By Lauren Alvey
Dave and Cheryl Preston, owners and founders of The T-Shirt Factory, are Oceanside locals and self-proclaimed forward-thinkers. It should be no surprise then that together they built this highly successful local screen-printing business now celebrating its 30th anniversary. The T-Shirt Factory was originally founded as Mariposa Graphics in 1984 under the sole proprietorship of Chuck Snyder, a local surfer. Dave and his band were customers of Mariposa Graphics, having t-shirts printed for gigs, etc. The Preston’s took over the ownership in 2009. At this time it was basically an 'underground' screen printing service known only to those loyal customers who had been getting t-shirts screen-printed there for years. Dave and Cheryl recognized that they had a lot of work to do to put the T-shirt Factory on the map and to expand their printing services to Oceanside's local businesses, residents and tourists. By Kierstin Hill
The impact San Diego Spine and Rehab has made on the North County community cannot be measured. Over the last five years they have helped countless individuals recover from any ailment or injury and help them to live pain free. They see upwards of 150 patients in their Oceanside office each day for specialized physical therapy treatment. SDSR also attends 25-30 community events per month where they offer free chair massages and teach individuals about how their services can help people live pain free. Let’s face it, almost everyone has a bad something – back, neck, hip, shoulder, anything. SDSR is passionate about their mission to educate people about the benefits of integrated medicine; they combine chiropractic, physical therapy, massage, along with other specialized treatments to help their patients feel better, get better, but most importantly, stay better. San Diego Spine and Rehab is completely dedicated to helping patients succeed. Not only does the staff give patients a customized treatment plan to help heal any ailments, but they also educate the patients on exercises that can be done at home so the healing process can happen more rapidly. By Lauren Alvey
In speaking with Holli Vanderslice, founder and owner of Slice of Heaven Catering, you immediately pick up on her vitality. Her passion for her work is so strong it’s impossible not to get caught up. Slice of Heaven Catering is all about the clientele – making their event a success and everyone feel loved. Holli says “This isn’t about the money. For me there is no better sign of success than hearing ‘You made my event awesome!’ from a client.” June 16th, 2014, Slice of Heaven celebrated its 10 year anniversary. Prior to starting a catering company, Holli had been working for seven years at a large corporation. It made good money, but wasn’t something she was passionate about. Her husband told her, “I don’t care what you do for work - just come home happy.” By Lauren Alvey
Oceanside Abbey Carpet is celebrating their 55th anniversary this year. Current owner Chuck Ward acquired the business in 1993 and since 2003 he has quadrupled their sales! Chuck credits Oceanside Abbey Carpet's strong reputation of high quality craftsmanship already established. It was by maintaining this quality and bringing in well-respected contractors that he attributes the business' recent success. He advises that in business it is also always good to have a five-year plan mapped out. With Oceanside Abbey Carpet this is how he has been able to attain the stability they have today. “Survival” he claims, “is the new success story" Oceanside Abbey Carpet currently employs 17 people and the crews they work with have been with them, on average, for 14 years. Chuck holds loyalty in high regard, and it shows in the loyalty of those he continues to work with today ![]() By: Vanessa Boon If you were to look around it is easy to see the growth that has occurred in Oceanside within the last year. There are new bustling restaurants, breweries, events and more spread throughout the city and especially in the downtown region. In addition the culture of the city is growing and spreading and one core value at the center of this is: Art. Art has been a prevalent aspect of Oceanside for years, especially with the opening of the Oceanside Museum of Art in 1997 and on through its renovation in 2008. Artist’s Alley, the block-long pedestrian promenade that is located between Pier View Way and Mission Ave behind the building that faces Coast Highway, has also been great in helping to cultivate and foster the idea of art importance in Oceanside. For the past six months a new art event has been steadily growing and that is the Oceanside First Friday Art Walk. ![]() The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce will host the Enlisted Recognition Dinner on Thursday, February 26 from 6:00-8:30 pm at the Veteran’s Association of North County (1617 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92054). This event is open to the public and will feature a delicious dinner catered by Slice of Heaven Catering as well as great company from local Marines and Sailors from Camp Pendleton. Pre-registration