New Business Booms in Redondo

Business is booming in Redondo Beach, and new businesses offering products and services ranging from craft beer to Texas barbecue have opened their doors during recent months.

From South Redondo's Riviera Village to North Redondo's South Bay Marketplace, Patch takes a look at five new businesses that have sprung up since November.

Select Beer Store
1613 S. Pacific Coast Hwy.

The final touches are being placed on , a new craft beer retailer located in the former storefront in the Riviera Village. 

The store tentatively plans on opening Jan. 13, pending final inspections of the space.

When complete, the shop will feature more than 300 bottles of beer and 12 rotating beer taps showcasing American craft and imported beers from around the world—all backed by a staff of highly knowledgeable beer connoisseurs.

All staff members at Select Beer are Cicerone certified—a certification that is similar to sommelier certification in the wine industry. 

"Basically, we are beer nerds who want to promote beer," said owner Wes Jacobs, a home brewer of 15 years who first embraced craft beer when he was 22 years old.  

Jacobs said Select Beer will also place a great emphasis on keeping the beers fresh for the best taste. Because ultraviolet light can degrade the taste of beer, Jacobs has added UV filters to all store lighting and placed UV film over the store's large windows.

"We want to care for the beer and be able to present it in the best possible condition so you can get the maximum enjoyment out of it," said Jacobs. 

All bottled beer at the store will be priced for carry out, but those wanting to enjoy their beer at the bar can pay a $1.50 corkage fee to open a bottle. Draft beer will range from $5-$6; beers with higher alcohol content will have higher prices.

Jacobs also hopes to plan beer events featuring beer and cheese pairings, meet the brewer nights, and brewery tap take-over events. 

ReVamp Boutique & Glam Lounge
209 Avenue I

Also located in Riviera Village,  is a women's clothing and accessories store and salon that boasts "fab fashion and a glam girl vibe."

In the front of the bright pink store, ReVamp offers a selection of women's clothing and accessories while the back of the store features a "glam lounge," a space for customers to get their makeup done or hair blow dried. 

ReVamp also claims to go easy on the budget, offering its clothing and services at affordable prices. 

SPF+ Unlimited
1714 1/2 S. Catalina Ave.

The third of the three new Riviera Village businesses, opened its doors on Nov. 11 and sells a selection clothing and accessories suited for the beach culture and climate of the South Bay.

Products featured in the store include hats, sunglasses, shoes, swimwear, skin care products, cover-ups and a variety of other essentials for life near the beach.

"We have a little bit of something for everyone," said storeowner Amy Wilkens, adding that her store focuses on comfortable, casual and unique clothing and accessories.

At the same time, Wilkens said she wanted to keep the store affordable in an otherwise expensive area of Los Angeles County. "I think everybody needed somewhere to go that is affordable in town and we are definitely affordable," she said.  

Wilkens said that business has been great so far, with holiday traffic helping her sales. "The response has been overwhelming," said Wilkens.

Dickey's Barbecue Pit
407 N. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Started in Dallas in 1941 by the Dickey family, has grown to become one of the nation's largest quick serve restaurant chains.

According to the company's website, the restaurant serves up "beef brisket, pulled pork, ham, polish sausage, turkey breast and chicken, with an extensive array of home-style sides from jalapeno beans to macaroni and cheese." Free ice cream and dill pickles also come with every meal.  

Each restaurant, including the Redondo Beach location, smokes all meat over hickory wood in house overnight, just as the original location did in 1941.

Dickey's large, yellow plastic, take-home cups, nicknamed "big," have become a bit of an icon for the franchise, spurring an official fan club. Fans of the beverage container have even posted pictures of their cups as they travel to exotic destinations around the world. 

Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks
1609 Hawthorne Blvd.

Located in the South Bay Marketplace next to the , opened its doors just in time for the Christmas rush. 

Their first store was opened in West Los Angeles in 1982 by Tony DeGrazier. According to the company's website, DeGrazier wanted to "recreate the dining experiences he had in the 1960s while stationed in Oahu with his Navy buddies."

Today, Islands serves gourmet burgers and specialty drinks in an island atmosphere.