Patches for bands that came backCandles, beads, pipes, and the etcPipes behind glass, like jewelryThe sticker bin never emptiesIncense by the box, not the stickPosters, tie-dye, the whole rackPatches for bands that came backCandles, beads, pipes, and the etcPipes behind glass, like jewelryThe sticker bin never emptiesIncense by the box, not the stickPosters, tie-dye, the whole rackPatches for bands that came backCandles, beads, pipes, and the etcPipes behind glass, like jewelryThe sticker bin never emptiesIncense by the box, not the stickPosters, tie-dye, the whole rackPatches for bands that came backCandles, beads, pipes, and the etcPipes behind glass, like jewelryThe sticker bin never emptiesIncense by the box, not the stickPosters, tie-dye, the whole rackPatches for bands that came backCandles, beads, pipes, and the etcPipes behind glass, like jewelryThe sticker bin never emptiesIncense by the box, not the stickPosters, tie-dye, the whole rackPatches for bands that came backCandles, beads, pipes, and the etcPipes behind glass, like jewelryThe sticker bin never emptiesIncense by the box, not the stickPosters, tie-dye, the whole rack

Newport Ave

Ocean Beach's landmark — The Black, the Newport Ave smoke shop, since 1968.

Tees, hoodies, prints, stickers, and shop relics. Straight off Newport Ave.

Shop the Catalogue

Ships from Ocean Beach. Free, always.

Come in for incense, leave with a hoodie.
The Black — the Newport Ave storefront sign: candles, beads, books, clothing, pipes, guitars, housewares, jewelry, lamps, novelties, posters, tobacco, etc.
Free shippingShips from OBSecure checkout30-day returns

Off the Rack

A rotating pick of what's worth grabbing right now.

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The BlackPosters & pipesNewport AveOcean BeachIf you know, you knowFree shippingThe BlackPosters & pipesNewport AveOcean BeachIf you know, you knowFree shippingThe BlackPosters & pipesNewport AveOcean BeachIf you know, you knowFree shippingThe BlackPosters & pipesNewport AveOcean BeachIf you know, you knowFree shippingThe BlackPosters & pipesNewport AveOcean BeachIf you know, you knowFree shippingThe BlackPosters & pipesNewport AveOcean BeachIf you know, you knowFree shippingThe BlackPosters & pipesNewport AveOcean BeachIf you know, you knowFree shippingThe BlackPosters & pipesNewport AveOcean BeachIf you know, you knowFree shipping

57 years.
Still here.

  1. 1968

    The doors open

    OB is turning into San Diego's counterculture capital, and the shop runs profitable from day one — in the black. Hence the name.

  2. 5017

    Never moved

    Same room on Newport Ave since the doors opened, half a block from the water. Shops around it come and go; the landmark doesn't.

  3. 2018

    Canonized

    High Times names it one of the ten most legendary head shops in America. Recessions, trends, five decades — outlasted all of it.

  4. 2026

    The obituary

    After 57 years, the longtime owner retires. Every outlet in the city writes the end-of-an-era piece.

  5. Now

    Still here

    New hands take the keys and leave the place alone on purpose. Same sign, same street — and the rack ships anywhere.

As seen in

“…the countercultural space it created.”Times of San Diego

The Black Dispatch

Somebody has to go find the good stuff. Might as well be us.

Stories, finds, and the occasional character we couldn't make up. Drop your email — we'll send the good parts.

Shipping & returns

Free shipping

Every order. No minimum.

Ships within 5 business days

Tracking when it leaves Newport Ave.

30-day returns

Not right? Send it back.

Questions

How fast does it ship?

Within 5 business days. Tracking hits your inbox when it leaves the shop.

What's shipping cost?

Nothing. Free on every order, no minimum.

How do I pay?

Stripe handles it. Any card works.

Can I return something?

Thirty days. If it's not right, email us and we'll sort it out.

Newport Ave, Ocean Beach

If you know,
you know.

Enter the Catalogue