The Vintage LBC, Bixby Knoll’s much-loved cheese-and-wine space, had long been up for sale. Former owner Vanessa Harmon—who, along with her manager, Allison Porzner, basically created the space from top to bottom after Cheese Addiction vacated the space mid-pandemic—just had to find the right taker.
And that she found in Josh and Adriana Rivera.
When it comes to the business itself, Josh doesn’t talk about The Vintage LBC like someone who acquired a business. He talks about it like someone who finally got to protect a piece of his family and neighborhood’s story.
The Vintage LBC has been an essential part of Bixby Knoll’s sociality.
Long before he and his wife, Adriana, officially took over the beloved Bixby Knolls cheese and wine shop from founder Vanessa earlier this year, they were among its regulars. Their children devoured Lunchables while the couple lingered over cheese flights and glasses of wine. Living less than a mile away, they often walked to the shop, eventually weaving it into the rhythm of their family life. So when the business quietly hit the market, the decision wasn’t one of opportunity as much as destiny.
“At this exact table [pictured above] is where the deal went down,” Josh said. “My wife and two kids—we used to come here all the time. My kids would get the Lunchable offering on the menu. My wife and I would get the cheese flights and taste wine… We love this place. We were less than a mile away, and we would walk here. When we found out it was for sale, we were like, ‘This is ours.’ We’re part of the memory. We’re part of the community.”
It is perhaps the perfect next chapter for a space that has already lived several lives.
The storefront first housed Cheese Addiction before Vanessa transformed it into The Vintage LBC in 2022, creating one of Long Beach’s most charming combinations of wine bar, bistro and specialty cheese shop. Vanessa wrapped the quirky space in warm 1970s-inspired décor, cultivated an acclaimed menu centered on thoughtful cheese pairings, and built a fiercely loyal neighborhood following before ultimately deciding to step away from ownership while ensuring the shop remained in caring hands.
From the classroom to the cheese counter: The pathway to keeping The Vintage LBC alive and well.
For Josh and Adriana, preserving that spirit was never negotiable.
“Vanessa gave me amazing bones,” Josh said simply. “It will remain The Vintage.”
After all, the Riveras are hardly conventional restaurateurs.
Both built careers in education after meeting as teachers in South Los Angeles. Josh taught seventh-grade computer science before spending more than a decade in higher education, specializing in online curriculum and educational technology. Adriana continues her educational career while pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership. Josh himself earned a doctorate in educational psychology.
Yet throughout those years, food quietly remained a parallel passion.
A Long Beach native raised on the Westside and a graduate of Cabrillo High and Jackie Robinson Academy, Josh spent his younger years scrubbing floors at neighborhood restaurants before tossing pizzas and making deliveries at Catalano’s Pizza.
Later, he became deeply involved with local hospitality through longtime friendships with Jeff and Karna Williams of Rounding Third, helping build websites, marketing campaigns and promotional materials while absorbing the realities of restaurant ownership from behind the scenes.
‘Not afraid to ask for help:’ How the Riveras use their resources smartly to uplift the shop.
That background taught him something invaluable: you don’t have to be the expert in everything—you simply need to know who the experts are.
“My background is not in restaurants,” Josh said. “So I lean on bringing the experts. I’m really good at operations and systems. I’m not an expert at a lot of things, but I know experts, and I know how to ask for help.”
Rather than reinventing the shop, Josh has assembled a team that strengthens every aspect of it while preserving its identity. The Peacharella Grilled Cheese? Not going anywhere. The cheese and wine flights? Remaining, of course. Bread from Nonna Mercato? Always. But some items will see a transformation…
And that includes some contributions from two Long Beach all-stars…
Leading the culinary evolution is none other than Chef Carlos Jurado, whose acclaimed work at Selva has established him as one of Long Beach’s most inventive chefs. Jurado is developing an expanded menu that keeps beloved staples—including The Vintage’s signature cheese flights and grilled cheeses—while introducing new dishes through his distinctly creative lens.
“I’ve asked him to just bring his flair,” Josh said. “Our cheese flights, our grilled cheeses—those remain. Those are part of our core identity. But I am so excited to bring him on to discover ways to alter things like our bruschette menu.”
Even more, his friend and sommolier Nusan Brounstein overhauled the entirety of the wine program while wine consultant and champagne specialist Samantha Dugan will oversee an ambitious new wine and cheese club. Set to launch with 25 founding memberships, pairing exclusive tastings with curated educational experiences and member benefits.
Investing first where customers notice most
Many new owners rush toward cosmetic changes. Josh, instead, began with infrastructure. Before changing menus or branding, he invested heavily behind the scenes: replacing aging kitchen equipment, streamlining service systems, improving operations, and training staff on consistent hospitality standards.
“My biggest decisions are, ‘What are my bottlenecks?'” Josh said. “Not only what are the bottlenecks to making money. But what are the bottlenecks to delivering the best customer experience?”
That operational mindset has already paid dividends: Monday had traditionally been among the shop’s slowest days. Rather than closing, Josh introduced “Vintage Board Monday,” pairing an affordable shared cheese board with discounted wine. Weekly sales quickly multiplied several times over. His conclusion is one that many independent restaurant owners across Long Beach are increasingly embracing: value matters.
“People need deals nowadays,” Josh said.
A neighborhood in (truly good) transition…
If Josh sounds optimistic, much of that confidence stems from where The Vintage LBC sits.
Like many longtime Long Beach residents, he believes Bixby Knolls is quietly undergoing a generational transformation.
Young families are replacing older homeowners. Nearby schools continue bringing parents into the district. Community events such as First Fridays draw growing crowds. And Josh believes neighborhood gathering places have become more important than ever.
“I think this community is on a trajectory,” he said. “It needs more to do. We’re betting that The Vintage can become one of those anchors—not just somewhere to buy cheese or sip wine, but a true neighborhood living room.”
Josh’s instinct toward collaboration feels distinctly Long Beach: build relationships first, businesses second.
In many ways, that’s exactly what Vanessa built before passing the torch. The Riveras aren’t trying to erase that legacy; they’re expanding it, sometimes themselves. After all, Adriana introduced a Vintage Book Club that sold out its first 25 seats in less than an hour after being announced. For Josh, the programming isn’t simply about selling more wine but about giving people reasons to gather.
“I wanted to have a space where my friends could come,” he said. “Look around right now… this is a Wednesday. Three of my friends are here with their kids. I wanted people to have a place to come.”
The décor remains familiar. The hospitality remains neighborhood-focused. The cheese still takes center stage. Only now, behind the counter, sits a family who once occupied the very same tables, dreaming about what it might be like if The Vintage LBC ever became theirs.
The Vintage LBC is located at 4236 Atlantic Ave.
