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<\/a>There is rarely a dull moment at Hodad\u2019s in Ocean Beach. (Photo by Frank Sabatini Jr.\/Special for Times of San Diego)<\/p>\n
His grandparents founded the neighborhood eatery in 1969. His late father, Mike Hardin, re-established it 23 years later in its current digs at 5010 Newport Ave.<\/p>\n
The combination of an established reputation, a prime location near the beach, and national publicity by CNN and the Food Network\u2019s Guy Fieri have all helped fuel a devoted following over the years that seems invincible.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur burgers aren\u2019t supposed to be life-changing, but how we make our food hasn\u2019t changed, and we have the best staff possible,\u201d said Hardin. \u201cSo if it ain\u2019t broke, don\u2019t fix it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Such consistency is the magic charm for many successful businesses. That belief is firmly upheld by Edwin Real, a former partner of Hob Nob Hill in Bankers Hill and founder-administrator of the Facebook group, Eating and Drinking in San Diego<\/a>, which has nearly 18,000 members.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen a restaurant is consistent in food quality, service, and cleanliness, customers are not afraid to pass the word on about you,\u201d said Real. \u201cAnd if there is good value in place, meaning you give customers what they pay for, all of those factors can overpower concerns about location and parking.\u201d<\/p>\n He pointed to Cowboy Star in the East Village as a stellar example because it offers \u201cboth value and consistency.\u201d<\/p>\n The steak-centric restaurant, he also noted, attracts a hearty patronage from within the neighborhood on weekdays, while 80 percent of its weekend business comes from people outside of the area who are willing to drive in from other sections of the county. It\u2019s a telling indicator that a restaurant is doing well.<\/p>\n Establishments that engage with their communities tend to maintain robust customer traffic, such as Mavericks Beach Club in Pacific Beach. Since opening eight years ago, the bustling two-level bar and restaurant has become involved with Discover PB, Pacific BeachFest, and various charity events.<\/p>\n