Old time Oceanside folks just call it “The Bandshell.” 

 Improvements are proposed and everyone can have an input.

  It’s the Junior Seau Amphitheater  on the beach  just south of the pier. The City of Oceanside is proposing several alternatives   for the bath house,  the 80-year old sewer  lift station that is adjacent and  maybe a new building either one or two stories.

Better rest rooms,  improved beach access and screening for the trash cans are under consideration.

The City is conducting a “survey monkey” on line survey to help narrow down the possibilities.  If you didn’t get one you can easily find it on the City’s website.

There  is some talk about a major effort to quash making any changes.  Sure the locals love the funky traditions.  But at a minimum in my opinion better stairs, easier disable access and  nice restrooms would be a minimum.  Funkiness aside.

And  we  need some folks to get busy and put together some more of those great summer concert series. 

Seriously folks, a lot of our visitors feel attached to this place.  The own time shares or they rent the same place to come every year.  The love this place and they feel attached to all of the good stuff that is starting to happen here.  Bring them on and make it better for them.

In N Out That's what its all about!

In N Out  made the big time news in San Diego – it’s  opening  in Oceanside!!!  Right next to that “welcome arch”  (hopefully somewhat hidden behind it.)

A “chain “   place  in the downtown?  We are really reaching the big time.  Could Starbucks be next?

Believe me, I love the Pier View Coffee Pub.    Funkiness and locals at 6  a.m.  Excellent house brew!!

But a Starbucks west of I-5 would be a real accomplishment!

Some background:   All during the 80’s and 90’s we would here from market researchers.  Oh no.  A drive through will never work West of the Freeway.  “When we look at markets we see the ocean as a barrier, the railroad as a barrier and even bigger, the Freeway as a barrier.  No one will come over there.   We need spots east of I-5.

How stupid that seems now in 2015.

That’swhy there are only a few big chain  drive throughs  (like McDonalds’s)  on the west side, and why we were THRILLED   to get the one on Mission and Horne in the late 80’s.    It was some kind a fish place when it first opened.

So people looking for their fast food  fix had to go east on Mission where there is a row of them, and where these days, its not nearly as attractive as downtown.  (Downtown when I started there:  I did a parking study then.  Someone actually tried to recruit me for who knows what.  (But I was  dodging prostitutes and smelling the roaches and trying to overcome my fear of x-rated book stores )

So now a bigf time marketer is looking at the gateway to Oceanside for an In N Out.  I hope its not too garish!!!  The one on 76 is somewhat tasteful.  But imagine seeing that arrow coming down I-5.  I guess I do have mixed feelings!!