The Black

The Black is still as vibrant as ever. As part of San Diego’s native creative class, tobacco free yet hungry for all things Bohemian, coastal, hippie, fun, global and quite frankly, super unique, I find myself, before a big project or season, carving time to spend in Ocean Beach. A time machine would have me in San Francisco’s legendary «Does Your Mother Know?» shop, however, I am here in San Diego. I walk Newport, get inspired, talk to the shop keepers, listen to the music and basically replenish my soul. It’s important to me. (This week, David Bowie’s deeper cuts were embracing my old corazon.) The merchandise is for the reader, traveler, dancer, artist, gift giver, lover and sensualist. I cannot imagine living here and never connecting to such mythic places. Life goal: know them all. I was taken here as a teenager by my uncles and am a life long customer, promoter.
I will need to say this to the very dear keepers of this flame: I know times have been difficult. I know Ocean Beach has had it’s share of good times and bad times. Please always know that I am a client, not a criminal. I never appreciate the assumption that I will steal and require the stink eye to keep my visual feasting in check. My photo will not be a capital offense, your honor. Have I intruded upon your living room shire of your precious craft? Did I interrupt the coven’s board meeting? I know. I really do. Everything is hard, even 10:30am. A simple «hey» or a crooked smile or a nod to your loyal base will do as I come by to visit, smell the roses, browse the book titles, voodoo toys and purchase my ocean oil.
I am your friend. These stars align for your things.

This place has it all. Knowledgeable staff, huge selection of merch, locally sourced artisan products, good customer service, and competitive prices. I really enjoyed the «welcoming atmosphere».

I was born and raised in Ocean Beach and have frequented this store quite often as it is amongst many others on Newport Avenue. I’ve never really purchased anything other than incense back in the day, but I stumbled upon a pair of Rainbow sandals the other day and fell in love. Their selection is huge and the prices are competitive, however what will keep me coming back and recommending this store is the 5 star customer service I received from JEFFREY!!! He is wonderful and exudes astounding professionalism and genuine customer service that is very hard to come by these days. Thank you, Jeffery! The world needs more people like you! :)

First smoke shop that I have been to that has no Bob Marley anywhere in sight. The «homemade» book of «Mexican Jokes» was suspect since I am Mexican. Such a beautiful store with so much potential. I guess things will never change. I like their tie dye merch and rock tees.

Been coming here for years, it’s a great place. Read the various reviews here to see the variety of items they sell.
Today was an especially good experience at The Black, as the manager that was there at about noon today (I didn’t catch his name), showed GREAT customer service, refunding me for a product I bought a few days ago that wasn’t really for what last week’s employee that sold it to me said it was for.
Thanks The Black — glad San Diego/​Ocean Beach has you!

Great little store with unique gift items. Where else do you buy a book for your penis. Lol! Good selection of inappropriate coffee mugs and gift bags.

I have been The Black fan since 70’s. I grew up with The Black. Moved away 20yrs ago and I visit SD every 4 – 6 mos to see my 85yr old Momma. I can’t go home to Ohio till I visit The Black.
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I have loved this store for years! Had another outstanding experience here, and thank you Mike for all your help. Great customer service.

I used to love this place. Today I came in to buy some San Diego souvenirs for out-​of-​state friends. I was stoked to see they had tiki merchandise and was going to take a pic and share it with the hundreds of tikiphiles I know on Facebook. The employee told me no photography. Uh, what? I was going to give the place free publicity. Instead I left without buying those things, and I won’t be back. Friendliness – try it sometime.

The black is the oldest smokeshop in San Diego. Because of this they are really tight on the smoke shop vocabulary. If you don’t refer to things illegally; I.e. the b word, you will have no problems; and everyone has bad days on both sides of the counter

All kinds of great gifts for yourself and others. I love the drip candles. The music section is cool, and they have great cards and calendars. The tie dyed onesies have been my go to baby shower gift for years.
Customer service attitudes run hot and cold, depending who you get.

