Boutique Hotel Finds Room in Redondo Beach

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A makeover of the outdated Redondo Beach waterfront that began last month with a ceremonial ground-breaking for a new hotel is gaining momentum.

Hotel and restaurant developer Michael Zislis, who plans to build an eco-friendly boutique hotel on the site of a long-abandoned restaurant, said his company got the final demolition permit it needed last week.

Only his company, Zislis Group of Manhattan Beach, won’t demolish the dilapidated structure. It’ll deconstruct it, piece by piece.

“It’s about a two- to three-month process, because they’ll take the tile off and stack it, take the bricks apart and stack them, pull each piece of timber up and send it off to a place to repurpose the wood,” he said.

Zislis plans to reuse much of the wood from the old restaurant to build guest room furniture for his 54-room boutique establishment, Shade Hotel Redondo Beach. Other eco-friendly features will include solar-heated water and a rooftop rainwater collection system.

Zislis estimates the hotel will cost about $21 million to build and he hopes to open in early 2015. He expects the hotel to generate up to $500,000 a year in bed taxes for Redondo Beach.

Zislis owns a handful of L.A. restaurants, including Strand House, Circa, Rock’n Fish, Rock & Brews and BrewCo. It’s the second hotel for Zislis, who also owns and operates Shade Hotel Manhattan Beach.

Guest rooms at the new oceanfront hotel will cost about $195 midweek and $250 on weekends. That’s considerably less than Zislis charges in Manhattan Beach, where midweek rates hover around $295 and weekend rates around $350.

He said that’s because Redondo Beach offers more competition.

“In Manhattan Beach, I have a small hotel, but I’m the only one downtown,” he said. “Where I’m going to be in the harbor in Redondo Beach, there are plenty of other good choices. I just have to be mindful of that.”

Revolving Door

Restaurateurs Brad Johnson, David Borrego and chef Govind Armstrong, the men behind Baldwin Hills restaurant Post & Beam, will open a Southern-style restaurant – Willie Jane – on Abbott Kinney Boulevard in Venice later this month. … Playa on Beverly Boulevard closed earlier this month after two years. Co-owners Bill Chait and chef John Sedlar said the concept failed to meet their expectations. The duo expects to open a new concept in the space soon. … Bride, a nontraditional bridal boutique with custom-made and vintage bridal wear, will open on Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park on March 23. … Rita’s Franchise Co., based in Trevose, Pa., will open two of its Rita’s Italian Ice shops in Redondo Beach and Santa Clarita before the end of the month. The company recently opened an office in Marina del Rey to support the opening of 150 shops in California. … San Diego burger chain Burger Lounge opened a restaurant in Santa Monica last week, its third in Los Angeles. … L.A. salad chain Tender Greens opened a downtown L.A. location last week, the company’s 10th restaurant. … Chef Tal Ronnen opened Mediterranean restaurant Crossroads on Melrose Avenue last week with business partners Parnell F. Delcham and Steve Bing.


At Your Service

Melrose Avenue gourmet sandwich shop Marcona, which closed earlier this month to reimagine its interior and menu, has named Andy Sonnefeld executive chef. Sonnefeld, from Philadelphia, previously worked at chef Eric Greenspan’s restaurant Foundry on Melrose. Marcona will reopen March 20. … Calabasas restaurant company Cheesecake Factory Inc. has named David M. Gordon president of the chain. Gordon joined the company 20 years ago and was most recently chief operating officer. Gordon replaces Michael Jannini, who left to pursue other interests. … Seasons 52, a restaurant chain by Darden Restaurants Inc. in Orlando, Fla., has named Timothy Kast executive chef for its Santa Monica restaurant, which will open at 120 Broadway on March 28. The chain also named Robert Mitchell managing partner and Erica Carter field sales manager. … Sherman Oaks apparel licensing company Cherokee Inc. has named Jason Boling chief financial officer, replacing Mark DiSiena. Before joining Cherokee, Boling worked for six years as vice president of finance and accounting at Calabasas audio technology company DTS Inc. … Culver City accessories company Dogeared Jewels & Gifts LLC has named Garrett Larson managing director. Before joining Dogeared, Larson worked as managing partner and chief marketing officer for retail services firm TransformWorks Inc. The company also named Callie Micks Garritson e-commerce director and Ashley Walkley director of marketing.

Staff reporter Bethany Firnhaber can be reached at [email protected] or (323) 549-5225, ext. 235.

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