Restaurants, lodges and entertainment venues in Ocean Beach take pride in the local community and its eclectic flavor. Kevin Alsobrook of Nick’s at the Pier and Dave Martin of Shade’s Oceanfront Bistro created the OB Restaurant, Entertainment and Lodging (OBREL) Group six months ago as an outlet to channel that pride while also giving small businesses a chance to lean on one another for ideas and advice. OBREL, a subset of the OB MainStreet Association (OBMA), works to promote Ocean Beach as an excellent place for dining and entertainment for locals, city residents and tourists alike. At the same time, the committee provides a network for independent owners and operators to share advertising opportunities, marketing tools and buying strategies. “This is definitely a small-business community,” said Martin. Ninety-eight percent of Ocean Beach’s restaurants, bars, lodging and entertainment venues are locally-owned and operated. Even the two primary chain businesses — Subway and Starbucks — which perch themselves among Ocean Beach’s quaint, independently-owned shops — are locally owned and managed, Martin said. “Everyone that is a member of OBMA is automatically a member of OBREL,” he explained. The turnout thus far has been tremendous, according to organizers. OBREL holds meetings on the first Tuesday of every month, when members discuss upcoming events, business tips and ways to improve the image of Ocean Beach. “This is a group that can get things accomplished and get people to OB,” Martin said. Although much investment has been put into the dining and entertainment venues in the area, OBREL is doing far more for the community than serving its own niche. The committee also works to ensure that the neighborhood is clean, safe and inviting for residents and visitors. “The goal is to give a unified image of OB,” Alsobrook said. “So far, we’ve built contacts with the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) for local issues such as the homeless, we’ve improved lighting in the areas around the beach and we’ve kept the area cleaner.” OBREL’s future plans include promotions and discounts at annual Ocean Beach events like Oktoberfest, the Jazz 88 Music Fest and the OB Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off. OBREL also plans group donations for charity events and a “Taste of Ocean Beach” event to rally locals and visitors around the community and all that it has to offer. For more information, call (619) 224-2906, or visit www.oceanbeach sandiego.com/obrel.