Best of the Beach 2010: Retail

Best Bike Shop: Hermosa Cyclery

Founded in 1974 by Harold Schumaker, Hermosa Cyclery remains in the same tan two-story structure fronting 13th Street near The Strand and is known as the place with the “free air,” where an air hose dangles outside the business so passing cyclers can fill their tires without asking. They specialize in one-, three- and seven-speed strand cruisers, and serve as an authorized dealer of Electra, Sun Bicycles and KHS. They also serve as an authorized Rollerblade dealer, and carry Sure-Grip roller skates. Open 7 days a week, they also do repair work.

Over the years, the shop has employed countless numbers of Hermosa kids. Schumaker died in 2002, willing his store to Steve Collins, Larry Burke, Ken Liebowitz and Mark McNeill, all former employees from the late ‘70s and ‘80s.

“Hermosa Cyclery places its highest priority on making the customer’s experience the best it can be. We accomplish this by having the best staff possible, which we are so lucky to have and so proud of. Hermosa Cyclery has been serving our community for 35 years now and we look forward to each year for more of the same.” — Owners Steve, Larry, Mark and Ken.

Hermosa Cyclery: 20-13th Street, Hermosa Beach. 310-374-7816

Runner-up: Helen’s Cycles, 1570-C Rosecrans Ave., Manhattan Beach, 310-321-5290. 

A full-service team and outdoor daybeds on a sky deck are just a few of the reasons our readers prefer to relax at Trilogy Spa.

For the past 10 years, the spa has specialized in massage, skincare and exotic body treatments using all-natural, handmade products. Customized treatments include massages, facials, peels, vichy rainbars, tub plunges for two, and St. Tropez sunless tanning.

The spa offers customized spa parties, solo retreats, romantic getaways and more for clients who want a more intimate setting in which to unwind. Nearby residents can even enjoy Trilogy’s services at home.

Trilogy’s number one goal is making guests feel appreciated.

“We understand that people want to go where they feel special and our clients are the most important thing for us,” owner Chandra Shaw said.

In addition to giving top quality service, Trilogy also gives back to its community, hosting monthly fundraising events for local causes, including education foundations.

“We really see ourselves as part of the community and we really care about it,” Shaw said.

Trilogy Spa: 451 Manhattan Beach Blvd. (in Metlox Plaza), MB. (310) 760-0044. www.trilogyspa.com

Runner-up: Tropical Water, 1559 PCH, HB. (310) 798-6464. www.tropicalwatersspa.com

Best Fresh Produce: Grow

Grow uses a simple formula to win favor from our readers: the market finds farmers who grow great produce, then buys direct from them, hustling the food fresh to the customer, sometimes within 24 hours.

Grow will put up its fresh produce – for instance Buck Brand organic navel oranges – against the produce sold in conventional supermarkets any time.

Grow’s crispy, juicy produce helps make its party platters especially popular as well.

The market also believes in supporting its community, offering script at numerous schools and sponsoring numerous events including the American Martyrs Parish Fair, Grand View Pumpkin Patch, local education foundations, Sandpipers and Wellness Community.

Grow: 1830 N. Sepulveda, MB. 310-545-2904. Growtps.com

Runners-up: Farmers Markets: noon to 4 p.m. Fridays, Valley Drive at 11th Street in Hermosa (hbchamber.net); Thursdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Veterans Park in Redondo (redondo.org), and noon to 4 p.m. Thursdays, 13th Street and Morningside Drive, Manhattan (mbfarmersmarket.com).

Best Pet Food: Centinela Feed & Pet Supplies

The spacious store with the helpful, knowledgeable staff carries multiple lines of high quality food for dogs, cats, birds and small animals, as well as treats and toys, collars, leashes and harnesses, feeders and waterers, litter supplies, stain and odor fighters, grooming, flea-and-tick, dental and health supplies, bedding, carriers, barriers and ramps.

The wide selection of outstanding food brands is a big draw, and animals across the beach cities refuse to send their humans anywhere else.

Centinela District Manager Thania Montiel said the store’s greatest strength is its people.

“I would have to say it’s the service, and the knowledgeable staff,” she said.

By the way, we talked to a customer who said her large dog had terrible gas until she switched to a vegan dog food found at Centinela.

“And she loves it,” the customer said.

Centinela also teams up with Purrfect Partners for cat and kitten adoptions, and with Rover Rescue for dog adoptions.

Centinela Feed & Pet Supplies: 413 N. PCH, RB. 310-318-2653. centinelafeed.com

Runner-up: Pet Co, 537 N. PCH, RB. 310-374-7969 and 3901 Inglewood Ave. Suite G, RB. 310-355-1370. petco.com 

 Best Mall: Manhattan Village

It is possible to do a mall right and Manhattan Village proves it. This is a mall that actually does possess a village-like feel, although it’s a village populated by storefronts such as the Apple Store, Sephora, Macys, the Pottery Barn, and Diane’s Beachwear – a mighty cool village, in other words. The presiding ethos of this mall is quality over quantity.

