@thesouthbayclub’s Soffi Yessmann Shares a Few Fun South Bay Facts That Even Longtime Locals May Not Know
Soffi’s spotlight.
- CategoryEat & Drink, People
The Beach Boys’ Hometown Lives On
The Beach Boys grew up here in the South Bay! Today, the site of their childhood home is marked by a California Historical Landmark beneath the 105 Freeway.
A Pier That Made History
The Manhattan Beach Pier, which celebrated its grand opening in 1920, is the oldest standing concrete pier on the West Coast. At its end sits the beloved Roundhouse Aquarium, one of the South Bay’s most recognizable landmarks.
A Lighthouse Turns 100
The Point Vicente Lighthouse celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Since 1926, its iconic light has guided ships along the Palos Verdes coastline
A Mega Mall
Torrance boasts the Del Amo Fashion Center, which is one of the top 10 largest shopping malls in the United States, comprising more than 2.5 million square feet of retail space
Palos Verdes’ Most Colorful Residents
The peacocks roaming the Palos Verdes Peninsula were introduced in the 1920s after developer Frank Vanderlip received a flock as a gift. Today they’ve become one of the area’s most photographed attractions.
A Wetsuit Was Born Here
In 1953, twin brothers Bill Meistrell and Bob Meistrell transformed neoprene refrigerator insulation into the world’s first practical surfing wetsuit. Their Redondo Beach invention became the global brand Body Glove.
Manhattan Beach Sand
Manhattan Beach’s sand, internationally recognized as some of the best in the world, was exported on a barge to Waikiki Beach on Oahu, Hawaii, in the 1920s and 1930s to help expand its shoreline.
Ercole’s: A Prohibition Survivor
Although its famous sign says, “Est. 1927,” Ercole’s actually opened in 1929 during Prohibition. It cleverly stayed in business by operating as a pool hall, sandwich shop and soda fountain before becoming the local institution it is today.
Explore more guides at thesouthbayclub.com.
