OB Hotel Named Small Business of the Year

Despite restoration and a recession, the family-run business has survived

The Ocean Beach Hotel and owners Rich and Donna Grosch were recently recognized by a state lawmaker as the the 39th Senate District's Small Business of the Year.

It’s taken 10 years to restore and repair the historic building right along the shore.

Through the restoration and a recession that took its toll on the tourism industry, the family-run business has survived.

“Having a family owned business is unique and special,” Rich Grosch said. “We’re very hands on.”

His son is the General Manager, his daughter is Chief Financial Officer and his son-in-law helps run the hotel.

“We do everything from the gardening to clearing the toilets,” he said adding that his wife spends days off from her nursing job helping out around the hotel.

State Sen. Marty Block announced the award for the Ocean Beach Hotel on June 10 in honor of California Small Business Day.

The couple posed for a photo with Block at the State Capitol building in Sacramento.

“The award is an affirmation of what’s happening in the whole community and what other business leaders are doing,” Grosch said.

He called the hotel with its signature Woodie Wagon parked out front as a cornerstone business for the small seaside community.

“When we bought this place, that said to other people ‘Hey, let’s invest in this last portion of Ocean Beach,’” he said.

“I think you’ve seen a complete renaissance of Ocean Beach. We want to keep our character and our small town-feel but we just want to make it nicer, cleaner and a little bit more presentable.”

The Groschs say the award is proof of how the business leaders and community members of OB are working together to create an area welcome to guests from all over the world.

“Ocean Beach is a really special place and we hope that those who haven’t seen what we have down here, to come down and visit us,” son Steve Grosch said. “We’d love to show them around.”
 

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