced out or gentrification (even if tho that’s going on in OB). A more positive way to look at this is to be grateful for the years of its existence and be happy for the owner moving on to the next chapter of his life.
Truth!! There was a news clip on NBC anout this. The owner said he took up scuba diving recently and hopes to scuba dive more! I guess a hardworking man deserves to retire and scuba dive if he wants to after 5 decades plus. An icon and a legend. OB will figure out a way to keep it alive!
Can we buy it and keep it going?
OB Hardware nearly closed until some folks banded together and took over. And now it’s over a 100 years old. I don’t know who to ask but your question is worth asking!
Saying goodbye to this legendary icon of Ocean Beach, seem’s harder than some of the others that have gone by the wayside. Not one store has represented the laid back ora of O.B more than THE BLACK!
It’s where I bought silver jewelry, my first pipe, sandalwood incense, and seriously, where on earth am I gonna go for my groovy black-lite poster’s now? It’s the end of an era, the like’s of which we shall sadly never see again.
Thank you to the owners, the decades of employees, and mostly for the consistent great vibes you brought us all! We’ll miss you!!
Listen I run OB, Im not going to let this happen
Glad to hear the owner is retiring on his own terms!
The Black is such an icon, and change is scary. For me, like many, it was an avenue into otherwise hidden knowledge. The entrance sign ‘All Children Are Criminals and Will Be Watched Accordingly” set the mood perfectly.
Growing up in or at least near Ocean Beach, as one of those child criminals, The Black was part of a trifecta – Cornet, The Black, Buford’s Candy Shop. I always felt welcome, and pursued more tomes of forbidden knowledge then I could afford. Still, collecting pennies, it was a place I could walk to and purchase silly delights whenever I scraped enough pennie, from Ral Partha figures to… I believe I still have a permanently incensed infused copy of Chaosism’s Call to Cthulhu somewhere.
As I grew older, The Black was a steady source of gifts; eventually after moving on and out, I made certain to always return as part of my pilgrimage to my past.
My favorite story – of all time – married now, with children no less – we return to visit the homestead, and I take my wife to see OB one early Saturday morning. The Black, I explained, is more than a head shop. It is an Icon of Thought, in many ways, and it never took itself too seriously…not really.
We park, and as we approach, directly outside is a black Mercedes convertible – or BMW? – tan leather interior. In the console is a lit marijuana pipe, stinky smoke billowing in the morning breeze. The car is running, and the radio is turned up full blast. Dozing in the driver’s seat is what appears to be a homeless man, wearing what presumably is not his shades. We pause in the street, puzzled.
Next to the car, driver side, is a police officer, in shorts, writing a ticket. He crisply rips off the ticket from his pad, and places it under the wind shield wiper. He is talking to the would be driver, who is wisely claiming every ounce of his god given fifth amendment right to be silent, or totally zonked, depending on point of view. We are too distant to really hear what was said.
The officer closes his ticket pad with a dull thump, and continues beachward. We in turn continue to The Black, where I strain to take a peek, and am able to make out what the ticket is…out of all the possibilities….DISTURBING THE PEACE – NOISE NUISANCE.
LOL.
Only in OB, only at The Black!
God bless the Black,Thank you for the memories,great times and will never be forgotten
New owner of the Black is in the works??? https://www.sandiegoville.com/2026/03/san-diego-counterculture-icon-black.html