is required and can be filled out here: http://enlistedrecognition.com/ The Enlisted Dinner has been an annual event since 2001 put together by the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee and the Chamber staff as a way for the North County business community to recognize the enlisted personnel. There will also be a “Spouse of the Year” component to this event. We will recognize three nominated spouses of the year and will present them with gifts donated from our local business community. This event is a way to show the local Marines and Sailors how much we appreciate them for their service to our country. The Enlisted Recognition Dinner could not be held without the support of our sponsors, Pioneer Services, Navy Federal Credit Union, Pacific Marine Credit Union, USAA, USA Living and Tri-City Medical Center. Table sponsors have been provided by SDG&E, Nitto Denko Hydranautics, Mossy Nissan Oceanside, Waste Management, Oceanside Therapy Group, Dignity Memorial and Classic Chariots. By Kierstin Hill
What began as an initial investment in only half of a startup company in 1946 has prospered into one of the largest concrete masonry products manufacturer in all of Southern California. ORCO Block & Hardscape has improvised with the times and grown tremendously over the last 68 years, but what has not changed is the Muth family’s constant dedication to their product, employees and customers. ORCO Block & Hardscape started as a simple, hand operation of producing concrete blocks in Santa Ana in 1946. At that time, there were 256 concrete block manufacturers in California; only nine of those original companies remain today. By Kierstin Hill
Throwback Thursday – Jack Taylor’s Oceanic Café! Check out this great photo for this edition of the Oceanside Chamber’s “Throwback Thursday!” The Oceanside Historical Society has agreed to let the Chamber use their photos. If you like any of the Throwback Thursday photos you see, please contact the Historical Society to purchase prints. They have a whole archive of historical photos for sale. The Oceanic Cafe was located at 207 North Hill Street. That is present day the 200 block of North Coast Highway (on the west side) and right in between Mission Ave and Pier View Way. This photo was taken circa 1925 and operated in early years by a man named Jack Taylor. The Oceanic Café was home to many regularly scheduled business and rotary meetings. In 1923 this cafe was the regular meeting place of the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, which of course is close to home for us! As always, we use these photos courtesy of the Oceanside Historical Society. By Kierstin Hill
Oceanside has celebrated with parades for over 125 years, including Independence Day, a Christmas parade and even Freedom Parades in honor of our military. The parade routes have changed during the decades. Early processions marched along North Cleveland Street and later started at the train depot and traveled east up Second Street (now Mission Avenue). Other routes included Third Street (Pier View Way) and for several years the parades would travel all the way downtown to the Pier Bandshell. This year the parade will start from Wisconsin St and Coast Highway (right next to the 101 Cafe) at 10 am. The route will take the parade north on Coast Highway, towards the Oceanside Civic Center. Can't make it down to the parade to see it in person? KOCT will be airing it live on channel 18! This photo was taken around the turn of the century. Talk about tradition of parades here in Oceanside! Photo courtesy of the Oceanside Historical Society. More about the history of Oceanside here. By Cheryl Broom
On a bright and sunny morning, more than 400 community members, staff, faculty and students gathered at the MiraCosta College Concert Hall for the inauguration of Dr. Sunita “Sunny” Cooke, MiraCosta College’s 6th permanent superintendent/president. No person shone brighter that day than Dr. Cooke herself, who was accompanied by her husband of 29 years, Paul; their son, Dillon; and her sister, Vinita. During her inaugural address, Dr. Cooke told how her family emigrated from Lucknow, India, to Dallas, Texas, in 1968 with only $40 in their pockets. By Kristi Hawthorne
In 1955 two young Oceanside brothers, purchased 300 acres of undeveloped land in the San Luis Rey River Valley, near the old Oceanside Airport, with the vision of building an industrial park that would attract light manufacturing and industry to help the small community of Oceanside grow. The brothers, described in a 1955 edition of the Oceanside Blade Tribune, as "young, aggressive, college-bred men who have chosen manufacturing and light industrial development for their life work," would overcome many challenges to turn their dream into what would become Oceanside Industrial Park - birthplace of such well known businesses as Ocean Pacific Clothing, Rip Curl Wetsuits, Tracker Skateboards, Morey Boogie Boards, Custom X Body Boards, Transworld Publication's Skateboard, Surfing and Snowboard Magazines and Chachies Salsa. By Kristi Hawthorn
