San Diego Venue Winstons Shifted Ownership
The Ocean Beach landmark will rebrand and add food service to offset rising touring costs.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Scott Slaga has bought out his partners to take control of Winstons, an Ocean Beach music venue that has operated for 39 years. The business will now pivot toward a food-inclusive model and local talent to mitigate the impact of rising touring expenses.
Why it matters
The transition reflects broader challenges in the live-music industry, where escalating costs for national touring acts are forcing small-capacity venues to re-evaluate their operating models. Diversifying revenue through dining and reducing overhead are common responses to these margin pressures.
The venue maintains a 198-capacity limit, significantly smaller than local competitors like the 660-capacity Holding Company. Its new operational strategy includes daily service from noon until 2 a.m.
The players
Scott Slaga
Owner of the Winstons venue who has executed a buyout of former partners.
Brandon Colt
The newly appointed general manager tasked with overseeing venue operations.
710 Beach Club
A Pacific Beach music venue that serves as a talent and management resource for Winstons.
The details
Under new management, Winstons will install updated audio and lighting systems to transition from a pure music venue to one featuring a full-service kitchen. To support this shift, leadership is recruiting a talent buyer and food manager with experience at the 710 Beach Club. Additionally, the venue will eliminate nightly cover charges and shift its programming focus toward local talent and electronica to lower the risk associated with booking expensive national touring acts.
Timeline
1989: Slaga and Stifano acquired the 710 Beach Club.
1998: Slaga and Stifano purchased the Winstons venue.
Saturday, September 26, 2026: A Last Call send-off party will take place.
Next week: The official rebranding process commences.
Next Wednesday, September 30, 2026: Anticipated announcement of the new venue name.
Market Landscape
The closure of the Bay Park music venue Brick By Brick serves as a cautionary benchmark for independent San Diego stages facing financial headwinds. Winstons is adapting by shifting its model to prioritize local programming and new revenue streams, marking a departure from the traditional national-act touring circuit.
Operators in the entertainment space should monitor how the integration of dining affects venue margins, especially as touring costs continue to limit booking viability. Keep a close eye on local talent reliance as a potential substitute for expensive, high-risk national acts.
The takeaway
Smaller venues are increasingly decoupling their revenue from national touring acts to ensure long-term solvency. Owners should track their 'cost per booking' against nightly capacity to determine if a pivot to food service or local talent is necessary to maintain margins.
What happens next
The rebranding of the venue will begin next week, with the new name expected to be announced on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Further reading
For more updates on local industry shifts, see Openings & Closings.
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In your area, do you trust that local music venues will survive current economic challenges?
