Best Pilates Studio: White House Pilates
Owner Caroline Londergan was the first to introduce Pilates to members of The White House, the United States Secret Service, and the Washington D.C. SWAT Team. She brought her services to Hermosa Beach in 2009. She is presently continuing her education with Lolita San Miguel’s Master Mentor Program. Lolita is the only living descendent of […]
Best Hospital: Torrance Memorial Medical Center
When our readers break an arm high-fiving after reading the newspaper, or crack a sacroiliac slipping on a competitor’s newspaper that’s been tossed to the ground in disgust, they prefer to seek their care at Torrance Memorial Medical Center. The award-winning nonprofit, locally-governed facility boasts programs such as a special burn center, emergency care serving […]
Best health and nutrition store: Lindberg Nutrition
Lindberg Nutrition’s two store locations offer more than 5,000 vitamins and nutritional and body building supplements. “Our trained, knowledgeable staff is available to help you select the right products,” said Megan Rusch, Lindberg’s marketing director. Lindberg Nutrition stores have been operating in Southern California for more than sixty years. The store serves a quarter of […]
Best Chiropractor: Dr. Derek Levy, DC
Chiropractor Derek Levy describes himself as a meat and potato kind of doctor who makes house calls and insists on explaining to patients the cause of their problems before treating them. “There’s nothing magical about what we do,” he insisted during a visit to his Hermosa Beach office. “Chiropractors work with three basic parts of […]
Best Vintage Clothing: Aardvark
For 40 years this South Bay mainstay has provided our readers with the best in vintage clothing and a wide selection of wigs, jewelry, accessories, hosiery, and shoes. The customers have morphed over time from shopping for their everyday wardrobe to hitting the store for Halloween and theme parties, without Aaardvark missing a retro beat. […]
Best Camera Store: Paul’s Photo
“I’ve been coming here since the ‘60s,” said Glen Combs who no longer lives in the area, but still drives to Torrance to get his cameras fixed. “They know what they’re talking about.” The store itself has been around since 1961 with Paul Comon at the helm throughout the entire time. The shop has been […]
Best Jewelry Store: Seymour Jewelers
Seymour Jewelers has been in business in downtown Hermosa Beach since 1950, when a young World War II veteran from Brooklyn named Seymour Bilowit walked by an empty storefront and decided to start his own full-service jewelry store. His son, Scott Bilowit, has continued the family tradition, which focuses on creating highly customized designs that […]
Best Furniture: Curious…
Bryce Toney knows his audience. The environmentally conscious entrepreneur, tastemaker and self-taught furniture craftsman, opened his home décor boutique in the dire 2009 economy and managed to not only stay afloat, but to actually expand his business twofold. Now including a furniture workshop and an interior design service, in partnership with Shanna Shryne of Shryne […]
Best Independent Book Store: {pages} a bookstore
At any given moment, the ladies of Pages are each reading about 10 different books. Whether they are prepping for an author event – they’ve hosted Lisa See, Hector Tobar, Mona Simpson and Louis Zamperini in recent months – reading advanced copies of soon-to-be-released novels, or stocking up on extra copies of To Kill a […]
Best Antiquees and Collectibles: Stars Antique Market
A look inside the 7,000 square-foot showroom quickly reveals why Stars is our reader’s first choice. A convenient and intriguing layout carries the visitors through furniture, collectible pottery, clothing, dishes, vintage jewelry and more, that has been brought to the store by 60 separate dealers. The eclectic mix includes fun and funky stuff, items you […]
Best Swap Meet: Roadium Open Air Market
Located on the hallowed grounds of an old outdoor movie theater and open 365 days a year; the Roadium’s 15 acres of shopping offer customers new and used merchandise from clothes and shoes to spools of thread and fishing gear. On average you can always expect at least 500 sellers offering their merchandise. “I like […]
Best Gift Shop: Gum Tree
This darling shop, inside a 1911 craftsman bungalow with an adjoining café, invites visitors to stroll the wooden floors and admire an eclectic style that is chic yet laid back, with jewelry, scarves and accessories from designers such as Chan Luu, Catherine Weitzman, Wendy Mink and Dogeared. Cozy sections include a “living room” with an […]
Best Kid’s Boutique: Bella Beach Kids
This three-year-old family-owned boutique is a reader favorite in not one, not two, but three categories this year. Perhaps because the local owners are so embedded in the community – 35-year Manhattan Beach resident Kris Mackerer D’Errico’s customers include her seventh grade Home Economics teacher, and the “little girls” she coached in soccer who are […]
Best Kids Beach Camp: Hammerhead Beach Camp
Bruce Kocsis, a 24-year L.A. County Lifeguard and Jamie Bateman, a preschool teacher founded Hammerhead Beach Camp 16 years ago. Their camps — Hammerheads, Minis and Guard Prep, are for children ages four to 13. Their number one priority is safety and they provide higher-than-required camper/counselor ratios, cordoned-off areas for activities and canopies for shade. […]
Best Toy Store: Bella Beach Kids
Along with unique, funky clothing for boys and girls, Bella Beach Kids carries a host of unique toys and gifts you may not find in traditional toy stores. “We have these beautiful dolls that come from France, we’ve got unique puzzles, some great games goes form age three to games adults love,” said owner Kris […]
Best Kids Birthday Party Location: Scooter’s Jungle
Scooter’s Jungle wins the prize for best kids’ birthday party location because of their family friendly environment. They offer “worry-free” parties and special events featuring huge inflateable jumpers and permanent structures that include the tallest and longest indoor inflateable slides in the area. They also offer homemade pizza and other treats. Not only are their […]