By Kayla Samimi
Executive News Editor
With the approval of the Downtown Specific Plan, which was created with the intent of maintaining Manhattan Beach’s “small town beach character,” a number of city efforts have supported this valued idea, with a number of locally-owned businesses opening around Manhattan Beach.
Manhattan Beach’s newest business additions to the downtown area include Blue Star Donuts; Box Human Landscapers; Gum Tree Shop and Cafe; Hush Hush Hair Salon; Kind; Nikau Kai Surf x Cafe and Right Tribe.
The city feels that these new businesses will maintain Manhattan Beach’s small-town feel since a majority of them are locally-owned, Manhattan Beach Downtown Business and Professional Association head Kelly Stroman said.
Photos: The Manhattan Beach Downtown Area has witnessed multiple changes in the past several months.
“Independent business owners often grew up in Manhattan Beach and are a part of the community,” Stroman said. “These stores are active in many ways and often give back to the city’s causes.”
Blue Star Donuts, which has a second location in Venice, is the downtown area’s newest addition. Blue Star is a gourmet donut cafe that opened on Saturday. At its opening, workers distributed free donuts.
“Since November, I’ve made the trip to Venice four times, two of which being just for Blue Star donuts, so when I heard about their Manhattan Beach location, I was excited,” junior Dylan Hankamer said. “I don’t think they’ll have a problem fitting in downtown, since most of those shops serve breakfast food and drinks.”
Gum Tree opened for business on Nov. 17 and is a family-owned company that contains a retail store and a café. The store sells clothing, jewelry and home goods. This is the second Gum Tree store, in addition to the one already in Hermosa Beach on Pier Avenue.
“I think that Gum Tree really compliments all of the stores surrounding it and the culture of Manhattan Beach,” Economic Vitality Manager Andy Sywak said.
A Japanese takeout restaurant and a gourmet cheese café will also be opening within the next month,Stroman said.
Box Human Landscapers is a waxing salon on Rosecrans, and Hush Hush is a hair salon on Manhattan Avenue. Kind, located on Manhattan Avenue, sells environmentally-conscious activewear, and the business Right Tribe sells handmade goods such as visors and stones. Lastly, Nikau Kai is a surf apparel store that contains a café at its entrance.
Link: Read about the downtown area’s atmosphere and stores
Along with these new additions, the Manhattan Beach City Council is in its final stages of drafting its Downtown Specific Plan that outlines a guideline for the downtown area that the city will abide by for several decades. The plan sets regulations for the area’s parking infrastructure and retail spaces, among other aspects. Drafting of the plan began in January 2016, and City Council members approved its Specific Plan on Dec. 6 following community and city feedback.
“The plan is a visionary document that implements regulations and creates tools for downtown community development,” Stroman said. “It will hopefully help the city within the next 20 to 25 years for developing or redeveloping aspects of the downtown area.”
The City Council will hold a meeting on Feb. 21 where community members will have the opportunity to voice any complaints regarding the Specific Plan. Once the city makes any necessary revisions, it will submit the plan to the state for final approval.
“The plan contains measures that the City Council feels will provide structure to downtown,” Stroman said. “We are certainly working through the process of having the plan officially approved, and it will take at least several months.”
The downtown Specific Plan also includes the city officials’ plan to launch a free transportation service with a company known as the Downtowner. Beginning on Feb. 1, the company will provide free, environmentally friendly golf carts for all residents to use while travelling around the downtown area. In order to use the service, residents will have to download a free application on their mobile devices.
“I am curious to see how people will utilize Downtowner,” junior Liam Cook said. “I feel like it is a convenient option but since most people already drive themselves to get downtown, they will not have a use for other transportation.”
For the first six months after its launch, the service will provide six carts, and its perimeters will be within downtown. If the city receives positive community feedback, it hopes to implement the carts throughout the city, Stroman said.
Link: Visit the Downtowner’s official website
“The city’s goal is to get this service operating throughout the entire city, which will be very cool,” Stroman said.
Photos: Manhattan Beach Downtowner electric car service
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