South Bay restaurant timelines: 2010 to 2001
Paul Jordan of Chez Melange, one of South Bay's most popular and enduring restaurants. Photo easons the restaurant has remained popular through the decade. Photo
The statistic that most people ask about is which space in the Beach Cities has been host to the most restaurants. At least three locations have hosted at five restaurants over the past decade, but the winner is 1019 Manhattan Beach Boulevard, which was Manhattan Bar & Grill in 2000, and was successively Soleil, Blue Agave, Chicago For Ribs, and Tapa Meze before becoming Kah, which seems to be doing well.
One locations defies my attempts to chart their changes of name and ownership: 705 Pier Avenue has been Pointe 705, Club 705, Zen Lounge, Mon Sushi, Club Saffire, Descanso and has probably other names. The room has sometimes been subdivided and operated under more than one name at the same time, making things even harder. If anyone can confirm all the names, that would be an interesting timeline all by itself.
El Segundo 2010
Dolce Café opens.
Three Good Things opens in the former Mi Casa Mexican restaurant, closes within two months, replaced by Kip’s.
Rock & Brews opens.
Manhattan Beach 2010
Four Daughters Kitchen opens.
Upper Manhattan Lounge closes.
Hermosa Beach 2010
Chelsea opens.
Cedars opens.
Rok Sushi opens.
Osteria La Campagna opens, changes chef and concept, becomes La Campagna.
Waterman’s opens in former Dragon space. (No relation to former Waterman’s Grill in Manhattan Beach.
Il Boccaccio closes.
Maui Rose closes.
Redondo Beach 2010
Pollo Grill closes, Snax opens.
Café Catalina closes, Sushi Duke Redondo opens in the space.
Cialuzzi’s remodels and changes menu, changes name to Charlie’s.
Wee Man’s Chronic Tacos opens.
Ocean Tava opens.
Maui Rose Hawaiian BBQ closes.
Asaka opens.
Michael’s Place closes.
Sophie’s Place opens
Petit Café opens.
Tapas & Vino opens
Blue Salt Fish Grill opens.
Sophie’s Place opens.
El Segundo 2009
The Counter opens, still there!
Britt’s BBQ opens, still there!
Paul Martin’s Bistro opens, still there!
Manhattan Beach 2009
Memphis opens, still there.
Octopus closes, now Isakaya Katsu-ya.
Open Sesame opens in former Reed’s space, still there.
Old Venice reopens after a 2008 fire.
Manhattan Beach Brewing changes name and concept, reopens as Brewco.
American Farmhouse Grill opens.
Simmzy’s opens.
Tin Roof Bistro opens.
Avenue closes, Darren’s opens.
Hermosa Beach 2009
Gum Tree opens, still there.
Silvio’s opens in old Fish Market space, still there.
Jackson’s Village Bistro closes.
Earthsong Raw Food Café opens, closes 2010, now Planet Eartrh Café.
Redondo Beach 2009
Bacio opens in former Back Burner Café and Eat at Joe’s Hermosa space, still there.
Maison Riz opens, still there.
Beirut Mix becomes Istanbul Mix, then The Greatest Crepe, now Blue Salt Fish Grill.
Canteen Grill opens in former Good Stuff Redondo space, closes 2010 and becomes a branch of Petite Cafe.
Chicken Shack opens, still there.
Mickie Finnz opens, still there.
Zayna’s Flaming Grill opens.
Turquoise opens, still there.
Calamari’s opens, still there.
El Segundo 2008
Veggie Grill opens, still there.
Papillon closes, space now Britt’s BBQ.
De Luca Traittoria opens, still there.
Playa Blanca opens, closes 2010.
Manhattan Beach 2008
Tapa Meze opens, closes 2009, now Kah.
Fresh Brothers Pizza opens, still there.
Sushi Gallery Miki and Sashi both open, both still there.
Upper Manhattan opens, closes 2010.
Hermosa Beach 2008
Zane’s opens in a former Newman’s Camera Shop, still there.
Hermosa Mexican Cuisine opens, still there.
Pinkie’s BBQ opens in the space vacated by Skooby’s hot dogs, still there.
The Hibachi opens on Pier Avenue, a reincarnation of a famed Manhattan Beach spot that closed in 2000, still there.
Ken & Kent’s opens and closes. Hots to open in January 2010.
The Shore opens, still there.
Soreal Cereal Café opens briefly, to general bewilderment about what they serve that you can’t do at home.
Brix opens, the most lavishly decorated restaurant in the South Bay incongruously located in the Hermosa Pavilion. Closes 2010, space vacant.
