By Publisher George Economides and Editor Samantha Mehlinger
For the past two years, the Business Journal has run a list of historic companies and nonprofits that continue to operate in Long Beach. Each year, as some businesses close their doors and we learn about others missed in our research, we run an updated timeline chronicling those historic institutions that opened prior to 1970 and continue to operate today.
This list was compiled initially out of curiosity. As we brainstormed in an editorial meeting in 2016, we asked ourselves: How many businesses in Long Beach have operated for decades and decades? What are their stories?
First, we needed to establish criteria for what could be considered a historic company. We decided to limit our search to companies that opened prior to 1970 and are still operating in the city today. We later added nonprofit organizations and other non-public sector institutions. We reached out to the city business license department, the public library system, the Long Beach Historical Society, Long Beach Heritage, city councilmembers and others to develop as complete a list as possible. We e-blasted, posted on Facebook and even tweeted.
The end result: in our first effort two years ago, we identified more than 220 businesses and 45 nonprofit organizations and institutions. It was an impressive list, but surely incomplete. Since then, companies contacted us and their names have been added to the list. We also lost a few.
1891
Taubman Simpson Young Sulentor
1895
Kelly Williams Insurance Agency
1897
Press-Telegram
1906
Luyben-Dilday Mortuary
Sunnyside Mortuary
1907
Farmers & Merchants Bank
Long Beach Memorial Medical Center
1913
Long Beach Iron Works
1915
Phillips Steel Company
1916
Harbor Custom Canvas
1918
Hamman, Miller, Beauchamp, Deeble Insurance Services
1921
Eye Treatment Center
Forest Lawn Memorial Parks & Mortuaries
1923
Dignity Health St. Mary Medical Center
T.F. Merrick Co.
1924
Community Hospital Long Beach
Jacobsen Pilot Service
Joe Jost’s
1925
Pfanstiel Printers
1926
Gage Pharmacy
Van’s Hardware
Wards Pharmacy
Windes
1927
Outer Limits
Pacific University School of Law
Queen Beach Printers
1928
Bischoff Sheet Metal
Thirsty Isle
1929
Encore Awards/Jensen Rubber Stamps
The Varden A Boutique Hotel
1930
M.O. Dion & Sons, Inc.
Kuster/A Probe Company
1931
CH Topping & Co
1932
McCarty’s Jewelry
1933
Halbert Hargrove
Pediatric Medical Center
Sanborn & Sine
The Termo Company
Electric Construction Company
1934
Gibbs Architects
1935
Belmont Heights Market
Connolly Pacific
1936
Electro-Tech Machining
Long Beach Fireman’s Credit Union
1937
A Beautiful California Florist
Foasberg Laundry & Cleaners
1938
Air Source Industries
1940
Art’s Brake Service
Chet’s Auto Sales & Service
Milburn Plumbing and Heating
1941
Billings Ace Paint & Hardware
Engle Racing Cams
Moffatt & Nichol
Paul’s Dairy
The Boeing Company
Ward’s MediaTech
1942
Burke’s Auto Body & Paint
1944
California Cartage Company
Don & Harold’s Automotive
Gilmore Music
Paul’s Glass Co.
1945
B & B Supply
CW Industries
Mark Schneider Design
1946
Bragg Companies
Heather R Chambers, CPA
Lester Box & Manufacturing
South Coast Shingle Company
Tuttle Cameras
1947
Alsace Lorraine Fine Pastries
California Swaging & Cable Products
Cowelco Steel Contractors
Hill Crane Service
Santa Fe Importers
WECO Aquatics
1948
Acme Auto Headlining
Belmont Shore Children’s Center
Jewish Long Beach
1949
Antique Metal Finishing
Rapid Screen Repair
1950
Crosby & Overton
Friction Materials Co. of Long Beach
Harbor Chevrolet
Stu’s AE Transmission
The Reno Room
1951
Berg-Nelson Company
Bixby Knolls Flowers
Hillside Enterprises – AR&C Long Beach
Hof’s Hut
Snyder Manufacturing
1952
B & B Pipe & Tool Company
East Long Beach Brake Service
R & G Carpet Service
Tenni Moc’s Shoe Store
The Annex
1953
J.B. Hanover Company
Orchid Cleaners & Laundry
Wallboard Tool Company
1954
All Glass & Upholstery
Blumberg Law Offices
Circle Moving & Storage
1954
Domenicos Belmont Shore
Globe Gas
Kaiser Permanente
Los Altos Car Wash
Twining
1955
Broadway Glass & Mirror, Inc.
