After 18 years of business in the Pacific Beach area, Nick’s At the Beach (809 Thomas Ave.) shuttered its doors for good on Dec. 1. But the location will not be vacant for long after the owners of downtown’s The Local, an eatery at 1065 4th Ave., bought the lease to the building, as well as the former Nick’s at the Pier in Ocean Beach (5083 Santa Monica Ave.).
“Bringing The Local type of restaurant to Pacific Beach has been in the works for the past eight years,” said Mina Desiderio, owner of The Local Group. Currently, the property is undergoing a complete remodel with the grand opening expected to take place in June.
According to Desiderio, the makeover is designed to incorporate a new theme. The menu will be reasonably priced for the Pacific Beach area, the downstairs will feature a “fast, casual-style eatery” with craft beer, an “urban islander” theme (Asian/American) and will be open to clientele of all ages, while the upstairs will be geared toward the 21-and-up crowd and feature a sports-bar theme, live music and an expanded patio area. The upstairs will feel more spacious, with Nick’s trademark pool tables being removed. The current parking lot will be reconfigured. The exterior of The Local PB will resemble a “beach house on stilts,” said Desiderio, with an area for customers to store their surfboards and even shower off the sand from the beach. The overall goal of the restaurant, she said, will be to attract a wider variety of clientele, including tourists, families and, of course, locals.
“When the opportunity to purchase both locations became available, we were very happy to have two incredible beach properties and very grateful to be buy both places,” Desiderio said.