Long Beach could establish a program to assist the city’s legacy businesses in surviving, joining a handful of other California cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, in giving preference to businesses with significant local roots.
The City Council will consider next week, at the request of Mayor Rex Richardson, whether to direct staff to develop such a program. According to a staff report, the policy, once finalized, would include a formal “Long Beach Legacy Business registry,” a designation certification procedure, and various supportive services for qualifying businesses.
The council will discuss this matter on April 11.
The staff report stated, “Long Beach is home to a number of iconic small and family-owned businesses that contribute to the fabric of the communities they serve, with many of them functioning continuously for generations.” “Legacy businesses are valuable cultural assets and enduring community pillars that nurture a sense of neighborhood identity and pride, encourage civic engagement, and provide meaningful employment opportunities for local residents.
The document continued, “They serve as a catalyst for our city’s tourism economy by attracting visitors from across the region, the state, and the globe.”
According to the staff report, these businesses, along with many others, are vulnerable to rising commercial rents, increased operating costs, and obligations and financial hardships caused by the coronavirus pandemic. According to the report, these obstacles place the legacy businesses at risk of closing.
However, the city can take measures to secure them.
According to the staff report, a legacy business program could, among other things, help eligible businesses apply for grants to enhance, restore, or preserve their storefronts, pay for commercial eviction defense, and increase their marketing.
“Faced with the potential loss of such critical institutions,” the staff report stated, “the City of Long Beach can play an important role in preserving the distinctive character and cultural identity of Long Beach by assisting in the preservation of legacy institutions that are so significant to our residents and neighborhoods.”
And the city does not face this challenge alone.
According to a staff report, the nonprofit Long Beach Heritage launched an experimental legacy business initiative in July. If the council approves the item on Tuesday, city staff will collaborate with Long Beach Heritage to create a city program.
And Long Beach Heritage has already established criteria that the city could use to determine which businesses are eligible for the legacy program. According to the criteria of the nonprofit, a legacy enterprise can be essentially anything. However, it must have been operating in Long Beach for at least 35 years or possess at least two of the following:
- Minimum of 25 years of operation in Long Beach.
- Contributes to the surrounding neighborhood’s sense of history.
- Unique in terms of architecture, interior design, or landscaping.
- Supports the cultural vitality, diversity, or identity of its neighborhood.
According to the staff report, Long Beach Heritage currently has 16 qualifying businesses in its program that could be grandfathered into a municipal initiative.
These companies are:
- Joe Jost’s, located at 2803 E. Anaheim Street, was founded in 1924.
- Outer Limits Tattoo is located at 22 S. Chestnut Place (1927).
- Long Beach Playhouse is located at 5021 E. Anaheim Street in Long Beach (1929).
- Tuttle Cameras is located at 5467 E. Carson Street (1946).
- Santa Fe Importers, 1401 Santa Fe Ave (1947).
- Bodell’s Shoes is located at 4190 N. Viking Way (1959).
- Mr. Baker Style Center is located at 1008 East Pacific Coast Highway (1960).
- Jongewaard’s Bake n’ Broil, 3697 Atlantic Ave (1965).
- University Trophies & Awards is located at 4221 E. Willow Street (1970).
- Suite 430, 5500 E. Atherton St., Emigh Dental Care (1972).
- Buono’s Pizzeria, 401 W. Willow St. (1980).
- The International City Theatre is located at 330 E. Seaside Drive (1985).
- Chorale and Chamber Orchestra of Long Beach (1988).
- Los Compadres Restaurant, 1144 Pine Ave (1989).
- Gemmae Bake Shop is located at 1356 W. Willow Street (1993).
- George’s 50’s Diner is located at 4390 Atlantic Avenue (1996).
According to the staff report, a city-run program would build on the foundation of Long Beach Heritage, enabling officials to “provide a more robust and streamlined system of support by leveraging and packaging existing city services.” Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Pasadena perform similarly.
Network Hype Team