Residents in Ocean Beach may need to go a little further on their next coffee run. On Monday, Dec. 12 , the Starbucks at the corner of Newport Avenue + Bacon Street will say see you latte to the beachside community.
The store opened in 2001 , and received mixed reviews before brewing its first cup. After 21 years in the community, reactions to its departure are still blended.
A welcome board inside the OB Starbucks.
Photo via @mellow_daze
Spill the details
A trip to Ocean Beach will put you in proximity to many stores, but very few have brand recognition . The community likes it that way — it’s always been a funky place that embraces its individuality + quirkiness and supports small, local businesses. So, a venti corporation like Starbucks seems out of place in OB.
When the coffee giant announced plans to enter the neighborhood, hundreds of residents united to peacefully protest . At the time, Starbucks was willing to pay nearly double the leasing rate for the Newport Avenue space, so it moved in. Many locals feared the beginning of the end — meaning a flood of big businesses would move in and change the culture.
Over two decades later, only a few major chains have entered OB, but it seems a lot of locals are still happy to see Starbucks close. Many prefer their local chains — but some admit they’ll miss their Frappuccinos.
The next cup
For some locals, this Starbucks was a convenient way to order ahead and get a consistent cup of coffee . Now, the nearest store is slightly over two miles away on West Point Loma Boulevard , though there’s a grande number of other Starbucks locations in San Diego. This has a silver lining: Employees will be able to transfer to a nearby store.
One closure won’t decaffeinate OB. There are other buzzworthy coffee shops in the neighborhood, and local chain Spill the Beans announced it will open a new store at 4827 Newport Ave. — down the street from the former Starbucks and on the same block as OB Beans Coffee Roasters .