Shop of incense, irreverent humor bumper stickers, cards, posters, knickknacks. It has eclectic books that one used to find at Tower Records. This place is like a mashup of Tower Records, Spencer’s Gifts, and Hot Topic stores. It carries interesting unique stuff with quirky irreverent humor. If you’re looking for that stuff, this is your place.

Just strolled in here with a friend and there it is; all the stuff you need for that medicinal usage product.
There was a time when you couldn’t mention what you intended to use a pipe, bong, vaporizer or whatever, for. Well, I’m still not sure if we can speak freely in this country, about a plant that grows anywhere, by itself with no help from mankind yet has a quality that allows one to sleep at night, eat when they have no appetite, laugh when life seems to have backed you into a corner, think when you thought nothing was interesting enough to think about, kill off a migraine that made you barf from bright light or the sound of your refrigerator running — really bad ones are worse than you can imagine, you are lucky if you never experience this — let’s see where was I? Remedies of a plant… possibly be «THE» miracle cure for more things than we ever could imagine. Have I gone too far? Okay. I shall digress.
Again, I am still not sure if you can speak of this in a shop that sells smoke apparatus. I only mention these things here because I suffer, or have suffered from one or more of these things at one time or another and feel it’s long overdue, we have a right to natures cures to natures ailments.
I think I could write a very long diatribe on the subject but, alas, this is merely a review of a shop I happened to stroll into with a friend. Not to say I am not interested and or knowledgeable in the products here but this is the truth.
So, in the interest of the review, I will rate this store. Is it good? Is it great? I don’t know. By comparison… sure! Why not. They have a lot of products and they are knowledgeable about the quality of the products. They have a lot to chose from and they are kind people. They treat you well and are willing to answer all your questions. That is a good thing. No, that is a great thing. Ya know, I started off with a 4 star rating but have talked myself into giving them 5 stars. My opinion — they have qualified all of «MY» requirements for a 5 star rating.
Good place, good people, good products and large quantity.

I love OB and I enjoyed going to the Black but after the horrible customer service, very rude and disrespectful employees I will never return to this store. It actually has been years since I last went. The guy at the register was extremely rude. I am often in OB and never again would I go into this store.

If you are Black (the irony) or an ally of People of Color, boycott this shop! The Confederate flag hangs and sways freely!
I went in to buy some incense and turned to find a larger than life Confederate flag hanging. I get that this is a free country, and that people can sell whatever they want. But, that doesn’t mean that I have to patronize a business that sells merch that is clearly disparaging. Anyway, once I saw the flag, I just put everything that I had in my hand down and walked out of the door.
I have to rate in order to post a review, but this place deserves 0 stars – I mean, unless you are racist and wish that slavery had never ended. But, other than that, NO STARS!

Incredible selection of cool things. It’s like a one-​stop head shop!
Cool and helpful staff.
If you’re in need of unique items, this is the place to shop.

The Black on Facebook has kept me pretty well connected to home & OB since we moved to Texas & I warned the social media director I would be in town. brought my kids (one very pregnant) & found everything we were looking for & more. thanks for not really changing.
it’s like coming home.

Cool head shop in the Ocean Point area. It reminded me of Hot Topics but with a lot more interesting stuff. We bought some shirts among other things. The people here were friendly with the exception of the one who I assumed was the owner. He tripped out on me because I was taking pictures of the water pipes.
I read reviews of other people getting booted from the store for calling them «bongs» Im pretty sure if I didn’t have all those shirts and stuff on the counter to pay for I would’ve got booted too hahaha! just a warning: Dont take pictures. Dont say the word bong if you dont want to get the boot.

I’ve been here once, about a year ago with a girl friend of mine. I loved the shop, and didn’t want to leave. I had my arms FULL of things that I wanted to buy.
I ended up with a simple lotus candle holder, but it is by far my favorite. I can’t wait for my next trip to OB so that I can come here again.

I came in looking for oils on Father’s day. They are a bit expensive but smell lovely! I am not sure that I really like coming in here. I feel really awkward here. I think that most of the employees here are rude except for the lady she was really nice. I made the mistake of smelling an Indian soap bowl lid too close and I got stuck with a nasty smell in my nose for over half of an hour. I only come here maybe once a year just because I do not like it here.