A bar and restaurants were to be open on the pier by now, but lengthy approval process poses delays.
By Jonathan Friedman / Assistant Editor
The lengthy state construction approval process is to blame for the latest delays in the opening of eateries and a bar on the Malibu Pier, a co-manager of the pier said this week.
The California Department of Parks and Recreation announced in June that Beachcomber Restaurant and Bar, and Ruby’s Shake Shack would open by the fall, but the two facilities on the pier still remain undeveloped shells as they await review from the state fire marshal and the Historical Review Board.
However, Jefferson Wagner of Malibu Pier Partners LLC, state-designated manager of the pier, remains optimistic.
“The minute those [state approvals] sign off, hammers will be a swingin,'” Wagner said on Monday. “The money’s seeded in place and ready to go.”
The Beachcomber Restaurant and Bar’s menu will serve “eclectic coastal dishes” and the décor will be “faithfully restored to vintage atmosphere,” State Parks announced in June. It will be located at the beach end of the pier, at the site of the former Alice’s Restaurant. Ruby’s Shake Shack, to be located in one of the classic 1940s buildings at the ocean end of the pier, will serve burgers, fries and shakes. Both businesses are owned by the Ruby’s Restaurant Group, which owns restaurants throughout Southern California and elsewhere.
Wagner said he is also in the process of negotiating with a Texas company designing kiosks for the pier. He said he plans to purchase the kiosks himself and use them to sell T-shirts, sweatshirts, State Parks items and souvenirs, and hold a kayak rental operation among other options. “The kiosks will be open in May or June regardless of the situation with the restaurants,” Wagner said.
Since Malibu Pier Partners signed a 20-year contract with the state in 2003 for commercial development and management of the pier, a series of delays have come due to litigation and other problems. Two lawsuits remain on the table against Malibu Pier Partners and Alexander Leff, Wagner’s San Francisco-residing partner in the operation.
The lawsuits, by the owner of Mo’s Restaurant and Jeff Bonhach, who was initially hired by Leff to head project development on the pier, do not name Wagner as party to the complaints. Wagner said this week that he believes both suits would head to court in January in San Francisco. Leff did not return calls for comment.