Beach City Grill Re-Opens:

The Culinary Journey Continues

By Gina Ruccione, Cuisine & Restaurant Writer

Beach City Grill, the iconic restaurant in San Pedro, will finally re-open its doors at the end of October.

The grand re-opening will be a two-day event from 4 to 11 p.m. Oct. 31 and will continue on from 4 to 9 p.m. Nov. 1.

Originally opened in the 1980s by a well-loved member of the community, Larry Hodgson, Beach City Grill has been a staple in the San Pedro restaurant scene for decades. After Hodgson experienced some health issues several months ago, Beach City Grill closed its doors. Out of respect for his privacy, hardly any information was shared with the press or the rest of the community. Many wondered if the doors would ever open again.

Enter Stewart Smith, a school teacher with Los Angeles Unified School District for the past 12 years. His lifelong dream has been to open a restaurant connected with the Hodgson. He purchased the restaurant at the beginning of October. Smith, eager to keep the integrity of the eatery, has opted to keep the same menu and same friendly faces we all know and love. Expect much of the same fare and international comfort food that has made Beach City Grill so unique.

Hodgson, who spent time in South America in the Peace Corps, fell in love with tropical atmosphere and the robust, full flavored cuisine of the area. Many of his signature dishes were unlike anything we had experienced in San Pedro. Hodgson will still be around. He is currently training the new chef, Charles Romo, and he will still be making all of his signature desserts.

And who can forget those famous Cajun sweet potato fries? Exactly! See you this Halloween, folks. I’ll be the first in line.

Venue: Beach City Grill, 376 W. 6th St, San Pedro