history of oceanside's first industrial park

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.

They continued to develop the park- accommodating fledging businesses, both small and large, helping to create thousands of jobs in the community through the years. Oceanside Industrial Park, still owned by the same families today, is the largest western most major industrial area in San Diego County- about 2 miles from the Oceanside Harbor and sandy beaches. 

The park is a thriving enclave of small multi tenant buildings housing a variety of businesses ranging from small manufacturing and contracting firms to coffee roasters, restaurants, furniture sales, auto repair and everything in between, even a brewery! Oceanside Industrial Park is also a major home to the surf industry, with several surfboard shapers and surfing related manufacturers, including long-time tenants like internationally famous shaper Michael Baron, and the 2012 ISA World Master's Surfing Champion, Javier Huarcaya- Pro, owner of Epoxy Pro Surfboards.

Many Oceanside businesses that began in the Park have remained long-time tenants, some for decades- Ceramic Tile Supply, Stamped Concrete, Kennedy's Motorcycles, Lamb Silk Screening, Bay City Apparel, Teri Inc., Davina's Mexican Restaurant, Best Mattress, and Maaco Auto Body.

Throughout the years Oceanside Industrial Park has given back to their community in many ways. In 1963 it donated land to the city for the present Oceanside Airport, and has supported local charities like the Oceanside Boys and Girls Club, Oceanside Museum of Art, Women's Resource Center, Oceanside Police Department's and Salvation Army Christmas programs, and has been contributors to the Oceanside Surf Museum in their new downtown location. 

Oceanside Industrial Park is proud to have given a "home to industry" for nearly 60 years, and continues to pursue its vision of a thriving Oceanside.   

By Kristi Hawthorne, President of the Oceanside Historical Society