But don’t take our word for it. Check what a few of the Village’s friends are saying on Facebook (albeit with the enticement of a $500 shopping spree in a raffle drawing):

“I love Manhattan Village because it’s right in my neighborhood and I can get everything done in one, cute shopping center!” writes Kausezea D. Hunt. “Mac store? Check. Hungry? Check. Need to hit the bank? Check. Shopping? Check. Movies? Check. I don’t even like malls, but M.V.M. is so laid-back and easy to get to that I don’t even feel like I’m in a mall…It reminds me of a bunch of cool stores and shops on a street. A friendly feel and vibe. The un-mall!”

“I love Manhattan Village because it is convenient to get to and has great shopping!” writes Meryl Lichtenstein Braudo. “E-Perks is a great program and Manhattan Village gives back to the Manhattan Beach schools. The movie theater gets the more artsy films and the mall as a whole is easy to get around as compared to the malls in the area. Manhattan Village satisfies my shopping needs!”

Manhattan Village Shopping Center: 3200 N. Sepulveda Blvd., MB.  (310) 426-6313?

Runner-up: Del Amo Fashion Center, 3525 West Carson Street, Torr.

Best Liquor Store: Abe’s Liquor

The venerable Abe’s sits atop Pier Avenue in Hermosa, ready to roll that keg down the hill or wherever the need for beery joy exists. Abe’s has been known for decades for its excellent delivery service, available each and every day within a mile radius of any of the three Beach Cities. But this year manager Daniel Moon added a new twist: he began to re-imagine the liquor store as a place that offers healthy choices.

“This is my own opinion, obviously, but I think what sets us apart is the fact we aren’t trying to be a business that is only a liquor store,” Moon said. “We are trying to keep more of a social network, convenience, healthy living type store. We carry a lot of things that have to do with the issue of health. We also carry very fine liquors and fine wines and so forth, of course – that is a big business for us.”

Moon said that one product that has proven particularly popular and healthful is the Vemma mangosteen fruit juice. Customers are actually signing up to receive monthly cases of the stuff, Moon said.

“People get hooked up on it and they feel different,” he said. “It makes a huge difference.”

Abe’s, in fact, has long been more than simply a liquor store. It’s a South Bay institution. Hermosa Beach is one of the premiere party towns anywhere, and for over 30 years a large percentage of those parties have been fueled by the little store with the big selection of booze and a crew ready to bring it to you. And for those armies of revelers tromping to and from the beach every summer, Abe’s is perfectly located to serve the sun-thirsted.

“We sit right in the middle of everything,” Moon said. “That is always a good thing.”

Abe’s Liquor: 240 Pier Ave., HB. (310) 372-2159.

Runner-up: Manhattan Fine Wines, 1157 Artesia Blvd., MB. (310) 374-3454.

Best Tanning Salon: L.A. Sunset Tan

The South Bay people love their beaches. But when there’s no time to lay out praying to the sun gods, our readers rely on L.A. Sunset Tan to satisfy their bronzing needs. With the most advanced tanning equipment offered at competitive prices, tanners don’t have to pay more to get the best.

“We have a tanning bed for every budget,” owner Tony Trutanich Jr. said. “We offer Ferrari beds at Toyota pricing.”

The tanning salon boasts one of only four burn-proof tanning beds in the whole country. The $60,000 bed has a sensor that tests the melanin content on the lightest part of the body before setting appropriate UV levels. Other services include custom tan airbrushing and body contouring. Trutanich said that the store’s sunless tanning service is superior to any Mystic Tan around.

“I’m not sure why people even do Mystic Tan anymore,” Trutanich said. “People come to us after they do it so we can fix it.”

The first L.A. Sunset Tan opened last May in Hermosa Beach and was so popular, two Redondo Beach locations opened up within the following year.

Ten futuristic rooms with iPod plug-ins, speakers and aromatherapy make for a top-notch tanning experience.

L.A. Sunset Tan: 1402 Pacific Coast Highway, HB. (310) 372-0334. 200 North Harbor Dr. RB. (310) 937-1177 . 1020 Pacific Coast Highway, RB. (310) 543-4600 www.sunsettansouthbay.com

Runner up: Cop-a-Tan, 1550 Rosecrans Ave., MB. (310) 643-8089. 1133 Artesia Blvd., MB. (310) 372-6022. 413 N. Pacific Coast Hwy., RB. (310) 921-1001.

Best Flower Shop: Lily Pad Floral Design

From everyday floral arrangements to those for the most special occasion, the Lilly Pad Floral Design mother-daughter team Katherine Williams and Rebecca Perry are known for elegant floral designs. The pair specializes in weddings, with over 1,000 under their belt.

Williams and Perry have always shared a love of flower and plants. In 1995, they opened Lily Pad Floral Design in the heart of Hermosa Beach and have been adding creative flair to special occasions ever since.