Dragon opens, closes 2010, space is now Waterman’s.
Silvio’s opens in former Seafood Grill space, still there!
Jaxx closes, space is now Bacio.
Redondo 2008
Chez Melange moves to the former Paradiso location.
Beirut Mix opens on Artesia, later moves to PCH in Hermosa.
New Tony’s on the pier closes, now Maison Riz.
Sweetwave Coffee Café opens.
Ortega 120 opens, still there.
Catalina Restaurant opens in former Coccole space, closes 2010, now Sushi Duke 2.
Dolce Vita opens, still there.
Siori Sushi opens, still there.
Siam I Am opens, still there.
Mojo Pies opens, closes 2009.
Le Saint Raphael opens, closes 2010, now a banquet hall.
Yellow Vase opens, still there.
Momoyama closes, Tokyo Blue opens, closes 2008. Now Coffee Cartel.
El Segundo 2008
Teresa’s Mosaic Café opens, still there!
La Sirena opens, still there!
Asia House opens, changes name to The Boat in 2010.
Manhattan Beach 2007
La Creperie opens in former XO Bistro space, closes 2009, now Mr. Cecil’s.
Corkscrew Café opens, replaced by Sushi Gallery Miki in 2008.
Michi’s closes, replaced by Mucho.
Joey’s Smokin’ BBQ opens, still there!
Hermosa Beach 2007
Barnacles Bar & Grill opens, still there!
Mama D’s opens a downtown Hermosa branch in a former Subway sandwich shop.
Maui Rose Hawaiian BBQ opens, closes 2010.
Jitters opens in old Petite Café space, changes name to Tammie’s Place in 2009.
Redondo Beach 2007
Duo may have opened, but if so, it was only for a very short time.
Paradiso opens, lasts a year, and becomes new location for Chez Melange.
Chez Melange celebrates 25th anniversary on November 21.
Oriental Breeze opens on Redondo Boardwalk, moves to pier in 2008.
Hoka Hoka opens, still there!
Malibu Fish Grill opens, still there!
New Delhi closes, Annapurna opens and closes, Red Fort opens, closes 2010.
Grog opens, becomes Hudson House in 2009.
Coccole opens in former Little Italian Place, closes 2008.
Yakitori Bincho opens, closes 2008, reopens as Izakaya Bincho.
Maui Teriyaki opens and closes the same year. Now an office.
El Segundo 2006
Salt Creek Grill opens, still there.
Anthony’s Place closes, becomes Vinny’s Pizza, now Rock’n Brews.
Cookin’ For You opens, still there.
Andiamo opens, still there.
Farm Stand opens, still there.
Manhattan Beach 2006
Coco Noche opens in former Banyan space, closes 2009, now Crème de la Crepe.
XO Bistro closes, later La Creperie, now Mr. Cecil’s.
Junior’s Deli opens in Metlox Plaza, changes name almost immediately to Deli Boys, closes 2008, now Sashi.
Hermosa Beach 2006
Petite Café closes, space becomes Jitters, now Tammie’s Corner Café.
Stillwater Café opens, closes 2008.
Skooby’s Hot Dogs opens, closes 2008, now Pinkie’s BBQ.
Oki Doki Sushi opens, still there.
Los Muchachos opens, still there.
The Shore opens, still there.
Bambooz opens across from Scotty’s, closes 2007. Now Brothers Burritos.
Redondo Beach 2006
Terra Bella opens, closes 2007.
Hector’s Place opens, changes name to Michael’s Place 2008.
Redondo Beach Café opens in old Wooden Shoe location, still there.
Happy Veggie opens, still there.
Johnny Redondo’s sets a speed record for going out of business, being open for only a week.
Food Studio closes, space is now Chez Melange.
Wildflower Café opens in former Banyan location, still there.
Top Shelf opens in the location that kills restaurants in March, closed in September.
New Delhi Restaurant opens, becomes Red Fort 2007, closes 2010.
Pacific Edge Bistro opens in former Xinh-Doi space, closes 2008, now Redondo & Sushi.
El Segundo 2005
Big John’s closes in El Segundo. Opens years later in Redondo.
Woody’s Smorgasburger closes.
Manhattan Beach 2005
Good Stuff Manhattan closes. Space is now an office condo building.
Petros opens, still there.
Zinc at Shade opens, still there.
El Gringo opens downtown, burned 2008, rebuilt 2010, still there.
Trio closes, becomes Chakra Indonesian Bistro, closes 2006. Now 12 + Highland.
Avenue, the most adventurous and expensive restaurant in the South Bay, opens. Closes 2008, space is now Darren’s.
