Balboa Beach Co. to close its island doors
June Casagrande
Its logos have become a symbol of Newport Beach and, in
particular, Balboa Island. But now the Balboa Beach Co. clothing
store will close the doors to its flagship location on Marine Avenue.
“We have chosen, with great regret, to leave our location on
Balboa Island,” said Jim Roberts, Balboa Beach Co. founder and
current president of Pacific Brands Retail Group.
The reason, he said, is simple economics. A rent increase coming
down the pike for their Balboa Island site “exceeds our business
model,” Roberts said.
It’s sad news for the Roberts family, who themselves are a Newport
Beach institution. And it’s sad news for neighbors of the beloved
longtime business.
“I’m so sorry to hear they’re leaving,” said City Councilman Steve
Bromberg, who associates the retailer with his earliest memories of
visiting Newport Beach as a tourist, 17 years before he even moved to
the city. “There are a few stores on the island, Hershey’s, the
Balboa Beach Co. and a few others, that fall into what I call the
icon companies for Marine Avenue. They’re really, really going to be
missed.”
The Balboa Beach Co. started in 1970 in the Fun Zone on Balboa
Peninsula. Its mission: “The Balboa Beach Co. was and still is a
family-oriented beach store specializing in casual clothing with an
emphasis on family and comfort and education about our oceans around
the world,” Roberts said.
After setting up stakes on Balboa Island, and eventually making
that location its sole Newport Beach business, the store made a name
for itself with its logo T-shirts. To date, the company has sold more
than a million of its shirts.
“Of my T-shirt wardrobe, I can honestly say that about 90% of it
is Balboa Beach Co. shirts,” Bromberg said. “And that’s not uncommon
among people on the island.”
The logo changes every year, making each of them an instant
collector’s item.
In 1995, the company merged with Pacific Brands Retail Group and
began operations in outlet centers, like the Citadel Outlets in the
City of Commerce. All these stores will stay open, Roberts said.
Roberts, himself, is a longtime icon of the Newport Beach Chamber
of Commerce’s Commodores Club and other community institutions. He’s
perhaps best known locally as a keyboard player and all-around
musical entertainer at notable local events.
The whole family, in fact, is known throughout the community for
the business and beyond: Jeff Roberts is president of the company;
Jim’s wife, Kathy, is president of the local chapter of the National
Charity League. All five of their children attended local schools.
“This community has always meant a lot to us,” Roberts said. “We
sincerely regret having to leave Balboa Island. But in the meantime,
we will continue as a family and as a business to support Balboa
Island going forward.”
* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport.
She may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at
june.casagrande@latimes.com.
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