Dear Ocean Beach,

Imagine every time you needed a screw you had to fight the lights, navigate the Sports Arena traffic, the parking lots, the lines, and try not to lose your cool with the self-checkout computer at “you-know-where” just so your damn door hinge fits tight again.  That 15 minutes each way would be annoying to most of us, to say the least, but to the local Ocean Beach businesses that make those runs five times a day, it would threaten their livelihood.  And those businesses and the people who depend on them are the soul of this town.

It is with great pleasure that I can officially report what many of you already know – that the Ocean Beach hardware store is not going anywhere.  We have purchased the inventory and will be keeping all of the same products and services that Carl and Carolyn have provided for the last 38 years – not to mention the same great staff at the same location.  We felt strongly, as you did, that losing such a central thread in the fabric of OB was a step too far, and we weren’t willing to sit by and watch it happen.  I want to thank all 770 of you who signed the change.org petition.  It was your enthusiasm for the old store that got the ball rolling and made us believe that the business can still work in 2019.  We’ve got ideas, you’ll see some changes – we think you’ll like them.

See you in March!

Mike DeEmedio

&

Michael Grimes

PS: We’re going to do everything we can to make you want to shop at OB Hardware, all we ask is you remember your pledge and make every effort to support the store.