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Long Beach Food Scene Intel is a series from Brian Addison that will recap food news throughout the city. This is news that needs just a quick mention, is developing, or repeated news where you might have missed the full features.
Gemmae Bake Shop inches toward opening Bixby Knoll space
Gemmae Bake Shop—the westside institution that has been serving Long Beach for over three decades with Filipino food—is inching toward opening its second location inside the historic Fire Station 9 in Bixby Knolls.
Announced two years ago (and through this link, you can see photos that show what the fire house looked like upon arrival then), owner Catherine Tolentino and her family have been through the painstaking task of preserving the building—given it is a historic landmark, certain things cannot be altered or removed—while updating it to accommodate a contemporary bakery’s needs.
The service counter is in. Drywall is up. Plumbing, electrical, and ventilation systems have been upgraded to accommodate all of the bakery’s production. And yes, the fireplace that greets visitors in the front room will be kept relatively intact, as well as the firefighters’ lockers.
After years of planning, Cassidy’s Corner finally opens DTLB location
Cassidy’s Corner opens its DTLB location. Photos by Chriss Chriss / Long Beach Food Scene.
Cassidy’s Corner, the Lakewood-birthed cafe (with its headquarters in La Mirada, where owner Joe Ung’s family operated a small bagel shop and he honed his bagel-making skills), has opened its fourth Long Beach location following the openings at the Long Beach Exchange, on Spring Street, and in Bixby Knolls.
The cafe will now be slingin’ out its popular bagels from its newly minted Pine Avenue shop between 6th and 7th Streets. Come June 6, they will be hosting a DJ from 9AM to noon for their “Bagels & Boogie” event.
Sushi Nikkei to host fundraising dinner for Peruvian artist suffering from Parkison’s
You know the work of Rudolph Castro. His gorgeous art graces the walls of both Sushi Nikkei locations as well as Lima Cebechería Peruana, becoming as defining to the spaces as much as the food itself. He also lives with Parkison’s and, in the coming weeks, will face a surgery that could make his life a bit less painful and more fruitful.
That is why the team at Sushi Nikkei is opening on a day their typically closed—Monday, June 8—for a fundraiser for the artists, “Una Mesa para Rudolph,” or, for English speakers, “A Table for Rudolph,” where 100% of the money made that night goes to his surgery fund and future care.
“There’s a phrase people always say: that true friends can be counted on one hand,” Rudolph wrote on social media. “And while I understand what it means… Life honestly showed me something different. ‘Una Mesa para Rudolph’ stopped feeling like just an event. It feels more like a long table stretching across different cities around the world. A network of affection. Of friendship. Of people showing up without hesitation during one of the most important moments of my life. And that continues to move me deeply.”
$5K grants now open for independent SoCal restaurants
Per a press release, independent restaurant owners in SoCal can now apply for the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund, created by the California Restaurant Foundation and funded in part by SoCalGas. The program awards $5,000 grants to help restaurants invest in technology, upgrade equipment, support employee onboarding and retention, and navigate unforeseen challenges.
Since launching in 2021, the Resilience Fund has delivered more than $11M in funding to over 2,000 independent restaurants statewide, providing critical resources to strengthen operations and support long-term stability. Applications are open now through June 30 at www.restaurantscare.org/resilience.
Wagyu Street has permanently closed at LBX’s The Hangar
After two years, Wagyu Street has shuttered its Long Beach location inside The Hangar at LBX.
“What started as a dream to introduce authentic Japanese Wagyu to Southern California became something far greater than we ever imagined,” the business wrote on social media. “We are grateful for every customer who visited us, every team member who helped build the brand, and every supporter who believed in our journey. Even after closing the store, we were fortunate to continue serving guests through events throughout May, and we were overwhelmed by the love and support we received. While this chapter has come to an end, the memories, friendships, and experiences we shared will stay with us forever. From the bottom of our hearts: Thank you, Long Beach. Arigato.”
Tanuki Curry House vacates Signal Hill space; preps for LBX location
Speaking of The Hangar at LBX, Tanuki Curry House has formally vacated its Signal Hill space after announcing its move to LBX earlier this year. And yes, they will be moving into the former Wagyu Street space that just shuttered.
“We’ve had a great run in Signal Hill, and are thankful for everything this past year. We can’t wait to see you in our new home at the LBX,” they wrote on social media. “Stay tuned for updates and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks at our new location.”
The Small Cafe in Naples is opening a market next door
The Small Cafe—the popular Naples diner that reopened in 2024 under new ownership following an abrupt closure—has proven its success knows no bounds. The owners announced they will be opening a market in the OG Kihon space at 5656 E. 2nd St., just two doors down from its diner. (Kihon moved into its new space at 5662 E. 2nd St. in the same complex.)
They will be unveiling the space on Sunday, June 7 from 8AM to noon.
“Our vision is to create a neighborhood market filled with provisions, retail goods, merch, and much much more to come,” they shared on social media. “As we bring this space to life, we’d love to meet you, share our plans, and hear what you’d love to see in a market built for our community.”
ICYMI: A kitchen operation out of your Long Beach home? Here’s what to know
After years of advocacy, policy discussions, feasibility studies, and city approvals, Long Beach residents can now officially apply to operate Micro-Enterprise Home Kitchen Operations—better known as MEHKOs—opening a new pathway for aspiring food entrepreneurs to legally sell meals prepared from their home kitchens.
I sat down with the man who led its development in Long Beach—Tony Damico of LB Fresh—to talk everything MEHKO, from how you can best prepare to costs to step-by-step guides to the process.
For the full feature, click here.
ICYMI: Breakfast Bar brings on Bar Becky chef to revamp menu
Breakfast Bar owners Joshua and Pamela Beadel said aloud a realization many restaurateurs refuse to: Their menu was, in their words, going stale.
So what do they do? They bring in a culinary rock star: Chef Johnathan Benvenuti of Bar Becky.
The menu, ultimately, remains entirely focused on celebrating what’s made The Breakfast Bar so successful. All the while bringing in some refined, chef-driven techniques and more contemporary culinary choices.
For the full feature, click here.
ICYMI: Seaside Creamery—Long Beach’s best frozen custard—opens Retro Row store
For all those with a constant sweet tooth, I bring good news: Seaside Creamery, Long Beach’s king of frozen custard, has opened a second location. Taking over the former Hug Life space on 4th Street just west of Temple, it marks the rightful return of ice cream to Retro Row.
