“One of my favorite ways to see local families use Shade is as a couple’s retreat.”
by Michael Zislis
My inspiration in opening Shade Hotel in 2006 was to create a place where people love to eat. Essentially, I am a food guy. One of the things I’ve always hated about hotel restaurants and events is the food. It’s my opinion that other than the bride, the most important thing at a wedding is the food. I wanted to create a venue where the food tastes as good as the bride looks. And where breakfast in the morning is as delicious as the previous night’s sleep on the Tempur-Pedic mattress.
Having said that, there have been many fulfilling aspects of hotel ownership in the South Bay, not the least of which is doing what I can to nurture the local economy. There was a clear need for a different kind of hotel to serve both South Bay families and corporations — a luxury boutique hotel that was upscale and comfortable.
The initial capital raised for the hotel came from local investors. Now well over 50 percent of our business comes from our own community, whether it’s a place for visiting family to stay and be pampered, or a venue for a company meeting.
As a member of the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Business Association and the Board of Torrance Memorial Hospital, it has always been a priority to use the services of local vendors in the hotel, and to use Shade as a vehicle for fundraising for Manhattan Beach Education Foundation and our public schools.
One of my favorite ways to see local families use Shade is as a couple’s retreat. I love to see couples set the kids up with Grandma for a night so they can escape to Shade and focus on each other. It’s even better when everyone reunites over breakfast at Zinc lounge.
As I look forward to building Shade Redondo Beach on Harbor Drive, I hope to serve the Redondo Beach community in the same ways. We are planning to build “green.” In clearing the current structure from the property, rather than a traditional demolition, we will do a careful “deconstruct.” Habitat for Humanity is going to reuse the lumber, bricks, windows, doors, glass, sinks, toilets, and appliances. My team is working with the Coastal Commission and the U.S. Green Building Council to see what is possible in the realm of sustainable building for the new hotel. Some of the ideas we are exploring are the use of solar energy, recycled water filtration systems and environmentally friendly building materials.
The new hotel will be an extension of Shade Manhattan Beach in many ways: warm, a modern design, unparalleled friendly service and luxurious amenities. While the Manhattan Beach location has 38 rooms, Redondo Beach will have 45. Many of these rooms will be designed for families. There is a wealth of recreational activities in and around King Harbor. We want to provide a base of operations for local families indulging in a “staycation,” as well as families visiting Southern California. To facilitate this, we have revised our plans to include a 12 foot wide promenade for pedestrians and bicycles. We will also offer beautiful spaces for corporate and private events with the same personalized planning as Shade Manhattan Beach.
So did I reach my goal of creating a hotel where people love to eat? You bet. But in the five years I’ve been operating Shade, my team and I have achieved so much more. We are grateful to be a part of such a great community and to serve and be served by so many great people, while offering a hotel which mirrors the quintessential, upscale, yet informal South Bay lifestyle.
Michael Zislis is the owner of Shade Hotel and the Rock ‘n Fish, Muchos restaurants. ER
