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$500 reward offered
Local heroes seek new name for eatery
by Robb Fulcher
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Jeff Bellandi, Dorian Rooney, Eric Fonoimoana and Fletcher Dragge sit at the counter of the popular restaurant that will no longer be called Las Olas. Photo by Robb Fulcher |
A number of local volleyball and punk rock heroes have been forced to change the name of their popular Las Olas restaurant, and are offering $500 to whomever comes up with the best suggestion.
When they opened the informal Mexican restaurant in downtown Hermosa nearly a year ago, the owners guessed correctly that their names – such as Fletcher Dragge and Eric Fonoimoana -- would draw a following.
Although the owners took out no advertising, the Pier Ave. restaurant began filling with customers, many of them undoubtedly drawn by word of mouth. Dragge, the hulking guitar player for the breakthrough punk rock band Pennywise, and "Fonoi," the much-feted Olympic gold medalist, had joined forces with other volleyball luminaries and a couple of established restaurateurs to build the successful business.
Then one of the hands-on owners, volleyball pro Jeff Bellandi, received a certified letter from a restaurateur in San Diego, who owns a taco stand that is also called Las Olas (which in Spanish means "the waves").
"He said he had trademarked the name Las Olas in February 1997, and we’ve been asked to get rid of the name," Bellandi said. "He gave us a deadline of Feb. 14 to cooperate."
Bellandi and Dragge said they hold no ill will against their counterpart to the south who, in the words of Bellandi, "has every right to do this." But the locals were bummed at having to change the name of their already thriving enterprise.
"It’s kind of a bummer to have to change the name when the business is doing really well," Dragge said.
But it’s hardly a setback to remain bummed about, the owners said.
"We’re
not doing business here on the name Las Olas," Bellandi said.
"We’re relying on the food and the company," Dragge said.
Looking to turn a lemon into lemonade, Bellandi suggested a contest to rename the restaurant.
"UC Santa Cruz did something like this. That’s how they got their name, the Banana Slugs," Bellandi said, referring to a 1980 poll of student athletes that created the school’s mascot.
Bellandi and his partners decided on a $250 reward for the best restaurant name, and during an interview on the subject Dragge threw in an additional $250, doubling the payoff.
The restaurant was opened to fill the need for "good, takeout Mexican food" downtown, Dragge said.
He had made an earlier attempt to secure a space downtown for just such a business, and he was eager to join with Bellandi and Chris Pike, two knowledgeable restaurateurs, when they began to eye the Las Olas spot. The trio then brought in Fonoimoana and pro volleyball friends David Swatick, Dan Ortega and Bryan Ivie, a bronze medal Olympian.
Now the boys have all the big names they can use. But they still need a new name for the eatery.
"We figured we’d let the community name the restaurant, because that’s who eats here," Dragge said. "We’re all local guys doing something for the community, and we want to thank them for all their support."
People who want to name the restaurant can email suggestions to one18tacos@hotmail.com, or mail them to Las Olas, 118 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach 90254, or they can drop by the restaurant. People can enter as often as they like. All entries, including those by email, must include the entrant’s name and phone number. ER