New developments in Ocean Beach could signal a positive business upturn and a “brisk” economy this year, said Denny Knox, Ocean Beach MainStreet Association’s executive director.
Along with additions like the new Café Bella and OB Quik, currently under construction and opening soon, building spaces along Newport Avenue that became vacant last year are quickly filling up, Knox said.
“The economy in Ocean Beach is holding steady,” Knox said. “The businesses are small enough that you can react to economic trends and make the differences that would keep your business prosperous.”
Other business owners report that making small changes have also helped them remain competitive in the local market.
Saffran Packaging and Blue Frog, located at 4876 Santa Monica Ave., welcomed a copy and print service known as the Copy Hut into the same building on Feb. 1. Though the businesses remain independently owned, bringing the services under one roof to make the Ocean Beach Business Center will allow a customer to access print, copy, gifts and packaging services in one place, said Mike Saffran, owner of Saffran Packaging and Supply.
Saffran said that overall, he has a sense of stability of business in Ocean Beach.
“It’s not as good as a year ago, but it’s brisk,” Saffran said. “I see stability. I can’t say we’re growing like crazy, because were not.”
Other businesses, like Cottage Antiques, located at 4873 Newport Ave., report growth compared to about a year ago, said Cordelia Mendoza, co-owner of Cottage Antiques. Mendoza operates the store with her husband, Bob.
Though Cottage Antiques benefits from a “good antique community” in San Diego, their business is just as affected by market forces and trends, Cordelia said.
The business moved to its present location in September because of an increase in the cost of rent at the previous location. The new site is a bit bigger and has allowed the Mendozas to transform part of the parking area into an outdoor garden ” following a trend in the industry, she said.
Mendoza said although they had a strong Christmas season, business is about the same as a year ago.
“We’re not kicking butt “¦ but we’re not thinking about closing either,” Mendoza said. “I personally think that Ocean Beach is a great place to do business. We’re diversified and people respond positively to Ocean Beach. We get a lot of out-of-towners.”
While medium-size business seem to benefiting from a stable local economy reporting small to medium growth, smaller and newer businesses continue to thrive in the early going.
Sunset Cliffs Body Therapies just settled into its new offices a few weeks ago at 4870-2C Santa Monica Ave.
Co-owners Heidi Brockmyre and Jarrod Ildessa have provided their Holistic Health Services via house calls since July, but now have a place to call their own.
“I think [business] is going to go well “¦ we’re already getting a lot of appointments,” Brockmyre said.
The health practitioner team from New York also gives back to the community.
Last year, they donated $150 to the Take Wing Transitional Living Program for homeless youth between the ages of 16 and 24. They try to donate 10 percent of their proceeds to the program, Brockmyre said. They also offer 20 percent off a first massage for the month of February, she said.
She added that one reason their business may do well in Ocean Beach is because Californians in general are better educated about Eastern medicine and massage therapy.
The Ocean Beach MainStreet Association represents the Business Improvement District of the community of Ocean Beach. Businesses in the area pay a fee to the city. The funds are used for beautification and other improvements in the area.
For more information, visit www.oceanbeachsandiego.com.