Save Surfside Pizza, San Clemente: Surfside needs our help

Please help save Surfside Pizza, San Clemente.

Our local pizza restaurant in San Clemente, California, needs funds to stay in business.

Starting on October 24, 2016, Surfside Pizza, in the coastal town of San Clemente, California began. This little store in 8 years, under the helm of Ken Nelson, a local of this community of 35 years, created a pizzeria that brought our community together. With his experience in the industry, Surfside didn’t just increase its sales, improve its food quality and customer service, but also its relationships with its customers and its ties with the community.

Over these 8 years, we have come to see Ken and Surfside Pizza in San Clemente as a valued, trusted, and loved person and restaurant in our local community. It’s not just because of the quality of their pizzas, friendly and attentive customer service, school sports sponsorships, and strong community ties; they care and are empathetic toward others. Over the years, Ken has been an advisor, mentor, coach, and big brother to several of our employees and others. For our young employees, Surfside Pizza was their first job, and many thank him for that chance and enjoyed their experience working there. Ken has given advice and chances of employment to people when others would not. Ken’s mentorship has steered kids away from gangs, alcohol abuse, and going down the wrong path. He has given sound advice on life skills that allowed many to solve problems and succeed, many of whom thanked him years later. He's also helped fund a culinary certification program through Saddleback College to secure a solid career path. We all know this to be true since we have experienced and witnessed the way he engages and speaks to people and how they gravitate towards him. That is why we are so staunch in the belief that Ken’s business is worth saving. We do not want to see Ken and his entire staff go. We know that it took years for him to develop a great staff of good, hard-working, friendly, customer-attentive, and loyal people.

Unfortunately, during the later part of this past year, Ken developed some health issues that sidelined him for several months—thankfully, he has recovered. As a result of the financial drain of having to step aside due to his illness, Surfside hasn’t been able to clear its monthly operational expenses. Compounded by the recent failure of their oven (which is looking to be costly), Surfside Pizza in San Clemente is in danger of shutting down.

We know it’s difficult for them to ask for help so we as a community are doing this on their behalf. Your contributions and support would be appreciated beyond words in saving this local pizzeria and helping maintain its staff. Let’s try to do what we can to get Surfside Pizza back on track.

With great sincerity and thanks.