For years it was Bank of America, then it became Gold’s Gym. But both businesses have come and gone, leaving a nasty eyesore of an abandoned building in their wake.
The building at 4976 Newport Ave. has sat empty until recently, when Jeff Fagan and his partner, Amber Rae, turned it into Ocean Beach’s newest venture: Rock, Paper, Scissors.
Fagan, longtime owner of the popular piercing parlor Dr. Jeffee, sold his business two years ago and went to school for jewelry manufacturing and design. He then decided to fulfill a dream by creating a haven for local artists. With that goal in mind, he gutted and completely redesigned the old Bank of America building, turning it into a 4,000-square-foot wonderland of arts filled with more than 40 booths offering crafts from around the globe.
“This store has items ranging from $2 to $2,000,” Fagan said. “We rent space to a wide variety of artists and vendors. We have items from almost a dozen countries featuring everything from furniture and jewelry to a world class glass blower.”
The design of the store is something that must be seen in person to be fully appreciated. From the walls to the ceiling, every inch of the store is covered with rings, bracelets, exotic carvings, paintings, custom mirrors and a potpourri of items similiar to those found in bazaars from Bangkok to Spain.
“We supply space for the vendors and they decorate it,” Fagan said. “The concept of Rock, Paper, Scissors is that we will get you involved in the retail business without having to deal with the retail end of things. “
Fagan and his partner take care of advertising and all of the overhead. Essentially, artists bring their product in and set it up. After that, weekly reports keep them updated on what has or hasn’t been sold.
Fagan will also be teaching a jewelry manufacturing class with hands-on experience for those who want to design their own pieces. He offers a couple’s workshop for those who want to design their own wedding bands. The process is done largely with a computer, where a wax cast is created and used to cast the actual ring.
The only artifact left over from the building’s days as a bank is the vault, which Fagan has turned into a special show room. After stepping through the 2,000-pound vault door, visitors enter an area that has been transformed into a multi-purpose room that can be used as an art gallery for special showings, dance classes or a meetings.
“People can come in here and rent the room by the hour,” Fagan said.
There is also an outdoor area that will, when finished, resemble a beach, complete with sand, beach chairs, hammocks and tiki torches. The 20-by-20-foot wall will be turned into an outdoor movie house playing films three nights a week.
Fagan is currently searching for a vendor to serve smoothies in the back area, while steering clear of caffeine-related fare.
“We want to focus on smoothies and snacks because all of the coffee shops around here have been very kind to us and we don’t want to do anything to damage that relationship.”
Booth rentals start at $6 per square foot and wall space may also be rented.
“I believe that this store will become the center, the heart of Ocean Beach retail,” Fagan said.
Rock, Paper, Scissors will be open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call (619) 222-ROCK or email [email protected].