Oceanside’s love affair with its pier began 125 years ago when the first piling was driven into the sand at the end of Couts Street. You won’t find Couts Street on any map, but it’s there--the name was changed back in 1927 to Wisconsin Street. The remnants of that first pier are still there, occasionally making a rare appearance during minus tides and low sand levels. In 2012 several pilings were exposed for a brief few days, which had not been seen for over 20 years. By Kristi Hawthorne
The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce was established in 1896 and its impact for over 110 years has played an important role in the promotion, tourism and business development of our city. Reading through the roll call of past presidents is walking along a historic timeline and a virtual listing of the movers and shakers in the community and those who helped to build and shape Oceanside and promote it a variety of ways. The Oceanside Chamber worked in conjunction with the City Council (or City Trustees as they were called years ago). It was involved in everything from life-saving equipment on the beach, to tree planting, to rebuilding each new pier, beautification of the city, to cemetery upkeep, putting on parades, fireworks and beauty contests, along with catchy slogans promoting the city. By Kristi Hawthorne
Oceanside began its 75th year with expectation but the 1960's were not only a time of growth, but a time of change that few could anticipate. With the opening of a new Small Craft Harbor in 1963 residents were delighted and proud of this new recreational location which drew thousands of visitors. Harbor Days became an annual event that at one time featured fireworks, log rolling and bath tub races. By Kristi Hawthorne
As Oceanside turned 50 years old, it was reaching new heights in development and growth. The headline in the January 6, 1938 Oceanside Blade Tribune read “Around $85,000 In New Building Under Way Here.” Project included construction of a new wing at the Oceanside-Carlsbad High School, several new houses and two “cottage courts” being erected, improvements to the Oceanside Beach (formerly the El San Luis Rey), and additions to the lumber yard. Our growing city was in need of a new modern hospital and construction work on a new $16,000 hospital began in February of 1938. The contract was awarded to local builder Charles Rieke with the building to be completed by May 1st. By Kristi Hawthorne
Oceanside embarked on its next 25 years with determination and enthusiasm. Building is always a sign of progress for any town and the next two decades would not disappoint. Will Scott opened Oceanside’s first theater, the Elysium on Second Street in 1913. His popular barbershop shared the same building. The first film to be shown was the “Battle of Gettysburg” while the Oceanside Band performed. The newspaper reported that the Elysium was “indicative of the new spirit that has taken hold here, and which is certain to lead to greater and better things in the way of material and artistic development.” By Kristi Hawthorne
The City of Oceanside incorporated on July 3, 1888 but our history dates back years further and was founded by Andrew Jackson Myers, who settled in the San Luis Rey valley in the late 1870's. Myers applied for and received a homestead grant for land which is now downtown Oceanside. In the early 1880s a railroad line was being built that would connect Los Angeles to San Diego. The trains would travel directly over Myers’ new land grant making his property very valuable. In 1883 Cave Johnson Couts, Jr. surveyed and helped to map out a townsite and John Chauncey Hayes sold the new town lots through his land office which was located on North Cleveland Street, near Second Street (Mission Avenue). Hayes farmed in the San Luis Rey valley, served as Justice of the Peace and was the first mail contractor between San Diego and San Bernardino as well as postmaster at San Luis Rey. Hayes wrote the petition for the town's first post office, which listed the name as two words: "Ocean Side". By Kristi Hawthorne
The San Luis Rey Mission celebrated its 215th anniversary in 2013, being formally dedicated June 13, 1798. The Mission was founded by Fathers Lasuen, Santiago and Peyri, under the leadership of Fray Junipero Serra. The task of building the mission was delegated to Fr. Antonio Peyri. Named Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, it was known as the "King of the Missions" because of its size and the land it occupied. The Mission building was a large structure and encompassed over six acres, surrounded by 200,000 acres. The location has a commanding view and was called by the Indians "Icayme," which means "fairview." Camp Pendleton is situated just north of Oceanside, CA on a Spanish land grant, the Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores. With the passage of the Second War Powers Act on March 27, 1942, the transformation of the Rancho into the world’s largest Marine Corps Base was initiated. In addition to a colorful history, the Marine Corps acquired three mountain ranges, five lakes, 250 miles of road, and 20 miles of beach.
