OCEAN BEACH – Antiques and collectibles are how Ocean Beach entrepreneurs Ken and Nancy Freeman met, what they draw sustenance from, and what keeps them going — and going and going.
“We moved here from downtown San Diego,” said Ken Freeman, before finally settling in permanently at the Ocean Beach Antique Mall at 4926 Newport Ave.
Earlier this month, the couple marked their 50th anniversary dealing in antiques, half of that time in OB. It’s an occupation that began with the opening of their first antiques business on April 1, 1976.
How Ken first got involved with antiques is an interesting tale. “He answered an ad for a part-time job as an apprentice working on imported German clocks,” said Nancy Freeman, adding that her husband also “became quite a proficient woodworker” as an understudy in that trade too.
“We were right across from where they eventually built Petco Park,” said Nancy of their former downtown address. “We opened up out here Memorial Day weekend 2001, a couple of blocks up, and we’ve been here for 20 years in this spot, which was originally a women’s clothing store. We’re the third owners of an antiques footprint here.”
How Nancy and Ken got together is somewhat unusual as well. “I met him shopping in the store, I was a customer,” she said.
“She kept saying no — but she kept coming back,” said Ken. “Finally, she said yes.”
“And we have two beautiful daughters and two wonderful sons-in-law,” added Nancy, adding that their oldest daughter works at the mall and will probably take over one day.
Their downtown location was great, said Nancy, while indicating it wasn’t home, which is what Ocean Beach has become. “When we moved here, we just felt like we were in the right spot,” she said.
The Freemans’ OB Antique Mall is the epitome of a brick-and-mortar mom-and-pop. Their business is chock full — almost spilling over — with collectibles and memorabilia of all sorts they’ve gathered over the years.
Their almost unfathomable collection of items in-store includes everything from china and knick-knacks to a huge showcase of sterling silver, along with comic books, toy trolls with colored hair, and tiki items, plus plenty of sports and Disney memorabilia. There’s even a drawer full of collectible cocktail swizzle sticks and, of all things, a couple of pairs of wooden snowshoes.
Given the nature of their business, it’s technically a mini mall. “We have twelve different dealers besides ourselves,” said Nancy. “That’s why we get such an amazing mix of inventory.”
Some of OB Antique Mall’s dealers rent spaces with cases.
“Most of my dealers have been doing this for 20-plus years,” Nancy said. “So, they’re very seasoned: They know what they’re doing.”
Most of the mall’s dealers are local. Some have moved away but still rent space, and periodically return to bring more merchandise. Jewelry, both real and costume, is always a popular mall seller. Sterling silver, which OB Antique Mall carries a lot of, is also in high demand.
Antiques is also a trade that has proven to be somewhat surprisingly resilient to economic change. Despite the OB Pier being permanently closed due to storm damage, which has cut some into local business, Nancy said their mini-mall has been largely unaffected.
“Other businesses have said they’re off anywhere from 10% to 20%,” she said. “We are not. We have been going strong.”
Explaining the reason behind their mall’s being largely recession-proof, Nancy said, “Mainly, I really think it is that people love coming to San Diego. We’re a fun, funky little town. And we’re a getaway.”
And fun and funky is what Ocean Beach Antique Mall is, always has been, and always will be about.
