
Nick’s at the Beach shuttered its doors in December after 18 years in business. Its sister restaurant, Nick’s at the Pier in Ocean Beach, also closed down. The Local Group, which owns The Local eatery downtown, purchased both locations and plans to modify the restaurants into beach-centric eateries. KEITH ANTIGIOVANNI
“Bringing The Local type of restaurant to Pacific Beach has been in the works for the past eight years,” said Mina Desiderio, owner of The Local Group.
Currently, the property is undergoing a complete remodel with the grand opening expected to take place in June.
According to Desiderio, the makeover is designed to incorporate a new theme. The menu will be reasonably priced for the Pacific Beach area, the downstairs will feature a “fast, casual-style eatery” with craft beer, an “urban islander” theme (Asian/American) and will be open to clientele of all ages, while the upstairs will be geared toward the 21-and-up crowd and feature a sports-bar theme, live music and an expanded patio area. The upstairs will feel more spacious, with Nick’s trademark pool tables being removed. The current parking lot will be reconfigured.
The exterior of The Local PB will resemble a “beach house on stilts,” said Desiderio, with an area for customers to store their surfboards and even shower off the sand from the beach. The overall goal of the restaurant, she said, will be to attract a wider variety of clientele, including tourists, families and, of course, locals.
“When the opportunity to purchase both locations became available, we were very happy to have two incredible beach properties and very grateful to be buy both places,” Desiderio said.