Lily Pad has been featured in Los Angeles, The Knot and Inside Weddings magazines, as well as “In the Garden” with Martha Stewart. Twice, the flower shop was showcased on the Discovery Channel’s “Interior Motives.”

Lily Pad Floral Design: 904 Hermosa Ave., HB. (310) 376-2539. www.lilypadfloral.com

Runner-up: Growing Wild, 1201 Highland Ave., MB. (310) 545-4432. www.growingwild.net

Best wine shop: Manhattan Fine Wines 

This store is tucked unpretentiously between a Mexican restaurant and a drug store, next to McDonalds, at the beginning of Artesia Boulevard, but walk through its doors and you realize you’ve entered a magical kingdom of sorts for those among us who like the finer things in life – that is, good wine, fine spirits, and serious booze.

Once upon a time, the store was known as Manhattan Liquor Store, but its newer name is indicative of how owner Joe Chiewphasa has transformed the store. Crate upon crate of wines line the store, including the best selection of French and Spanish wines available in the South Bay and a special climate-controlled cellar room that holds such classics as the famed Romanée-Conti burgundy ($6,000 per bottle).

The store’s selection isn’t aimed only at the high-end buyer. Chiewphasa has a special gift for finding genuinely low-priced (some under $10) wines and others that represent amazing bargains. Customers have learned to trust his wine of the week selections. A recent pick, the 2007 Chateau de Lascaux, for $13.99 delivers the heft of a wine that normally would cost twice or three times as much.

Eighteen years ago, Chiewphasa was running a somewhat more pedestrian store in Torrance when he started investigating finer wines. The more he learned – about grapes and the color, nose, and texture of different wines – the more passionate he became. “Wow, this is phenomenal,” he remembers thinking. “This is like art!”

Manhattan Fine Wines is the culmination of that passion. What is truly special about the store is Chiewphasa himself – not only his knowledge of wine, but his close attention to the tastes of his customers. No single person in the South Bay has a better working knowledge of as many people’s individual palates as Chiewphasa. It’s this personal relationship that so differentiates this little wine shop from its larger corporate competition.

“If I were a customer, why go to place where nobody can help you?” Chiewphasa said. “You get lost. When you walk in to those stores, they don’t know what you like. They don’t know what you are going to cook for dinner tonight…We feel that customers can trust us. We learn their palate, and what they like.”

BOB voters clearly feel fortunate to have such man in their midst, and the feeling is more than mutual.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have the trust from people who come in,” Chiewphasa said. “I love my customers. Every day I wake up and go, ‘Man, I love my job.’ Really, I mean it – I just want to come in and talk to people. That’s what I do every day. It’s fun.”

Manhattan Fine Wines: 1157 Artesia Blvd., MB. (310) 374-3454?.

Runner-up: Bacchus Wine Made Simple, 1000 Manhattan Ave., MB. (310) 372-2021.

Best Camera Shop: Paul’s Photo

An extensive product line and a knowledgeable staff – averaging more than 15 years experience each – helped make Paul’s the choice of our readers.

“We help our customers get better pictures,” said Paul’s Vice President Mark Comon.

He said the store offers greater service and honest, reliable answers to customers’ problems, without charging more.

The store boasts a wide selection of digital SLR cameras, digital point-and-shoot cameras, camcorders, printers, computers, scanners, lighting equipment, tripods, stands, and thousands of performance-enhancing accessories.

Paul’s also teaches photography from beginning to advanced, and teaches classes on the powerful Photoshop program and other computer skills.

A new service at Paul’s allows customers to print photos, even large ones, on glossy or matte photographic paper from their homes. The photos can be cropped, cleared of “red eye,” changed to black and white, and even burned onto CDs, all from home.

Paul’s Photo: 23845 S. Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance. 310-375-7014. paulsphoto.com

Runner-up: Silvio’s Photoworks, 22409 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance. 310-791-7100 or 877-745-8467. silvios.com

Best Grocery Store: Trader Joe’s

Our readers insist on stretching their dollars, and at the same time they refuse to skimp on value, so they stream to TJ’s for outstanding wines, cheeses and nuts, hand-tossed pizza from Italy, coffee that pleases even the snooty – all at surprisingly low prices.

Rows of canned and bottled goods, zesty salad dressings and sauces, non-food staples, frozen foods and produce, much of it organic, allow shoppers to scoop up not only gourmet goods but most everything else they need as well.

And when the customers are ready to go, well-staffed checkout lines hurry them on their way.

Comedian Blaine Captach has joked that TJ’s qualifies as a cult because of the devotion of its shoppers, and a visit to any one of the stores shows why.

Trader Joe’s: 1821 Manhattan Beach Blvd., MB. 310-372-1274

1800 Rosecrans Ave., MB. 310-725-9800

1761 S. Elena Ave., RB. 310-316-1745

traderjoes.com

Runner-up: Vons (vons.com)