The Berns Company
1956
A.P. Fischer Motor Oil & Filters
49rs Tavern
Industrial Filtration
Long Beach Ice
Neill Aircraft Company
Park Pantry The Original
1957
Control Switches International
Long Beach Muffler
Mac’s Lift Gate
Marri’s Italian Family Restaurant
Simon, McKinsey, Miller & Stone A Law Corporation
The Eldo Bar & Grill
Ventura Transfer Company
1958
Klampon Thread Protector
Olsen Roofing Company
Santa Fe Garage Auto Service
1959
Bodell’s Shoes
Ellison Realty
Gem Shoe Repair & Leather Goods
George Oliveri Salon
SnugTop
Tell Steel
Western Office Refinishing Co.
White Realty Associates
1960
Iguana Kelleys
Modern Specialist
Quality Sprayers
Umberto’s Men’s Wear
1961
Marvin S. Beitner, Ph.D.
Black, O’Dowd & Associates
City Tow Service
Long Beach Animal Hospital
Stan Miller Yachts
1962
Jacobson Plastics
Superior Electrical Advertising
Wyatt Precision Machine
1963
Benny The Tailor
Best Western Golden Sails Hotel
Golden Star Restaurant
Metropolitan Chemical Company
Scuba Duba
1964
Ace & Stewart Detailing
Capri Realty
Certified Alloy Products
Chuck’s Coffee Shop
Hobbs Bannerman
Marina Shipyard
Santa Fe Convalescent Hospital
Yamko Truck Lines
1965
Able Glass Service
A.J. Edmond Co.
Lakewood Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Merle A. Anderson, DDS
California Resources Corporation
1965
Diversified Securities
Duthie Power Services
Hasco Oil
Haskell’s Prospector Steakhouse & Saloon
Jongewaard’s Bake N Broil
Joy Processed Foods
Long Beach Artificial Limb Company
1966
All Star Tire
Ando Electric Motors
Bloom Orthodontics
Cabe Toyota
Colonna & Co Realty
Bernard Fishman, DDS
Industrial Tire Service
L G Smith Accountancy
Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant
Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin and Harrison
Stapleton Technologies
1967
Auto-B-Craft of Long Beach
Big D Floor Covering Supplies
Bixby Knolls Tower
Dave’s Burgers
Hi-Standard Manufacturing
Holiday Inn Long Beach Airport
Palmcrest Medallion Convalescent Hospital
RADCO
1968
- R. Beinlich & Sons Construction
German Auto Long Beach
Jim’s Auto Repair
Dr. Arlo G. Jorgensen, DDS, MS
Morgan Industries
1969
Bryson Financial
Circle Audi
Don Temple U-Store & Lock
Grand Food & Beverage
Eric R Hubbard, DPM
Huff’s Family Restaurant
Machan Sign Company
National Plant Service
Omaha Airplane Supply
Plasidyne Engineering & Manufacturing
University Trophies & Awards
Nonprofit,
Membership And Other Organizations
1884
Long Beach Young Men’s Christian Association – YMCA
1891
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
1905
WomenShelter of Long Beach (Founded as Young Women’s Christian Association – YWCA)
1909
Long Beach Municipal Band
1912
Long Beach Day Nursery
1917
American Red Cross, Greater Long Beach Chapter
Long Beach Bar Association
Rotary Club of Long Beach
1919
Boy Scouts of America, Long Beach Area Council
Kiwanis Club of Long Beach
1921
Downtown Long Beach Lions Club
1923
Campfire Long Beach
1924
Alamitos Bay Yacht Club
Apartment Association, Southern California Cities
League Of Women Voters Of Long Beach Area
Soroptimist International of Long Beach
1925
Long Beach Casting Club
1926
Tichenor Clinic For Children
1928
Goodwill Serving
The People of Los Angeles County
1929
Long Beach Playhouse
Long Beach Yacht Club
1931
Junior League of Long Beach
1932
Children’s Dental Health Clinic
1935
Long Beach Symphony
1937
Downtown Long Beach Alliance
1939
Boys & Girls Club of Long Beach
bgclublb.org
1940
Assistance League Long Beach
Long Beach Branch NAACP
1946
Children’s Benefit League
The Guidance Center
1947
Long Beach Community Band
1948
Albert Jewish Community Center
Belmont Shore Business Association
1950
Long Beach Museum of Art
1952
Arthritis National Research Foundation
1953
South Coast Inter Faith Council
1955
Rancho Los Cerritos (After land donated to City of Long Beach, opened in 1955 as a public museum)
1956
The California State University, Long Beach Research Foundation
1961
Memorial Medical Foundation
Retirement Housing Foundation
Seal Beach Yacht Club (Located in Long Beach)
1962
Historical Society of Long Beach
1963
California Conference For Equality and Justice
Pools of Hope
1964
Fair Housing Foundation
1966
AbilityFirst Long Beach Center
Long Beach Section of the National Council of Negro Women
1967
Miller Foundation
1968
Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch and Gardens (Year donated to City of Long Beach)
For more information or questions, please contact Halbert Hargrove at hhteam@halberthargrove.com.
