Redondo Beach OKs Plans for Blue Moon Saloon to Rebuild

“The Moon shall rise again!” a jubilant co-owner of the Blue Moon Saloon said Wednesday after the Redondo Beach City Council approved plans to rebuild the waterfront restaurant destroyed in a violent storm in January, 1988.

Don Poryes, who started the popular restaurant in 1976 in the Redondo Beach Marina, said he hopes to begin construction in late August or September and open the restaurant’s doors by spring.

“We’ve struggled and worked and now at last we can see it happening,” said Poryes, recalling months of delays in getting council approval to proceed. The project still requires review by the California Coastal Commission, but Poryes said he and his partners, Jim Quane and Pat Laureno, expect no problems in getting approval from that agency.

Hit By Storm

The Blue Moon was one of dozens of businesses that were hard hit by storm and fire disasters in King Harbor last year. A joint effort by the city and private interests has restored much of the area, and longer-term plans for further improvements are in the works.

The reconstruction of the Portofino Inn and Reuben’s Restaurant, which were heavily damaged by ocean waves, is expected to be completed later this month.

Enthusiastic Blue Moon supporters, including former employees and patrons, packed the council chambers Tuesday night for the last of three public hearings that resulted in the council’s decision to proceed.

“The Blue Moon served the best clam chowder this side of Boston . . . and we want it back,” said Sam Clark, president of the South Bay Boaters Assn. and one of about a dozen speakers backing the plan. No one spoke against it.

Several Snags

After winning Harbor Commission approval in early January, the Blue Moon project hit the first of several snags. Charles G. Johnson, the marina’s master leaseholder, filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit, alleging that the city had failed to adequately protect the marina against sea storms.

The lawsuit, now in arbitration, raised city concerns about potential future liability. Officials then made approval of the Blue Moon’s building permit contingent on an agreement that generally would hold the city blameless for damage caused by natural disasters.

Other issues, including parking requirements, public access in the beach area and landscaping were resolved to the council’s satisfaction Tuesday night.

Poryes, the Blue Moon co-owner, said the new, larger restaurant will be built on pilings five feet above the ground and 15 feet above the water level in the harbor. He said it will retain the old restaurant’s appearance and provide a more efficient use of space.