By Teresa Mariani

Maybe it was a good omen: On the day the owners of the Old Custom House broke ground Feb. 1 for their new building in Avila Beach, the skies were sunny and blue.

TV crews were on hand for the groundbreaking, as well as local dignitaries and a crowd of well-wishers. Ever since, construction crews have been working away under blue skies and summertime temperatures in the mid-70s, getting the construction project off to a good start and keeping the project on time. Chris Chandless, General Manager of both the Old Custom House and Mr. Rick's, hopes to have the both re-opened in time for the summer tourist season.

The project makes the Old Custom House and Mr. Rick's the first Avila businesses to rebuild after the massive Unocal cleanup project at Avila Beach. The two-year project cleaned up decades' worth of petroleum products that had leaked under the tiny beachfront community from underground Unocal pipelines. As part of the clean up, Unocal demolished most of "downtown" Avila Beach to clean the soil and sand underneath after buying out property owners there.

Avila Beach fans have been waiting anxiously for signs the funky town would rise again - signs like the rebuilding of the Custom House.

Long-time Avila fans will have to look for the Custom House in a new spot: right across from the Pier. The Custom House, Mr. Rick's, and the Avila Café will share the block-long spot across from the Pier and the Yacht Club, right in the middle of the new Front Street Promenade.

The "new" Old Custom House will at the corner of Front St. and San Miguel St., and longtime favorite nightspot Mr. Rick's will anchor the other end of the block. The Custom House patio will return, located this time in between the Custom House and Mr. Rick's buildings.

Both buildings have been designed in a seaside clapboard architectural style; Mr. Rick's even sports a small lighthouse tower.

- Teresa Mariani

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