Camp Pendleton was dedicated September 25, 1942 under the command of General Joseph Fegan. Camp Pendleton was named after the late Marine Major General Joseph H. Pendleton, an illustrious figure in early California military development. His widow was present and raised the flags during the ceremonies. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was also present during the ceremonies and toured the old ranch house during his visit and took great interest in the history and its preservation, which is a California Historical Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. By Kierstin Hill
Apotheque Lifestyle Spa resides in what long-time Oceansider’s call the “Bunker House” - an old brick building that built in 1886 located on Cleveland Street. The building itself has an incredible story to tell (if only walls could talk!), but what Michelle Bartok and her team at Apotheque have done with the business that resides within those walls is just as incredible. Bartok started in the Spa Industry some 28 years ago when she began manufacturing specialized product for resorts and spas. The manufacturing company, Innovative Body Science, completely customizes each product sold to resorts and spas around the world. A product made for Hawaii would have a different makeup than a product made for Japan. After so much growth and experience in the manufacturing side of the spa industry, Michelle decided it was time to open what she called a “show room” for the best of the best of her product. Alas, Apotheque Lifestyle Spa in Oceanside was born. By Vanessa Boon
Oceanside boasts some of the best weather and beaches in the country. With a combination like this, and differential terrain throughout the city, it is every runners dream training spot. Running by the beach provides a distracting view, nice coastal breeze and plenty of company. “The Strand,” the street that runs parallel to the sand, is 1.2 miles long from its beginning at Wisconsin Street to its end at Breakwater Way and is interesting enough that an out and back run will feel fresh both ways. Cars can drive on most portions of The Strand but the speed limit is 5 MPH and typically pedestrians are given the right of way. A run along The Strand can be continued into the Oceanside Harbor by turning up Breakwater Way and left on Pacific St, crossing the bridge into the harbor and then turning right on Harbor Dr. Taking this street until it ends at the Oceanside Marina Suites is an additional 2.5 miles onto the run which means that a run from the start of the strand to the end of the Harbor and back would be 7.4 miles. Additionally, when the tide is low any part of Oceanside’s coastline is great for soft sand which provides an awesome workout for those calves. As Oceanside embarked on its second century, 1988 brought a new wave of optimism and excitement as the downtown area was being transformed through redevelopment. There was a new interest in the history of the city and a renewed sense of pride. Mayor Larry Bagley wrote, “I am excited and optimistic about the future of our city. God has given us the land and the water and the climate, and I have confidence that the people of Oceanside are able and willing to fulfill the promise of our city.”
Oceanside geared up to celebrate its Centennial on July 3, 1988 with several events being planned throughout the year. A "Centennial House" designed by Ken Chriss, was built on a vacant lot on Pacific Street and raffled off. (After the winner was announced it was moved to location on South Clementine Street where it remains.) Commemorative plates, buttons, and coins were sold with the official Centennial logo. For $25 residents could have their name engraved on the new pier, with funds going to the Centennial Foundation. The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce receives almost every phone call under the sun about any topic regarding Oceanside, CA. I have answered all types of questions regarding Oceanside and the North County San Diego region. In the summer months (and leading up to those months) the number one concern from beachgoers is whether or not bonfires are allowed on the beach. The answer is yes, they are! However, there are some stipulations.
First and foremost, bonfires MUST be kept within the specific Oceanside City fire rings ONLY. You cannot bring your own bonfire pit. With that said, fire pits are dispersed on a first come, first serve basis. I’ve heard rumors of people going to the beach at 3 or 4 am in order to have a claim on the pit for the rest of the day. Granted I’ve only heard that rumor on the 4th of July, but still, that’s early. Fires are only to be burning from 6:00 am – 11:00 pm and there must be a person in attendance at all times the fire is burning. The fires can only be put out with water, absolutely not sand! The Oceanside Chamber is excited to welcome you to our new blog. Please visit frequently for articles on Oceanside events, valuable business tips and features on local businesses
![]() By Haile Brant Right at the corner where Civic Center Drive meets North Cleveland Street, the oldest brick building in Oceanside stands home to the Apotheque Lifestyles Spa. Those in attendance of the welcoming celebration had the chance to tour the unique spa and check out all that it has to offer. This historic building has been seamlessly converted to include areas for massage and esthetician services, exciting fitness classes, yoga happy hour, facials, hair, nails and many more services. At the event were Miss Oceanside and some of her Princesses, Chamber ambassadors and a representative from the office of Assemblyman Rocky Chavez. All in attendance had a great time casually strolling the property, eating hors devours and mingling. If you missed this great event, don’t worry! The Apotheque Lifestyle Spa will be hosting the June Sunset Mixer on Wednesday June 18th from 5-7. For more on the great services the Apotheque Lifestyles Spa has to offer click here and for information about the upcoming mixer at this spectacular venue look here. |
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