1. For my own lifestyle, Blue Water’s opening was huge. I really like high end local-caught fish!
2. The single biggest physical change is the old antique mall on Newport was replaced with a small-format Target. The same location decades ago was a Coronet, a defunct chain pretty similar to Target.
The whole Cable to Sunset Cliffs block was about 75% antique stores when I moved here, now there is only a single one left. Several of the spots are beer, wine, and hard kambucha tasting rooms.
3. Another positive change has been the introduction of a private neighborhood security force. There are still bums, but I have not seen any aggressive panhandling since they arrived a few years ago.
4. On the beach block, a run-down biker bar was replaced by the Holding Company. They constructed a brand new building with a stunning roof deck and ample space for live music. It is owned by the Noodle House guy and is his third OB restaurant, and the food is great. I am not much of a drinker so I have not been there for the evening bar periods.
5. Right across the street from Holding Company, and also with rooftop view seating, is OB Brewery. Seems like a nice place to mostly drink with some light snacks.
6. Kilowatt is another tasting room that replaced a dirty old auto repair shop. I did not drink there, but it is really pretty with elaborate trippy lighting.
7. The Wednesday farmer’s market keeps physically expanding and spilling out into new areas, including the grassy field by the beach and side streets.
8. Appletree supermarket reopened in a new location on Newport that used to be a theater. It is completely different than the old downscale store. Now it is most similar to a Sprouts.
9. The small shopping plaza on Santa Monica and Cable was knocked down and rebuilt and now has a Dirty Birds and Mr. Moto Pizza, both of which are great.
10. A few new yoga studios, mini-gyms, and hair salons have opened. I don’t patronize those places, but their move-in renovations mean these places all look nicer than the prior tenants. There must be at least 6 yoga places in the central OB area, which I define as Sunset Cliffs to the Beach north of Niagara.
