*Warning, Oceanside pier restaurant trying to block off pier usage*

Hi everyone, this is upsetting, the Brine Box recently started their business on Oceanside pier and yesterday they were blocking off both side of the corner, usually people can go back there and fish. They blocked the front of the corner with posts, and the back with their advertising board, see pic, this is illegal and should be reported. They have no rights to take over the pier just because they pay rent, the pier belongs to everyone, what is your opinion?

Update, I messaged management of Oceanside pier and this is their response:
I am in receipt of your email related to access of the north side of the Pier corner . I am looking into this matter with a few Departments within the City prior to giving you a formal response. That is why I have not gotten back to you yet. Please note that the Brine Box has their entrance/exit to the kiosk building on that side of the Pier and they have a safety concern when going to and from the building for their employee’s and the public that may be outside of that particular doorway. I will get back to you asap once I have some feedback for you on this matter.

I appreciate you patience and look forward to getting back with you. You may feel free to call me directly, but I assure you we are working on this matter.

Thank you.

Vicki

And this is my response:
Thank you for your response, and thank you for looking into this matter for me and perhaps everybody else who uses the pier regularly. I understand The Brine Box concern for their employees on how they conduct their activities on that particular side of the pier, which is close to the L corner north side of the pier. I have to say something though, they have just moved in for the past few months and already are trying to change the status quo, the pier had been here for many many years, there are regular people like me, who are recreational fishermen and others who also have rights to use the particular corner, are they trying to prevent us from interacting with their employees? There is no safety concern other than that the Brine Box is trying to essentially blocking usage of a section of a pier. That side of the pier and their particular shop used to be a storage locker for the defunct restaurant that was Ruby Tuesday, I have been to this pier for 10 years and in the past Ruby Tuesday was not trying to prevent any access to anybody on that side even though it was used by the restaurant. This is a concerning trend with public piers having restaurant establishments on them trying to change and essentially taking over public space, evident by The Brine Box now setting out tables and dining area along the pathway of Oceanside pier. I will stop here for now, I hope that you do what's right and look into this for us, thank you.

Thank you for inquiring with the city, for those who share the same concerns. Appears that the fishermen are getting "squeezed" out rail space to fish from. With one side of the pier still fenced off, scaffolding underneath on large portions of the open side of the pier and now the Brine Box barricade. On the positive side the "surfline" has been great for some anglers.

Hi Magix, yes I feel like I have to speak up, what little space here and there they try to take, who knows when they will stop....On the subject of fencing off, the pier repair and upgrade project was scheduled to be done by September 2023, they are moving the pipes underneath the pier, and hopefully before this year ends they will remove the fencing, the pier restrooms are no longer closed so that's a good thing.

I have fished that corner many times when Ruby's was operating. Never had any problems with staff coming and going from the building.

*Update* their reply:

I have had a chance to review this matter further with the City Manager’s office and due to the positioning of the exit/entrance to the Brine Box Building, it is necessary that no persons be allowed to occupy the left corner of the North side of the Pier (immediately adjacent to the Brine Box). This is for safety to any occupants standing in that space as well as safety to the Brine Box staff who enter and exit the Brine Box throughout the day, which is frequently. Also, for your information, this kiosk building was originally built to be used as a “shake shack” for Ruby’s, and was used for that purpose for quite some time. Ruby’s later used it for storage, and now again it is back being used for its original and approved intention, as a restaurant kiosk. This is a benefit to the public and the use was approved by the City. As it relates to the tables that are set up adjacent to the Brine Box, these have been allowed at this time, and are positioned close to the two buildings so they provide ample space for pedestrians passing thru this area. These table may also be used by the general public at any time.

I thank you for bringing up this matter to us and hope that you will understand our position as described above.

Thank you and Happy Holiday’s.

Vicki

To the best of my knowledge these areas have always been open to anglers ! I would suggest that this may be an issue to be brought up to the Coastal Commission, they have been busy lately working on the issue of angler access at the Huntington Beach Pier.

This may be better placed in a separate thread, but what is happening at Huntington Beach?

Steve

They added a small restaurant mid-pier which was going to restrict angler space and the Coastal Commission had to give their permission.

I contacted the Coastal Commission and they were unaware of the situation but said they would look into it.

Thank you!!!!