RocknOyster, an oyster bar in the roundhouse on the Manhattan Beach pier, is briefly open. Space changes hands the same year, now just called Aquarium & Café.
Hermosa Beach 2005
Amori closes, La Sosta opens in the same space, still there!
Element opens in the space vacated by Dano’s, closes 2007, now Blue 32.
Chef Melba’s opens, still there!
Eat At Joe’s opens, changes name to Jaxx in 2007, now Bacio’s.
Siam Cha Cha becomes Sushi Wasabi – now a branch of Fusion Sushi.
Czech Point closes, space is no longer a restaurant.
Gambrinus opens, still there!
Café Buonaparte opens, still there!
Redondo Beach 2005
Legacy closes in January–replaced by HT Grill.
Harbor Drive opens in the former Camacho’s space, closes 2007. Space is later Venice, now vacant and scheduled to become a Shade hotel.
Downtown Kebab opens on Artesia, becomes Amigo’s, then original location of Beirut Mix, now Blue Salt Fish Grill.
Sara’s Café opens on Artesia, closes 2006, now Al Hamra.
The Little Italian Place opens on Catalina, closes 2006, now a branch of Sushi Duke.
Bella Blu keeps same management, changes name to Rae’s Place.
Rae’s Place closes 2007, changes to Le Saint Raphael. Le Saint Raphael closes 2010, now a private banquet space.
Wolfgang Puck Express opens.
Manhattan Beach 2004
Ron Miranda and Charlie Bean buy Francesca restaurant from Brandon Reed, rename it XO Wine Bistro. Later La Creperie, now Mr Cecil’s.
Talia’s reopens in Manhattan Beach, after being closed for years. Still there!
Blue Agave opens in old Manhattan Bar & Grill and Soleil location – sold to Chicago For Ribs, then TapaMeze, now Kah Asian Bistro.
Avenue opens, closes 2007, now Darren’s.
Hermosa Beach 2004
Lee’s Teriyaki & Tofu opens in former Paisano’s space, closes same year, now Chef Melba’s.
Dragon opens. Closes 2009, now Waterman’s.
Dano’s closes after numerous problems with the city. Space briefly becomes Element, now The Shore.
Ma’Sitta’s Rice Rolls opens serving Korean fast food, closes almost immediately. Space is now Mama Mia Pizzeria.
Invitation to India becomes Akbar, still there.
Redondo Beach 2004
Delzano’s opens in the space formerly occupied by The Happy Clam – still there.
Galinette Café/Tour de Provence opens. Closed 2007, now Deliceuse.
Akbar opens, still there.
Golden Grains Bakery & Greek Restaurant closes. Now Maki Yaki.
Chaba Thai Bay Grill opens, still there.
Buona Sera opens, still there.
Café Catalina closes, replaced by Café D’Marco, now Happy Vegie.
Da Vinci’s Bistro opens in the space formerly occupied by Spataforta’s, Bamboo, and La Brasserie, closes 2006. Later Top Shelf, now no longer a restaurant.
Texas Loosey’s opens, still there.
El Segundo 2003
Second City opens, still there.
Havana Sandwich Company opens, still there.
Romano’s Macaroni Grill opens, still there.
Par Par Mexican Grill closes, replaced by Speakeasy Pizza, now Valentino’s.
Manhattan Beach 2003
North End opens in Manhattan Beach – still there.
Pisces Sushi opens in a former BBQ joint and gourmet-to-go location – still there.
Ebizo’s Skewers opens, closes 2006, now Simmzy’s.
El Torito opens on PCH, the third Mexican restaurant in that space in five years. Still there.
JR One closes, Fusion Sushi opens, still there.
LA Food show opens, still there.
Kamiyama Sushi opens, has continuous trouble with the city over parking, closes 2005. Now Lido bakery.
Chipotle closes, Pomodoro opens, still there.
Hermosa Beach 2003
Vanilla Bean BBQ opens and closes, space later a coffeehouse, now Planet Earth Sweet Shop.
Pointe 705 changes name to Mon Sushi & Grill.
Hama Restaurant opens in the former California Beach Sushi location – lasts only a year, location is later Ken and Kent’s. Hots to open in Jan. 2011.
Mama’s Pizza & Pasta closes, space now an office building.
Amici’s at Five Corners changes name to Amori, now La Sosta.
Teriyaki & BBQ & Tofu tries to spread the idea of kimchi and tofu for breakfast. It doesn’t catch on – later Lee’s Korean, now Chef Melba’s.
Siam Cha Cha, a restaurant themed around Thai music, opens with a small set of drums on every table. Closes 2005, now Fusion Sushi.
