July 20 Walkabout helping to make the neighborhood a popular destination
By Anthony King | SDUN Editor
This week marks the return of the Summer of Love South Park Walkabout, offering residents and guests an opportunity to see all that South Park businesses have to offer. The walkabouts, held quarterly and organized by the South Park Business Group, have become increasingly popular destination events.
“The Walkabouts are busy nights for the retail shops and restaurants here,” said Marsha Smelkinson of the business group, “and go a long way to building a customer base for the rest of the year.”
The evenings started before the group was incorporated, which was formed to represent “locally owned” and “owner-operated” small businesses, she said. There are currently over 70 members.
“The Walkabouts have played a major role in putting South Park on the map as a uniquely charming neighborhood destination for shopping and dining in San Diego,” she said.
While not an official Business Improvement District, the South Park Business Group is funded in part by grants from the City’s micro-district program. The grants help underwrite the Walkabouts that, in turn, “enable us to invite people from all over the area, including visiting tourists,” Smelkinson said.
The business group is looking to collect demographic and statistical information to help evaluate and potentially expand their marketing efforts for the Walkabouts, Smelkinson said.
“Because we have no malls or national chains here, we have no ‘deep pockets’ to underwrite advertising,” she said.
Over 35 businesses participated in the Wild West Walkabout held in March, ranging in location from Juniper and 30th streets north; 30th Street and the Burlingame Garage; Fern Street; Grape Street at 30th Street; and Beech Street from 30th Street to Dale Street.
A free trolley service will be available from 6 – 10 p.m. and Urban Safaris will provide a one-hour guided walking tour, leaving at 6:30 p.m. from the information table near The Grove, 3010 Juniper St. The trolley circulates the entire area, with boarding stations at The Grove and Grant’s Marketplace at 2953 Beech St.
“Some folks aren’t as familiar with the businesses along Beech Street as they are with the ones on Juniper or Grape [streets],” Smelkinson said. “The Walkabouts give them a chance to visit the Beech Street area and see the very special shops and eateries there.”
New shops set for this weekend’s Walkabout include the recently opened cafe Piacere Mio at 1947 Fern St. and Lulu’s Nail Spa & Boutique, which changed ownership and held a grand reopening Friday, July 12. Smelkinson said the new owners doubled the size of the spa, located on the corner of 30th and Kalmia streets.
“Buona Forchetta will have a ’70s-themed costume party along with sidewalk platters,” Smelkinson said, “and at The Next Door Gallery, San Diego artist Lupita Shahbazi opens her art show, ‘Life is a Circus.’”
Goldline Salon at 3009 Beech St. will feature the urban tribal dance duo Okapi Sun, who have recently been making the rounds in the San Diego music scene. They played at the North Park Community Association’s Bird Park Summer Concerts on June 29, performed several shows at The Casbah – including an upcoming concert Aug. 8 – and played at the Hard Rock Hotel Downtown and the Lafayette Hotel in North Park. Following the Walkabout, the group has a gig scheduled July 27 at North Park’s Bar Pink.
“That’s quite a line up,” Smelkinson said of the night’s Walkabout events.
At last year’s Summer of Love Walkabout, Rebecca’s Coffee House – a staple in the South Park scene at 3015 Juniper St. – decorated a Volkswagen Beetle in traditional 1960s “love-bug” style. Smelkinson said rumor has it that the Beetle will make a welcome return on Saturday.
This year’s free Summer of Love Walkabout is Saturday, July 20 from 6 – 10 p.m. For more information, including a map of the neighborhood and participating businesses, visit southparkscene.com or call 619-200-4269.
