Old Tony's Gets 5-Year Lease

will stay on the for at least the next five years, owner Michael Trutanich announced Friday.

Though the eatery—also known as Old Tony's—announced it had from the city in December, it had been on a month-to-month lease since February of this year.

Trutanich told Patch that they were waiting on paperwork from the city regarding the two-year lease, and after delays, they pushed for and received the longer lease.

The five-year lease will start once the paperwork is signed, Trutanich said. He also said that he believed other businesses in the same section of the pier received the same five-year lease offer.

"I think it's fair to help everybody," Trutanich said. "I believe everybody's getting the same."

Short-term leases that expire at the same time for businesses on the pier makes the property more attractive to potential developers, city officials have said in the past. Redondo Beach is embarking on a multi-year mission to revitalize its waterfront. The pier is already receiving a facelift, including new benches and paving, and developer Mike Zislis plans to build a new Shade Hotel at the site of the old Red Onion on Harbor Drive.

City staff sent out a request for qualifications for potential developers of the pier and International Boardwalk earlier this month.

Once a new developer is chosen for the pier, Old Tony's will pursue a longer-term lease, Trutanich said. If it gets the longer-term lease, more than $1 million will be spent upgrading the facility.

Following Old Tony's announcement in the spring of 2011 that the city was not offering the restaurant a long-term lease, that clamored for Old Tony's to stay on the pier.