Long Beach Chamber Speakers Share How Local Businesses Adapt and Grow |
Business leaders spotlight creative promotions, tourism opportunities, customer relationships, and technology during Good Afternoon Long Beach. |
Long Beach business owners gathered at Parker's Lighthouse for the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Good Afternoon Long Beach luncheon, where local speakers offered a clear message for anyone navigating today's economy: businesses must continue adapting, innovating, and finding new ways to reach customers.
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Membership Stuart Takahara welcomed attendees before turning the afternoon toward a panel of business leaders representing hospitality, publishing, tourism, catering, and entrepreneurship.
The featured panel included John Morris, owner of Boathouse on the Bay; Dan Lipton, owner of Beach Cities Media and publisher of Beach City Magazine; and Andrea Cruz, founder of Hungry Drea Creations. Each speaker described how changing customer habits and rising business costs have required new ideas instead of relying on familiar routines.
John Morris Turns Restaurant History Into a Successful Promotion
Morris brought nearly five decades of Long Beach restaurant experience to the discussion. He explained that even a well established restaurant cannot depend on weekend traffic alone. His latest challenge was finding a reason for customers to visit Boathouse on the Bay during slower Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings.
The answer appeared while Morris was sorting through old items in his garage. He discovered a menu from Mums, the restaurant he opened on Pine Avenue in 1988, and began comparing its former prices with what similar meals cost today.
That discovery inspired a flashback menu featuring selected dishes at prices from earlier years. The first promotion offered a New York steak at its 2004 price. Morris expected interest, but he was not prepared for the restaurant to sell out of steaks almost immediately.
The promotion became one of the most successful campaigns of his career. It brought longtime customers back through the doors, created conversations about Long Beach restaurant history, and introduced the business to customers who had never experienced the earlier restaurants.
Morris also discussed changing beverage habits. With more customers choosing not to drink alcohol, his restaurant expanded its nonalcoholic drink menu. The new offerings provide customers with the same presentation and experience as a traditional cocktail while helping the restaurant respond to a growing market.
Dan Lipton Encourages Businesses to Reach Long Beach Visitors
Lipton shifted the conversation toward the spending power of visitors. He explained that local restaurants, attractions, and retailers often compete for the same group of Long Beach residents, making tourism an important part of continued business growth.
Through Beach City Magazine, Lipton reaches travelers staying in hotels throughout Long Beach, the South Bay, and Orange County. These visitors are actively looking for restaurants, entertainment, shopping, and memorable experiences during their stay.
He encouraged businesses to consider how they can become more visible to hotel guests, cruise passengers, convention attendees, and other visitors. That opportunity will become even more important as Long Beach prepares to host events connected to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Lipton also defended the value of print media. While digital marketing remains important, he said visitors and residents still enjoy picking up a physical guide that helps them discover places they may not have found through an online search.
Andrea Cruz Builds Growth Through Relationships and Flexibility
Cruz offered the perspective of a solopreneur managing every part of a growing food business. Hungry Drea Creations began during the pandemic with charcuterie boards, when customers were searching for creative ways to make celebrations at home feel special.
As customer habits changed, Cruz expanded her services to include sandwiches, salads, small bites, catering packages, and large grazing tables. Rather than limiting the business to its original menu, she continued adding services in response to customer requests.
Rising food costs have also required more time and creativity. Cruz described building relationships with local store managers who alert her when quality ingredients become available at favorable prices. Those connections help her control expenses without sacrificing the presentation and quality expected by her customers.
Her experience demonstrated how Chamber relationships can lead to practical support, referrals, and new business opportunities. For a small business owner, networking is not simply an introduction. It can become part of the company's daily strategy for survival and growth.
Sunrise Integration Highlights Technology for Modern Businesses
Event sponsor Sunrise Integration added technology to the discussion. Representative Dean Zuko described services that help businesses connect websites, online ordering, point of sale systems, delivery platforms, search tools, and artificial intelligence technology.
His presentation reinforced the afternoon's central theme. Whether a company is improving its website, creating a new promotion, entering the tourism market, or expanding its services, growth depends on recognizing change and responding before competitors do.
The speakers represented different industries, but their advice pointed in the same direction. Businesses that listen to customers, build strong relationships, experiment with new ideas, and remain visible in the community will be better prepared for the opportunities ahead.
Event Details
Good Afternoon Long Beach: Adapt. Innovate. Grow. c/o Robert Brennan, Chamber Member Sign Up Form: https://link.longbeachshoutouts.com/chamber
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