Smooth's Sports Grille, the unofficial center of Long Beach politics and business where the city's who's who often congregate, isn't open for lunch any more, owner John Morris said. He even had to lay off a few of his staff members.
The restaurant at 144 Pine Ave. stopped serving lunch Monday, but is still open for the nighttime crowd. I have to say the transformation of Smooth's at night is amazing. A chilled restaurant and sports bar early in the evening, the place starts to fill up as the night goes on. Many a young Pine Avenue Partier can be seen making his or her way up to the rooftop terrace to dance.
Morris explained that Pine Avenue is saturated with restaurants, citing 7,000 restaurant seats along the business corridor. He said the lunch business has been a "rollercoaster" for some time. The fact is, he isn't alone among downtown restaurants closing their doors for lunch.
I'm sure all the politicos, City Hall mucky mucks and business power suits will still spend some of their evenings at the restaurant -- many election parties have been held there, after all. But the Long Beach power lunch at Smooth's, at least for now, is over.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,
covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and
pitfalls and trade trends of America’s largest port.
He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
appearing Tuesdays, and also produces an occassional video
and column titled “On The Job,” which follows the hard-working
men and women who keep Southern California’s economy humming.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
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