Redondo Beach 2003
W’s China Bistro opens, still there.
Breakwater Jazz Grill opens in the former Marina Grill/ Pooch’s space, now Baleen.
Café Catalina closes, later Café D’Marco, now Happy Vegie.
Frascati opens in Redondo on PCH – moves to Palos Verdes Estates in 2006, reopens 2007, still open.
Sonoya opens, closes 2008, now Yanagi Bistro.
Ichirikki opens as a Japanese restaurant, in 2006 adds Japanese-Chinese fusion food and changes name to Bistro Miyoda and Ichirikki, still there.
Lou-E-Luey’s opens, changes ownership 2010, still there.
Sushi Casa Arigato opens, still there!
Cucina Calabrese opens in former Café Italia space on Artesia, closes 2009, now Big John’s.
Le Beaujoulais closes, Bella Blu opens.
Samba opens, has kitchen fire in 2007, reopens 2008, still there.
Dante’s opens, closes 2005, later Food Studio, now Chez Melange.
El Segundo 2002
Fleming’s opens on Rosecrans.
Manhattan Beach 2002
Banyan opens a location on Rosecrans, closes 2003.
Soleil closes.
Towne opens in the former downtown post office and Cookie Post location, closes 2009, now Memphis.
Chipotle, the only McDonald’s owned business ever in downtown Manhattan Beach, opens in a former nightclub – now Pomodoro.
Trio opens on 12 Street in Manhattan Beach, formerly the 12 Street Grill, Anacapa, and many other restaurants. Now 12 + Highland.
Kina opens on Rosecrans at Highland, formerly Lloyd’s BBQ. Now Katsu.
Hermosa Beach 2002
Brewski’s closes, becomes Mediterraneo, still there!
Ein Stein’s closes, space becomes Union Cattle Company, still there!
Ocean Diner opens, still there!
Phuket Thai opens, still there!
2002 Redondo Beach
Addi’s Tandoor opens on PCH, closes 2003, reopens on Torrance Boulevard in 2004, still there.
Japonica opens, still there.
Bamboo opens in the upstairs space where Brasserie was, closes within a year.
Arden Playhouse Teavern opens as a literary tearoom and sandwich shop in a space that used to be an Indian restaurant – closes 2003, space is now Sushi Duke #2.
Xinh Doi closes.
Manhattan Beach 2001
Hennessey’s opens on Manhattan Beach Boulevard, still there.
Antoinette’s French Creperie closes, space now a cupcake bakery.
Beluga closes, replaced by JR One, now a branch of Fusion Sushi.
Bora Bora opens, closes 2008, location becomes Four Daughters Kitchen 2010.
Yellow Dog Café closes – space is now American Farmhouse Grill.
Banyan Indonesian Restaurant opens in Manhattan Beach, closes 2006, later Coco Noche, now Crème de la Crepe.
Waterman’s Grill opens, closes 2007, later Avenue, now Darren’s.
Back Home in Lahaina opens, still there.
Hermosa Beach 2001
Alfredo’s Mexican restaurant opens on Hermosa Avenue – space is now Mama D’s.
Poulet du Jour opens, still there.
Passport opens, closes 2003, space is now Banzai Beach.
Martinique opens and closes the same year. Several restaurants follow, space is now La Campagna.
Blue Pacific opens in former Uncle Stavros location, becomes Sushi Duke in 2007.
Crème de la Crepe opens, still there.
Fritto Misto opens in a former eclectic New Mexican restaurant, still there.
Sabor Brazil opens, closes 2005. Space is now GuGu Sushi.
Redondo Beach 2001
Café Brasserie opens in a 2nd floor location overlooking a parking lot, formerly Killer Shrimp. Café Brasserie closes within four months. Later Spatafora’s, Da Vinci’s, Bamboo, and Top Shelf. Now an office space.
Xinh Doi opens over the Redondo Pier in former Sitar By The Sea space, serving “global fusion cuisine.” Lasts only a year, now Redondo & Sushi.
Pizzeria Gusto opens and closes within months – space is now Buona Sera.
Reel Inn opens and closes.
Daphne’s Greek Café opens, still there.
Mangosteen opens, closes 2002, space is now Phuket Thai.
If you find this sort of information interesting, you might want to investigate the Culinary Historians of Southern California, who delve into local food and restaurant history as well as more global matters. Their website is at culinaryhistoriansofsoutherncalifornia.com.
Note: This timeline is copyrighted material – you may refer to it or link to it, but not copy it without permission of the author.
See any errors? Any places I missed that you know about? Please send an email to richard@richardfoss.com and I’ll make changes.