Boom or Bust: The Influence of 6-Man

While some beachside businesses are welcoming visitors to the International Surf Festival, others in Manhattan Beach are shutting their doors and closing shop this weekend, due in part to the Charlie Saikley 6-Man Volleyball Tournament held south of the pier.

While local bars and restaurants stand to gain from the thousands of 6-Man visitors [the 6-Man has drawn crowds as large as 60,000 in 2009] who will walk up and down Manhattan Avenue and Manhattan Beach Boulevard looking for a bite or drink, other businesses, such as smaller boutiques and niche stores, may take a hit in business as their regular clientele will be driven away by the crowds.

Such is the case for Pages, a bookstore on Manhattan Avenue.

“It was horrible last year," said Margot Farris, co-owner of Pages. "Everyone just came in trying to use our bathrooms; we had very little actual business. I’m sure it would bring good business to the bars but not for books.”

While the quaint bookstore may be shutting its doors this weekend due to a lack of business, it’s a different case for Manhattan Meats, which is opting to be closed on Saturday.

“We’re actually going to be closed on Saturday, because none of our regulars come in," said Brian Tribble, manager of Manhattan Meats. "We just didn’t want to subject the employees to all the drunk people; it just gets too rowdy,” In years past, the deli has prepared for the weekend by having extra sliced meats and cheeses available for hungry 6-Man visitors.

For the hotel industry, events such as the International Surf Festival and its two-day 6-Man tournament should be good news.

“Six-Man, ever since we opened in 2005, has been our busiest weekend, and it continues to be that way,” said Katie Kruft, general manager of Shade Hotel, which has a restaurant, bar and Zinc Terrace, a rooftop, oceanview gathering area that can be reserved.

Kruft told Manhattan Beach Patch that her business will be taking the necessary precautions by having extra security and more staffing, measures that have been echoed by several other businesses in the downtown area.

The Belamar Hotel, located near the corner of Sepulveda Boulevard and Rosecrans Avenue about a mile away from downtown, is sold out for the weekend, although general manager Tom Beedon said that’s not necessarily because of the tournament or festival.

“We’re sure there probably are a few visitors staying here for the 6-Man, but I wouldn’t say it’s the lion’s share of our clients,” he said.

With weather forecast to be in the mid-70s with plenty of sunshine, Manhattan Beach Creamery, located downtown on the corner of Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Manhattan Avenue, will likely get a ton of business.

“We try to restock everything at least two to three times more than usual," said Jose Cervantes, supervisor of Manhattan Beach Creamery. "It’ll be a really busy weekend. It’s one of the busiest times of the year for us, but summertime is always busy.” 

While Pages bookstore and Manhattan Meats are closed in part due to keeping out disruptive beachgoers, other establishments are bracing for the rush and welcoming the extra business.

“It’s all hands on deck,” Kruft said. “The fact that they’re cracking down on the beachside drinking means it may lead to more business for the downtown area, and with more business comes extra precautions.”