Pier businesses look ahead

by Jason Dietrich

Memorial Day weekend is traditionally hailed as summer's opening weekend. With a slew of summer concerts and special events scheduled for this summer, the Redondo Beach Pier is working hard to push itself as a summer-time destination.

"When I first started coming down here, I was seven," said Tom Fine, who has owned Sunshine Kites on the Pier for the past three years. "The pier wasn't a great place back then. But people know they can bring their kids here now."

The Redondo Beach Pier has been slowly changing it image. Vacant shop fronts have been disappearing, replaced by new businesses shoulder to shoulder with waterfront institutions.

"There's an atmosphere here," said Donna Sevilla of Tony's Restaurant. "People come down to the beach during the day and come to the pier later on."

In 1988, a fire and storm destroyed part of the pier. Recovery was slow and painful. Since the El Nino winter of 1998 when rain and cold weather put a damper on business, the pier has been slowly growing steadily, said Fine.

"Our sales are doing really well. It's almost back to the level it was before the fire. In the past three years we've never had a set back," Fine said.

Sometimes harsh conditions have fostered a sense of camaraderie among business owners. Just about every pier business is family owned and operated, Sevilla said.

"Everybody on the pier gives money to help keep the kite festival going. Everybody wants everybody else to do well," said Fine.

"We're here because we're making money and we like it. Even if we're not making money we still like it here," said Judy Milner from the Shark Attack shop. "It's a long winter and we're all here together." ER