Businesses Honored, Opened and Shut

Businesses come and go with time, and Manhattan Beach is no exception. In the 1960s, aerospace fueled much of the Beach Cities' growth, with workers for TRW using their incomes to settle into Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach and the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

The landscape of the aerospace has changed over the years, with names like Northrop Grumman replacing TRW and El Segundo becoming a prime location for aerospace industry firms.

Here are some things to know about businesses in the South Bay.

1. Aerospace is closely associated with the South Bay, specifically neighboring city Redondo Beach, which was home to the prolific TRW.  On Wednesday, Dec. 14,  the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics held a ceremony to designate "Space Park" as a "historic aerospace site." Space Park opened 50 years ago.

2. Aerospace neighbor Raytheon in El Segundo has adopted Madrona Middle School in Torrance as its latest MathMovesU program recipient. Raytheon will be donating about 100 laptop and desktop computers and engineers will teach students with hands-on demonstrations and lessons, according to a press release. Demonstrations can include hands-on interactive projects like straw rockets, hoverboards and aerosol polarimetry sensors.

3. Two Guns Espresso has opened at 350 N. Sepulveda Boulevard in Goat Hill, home to Big Wok, El Tarasco, and Rinaldi's. Driver Dawgs had a brief stay in the spot, with American Farmhouse the tenant prior to DD. AF moved into an expanded space where Szechwan used to be. Two Guns is owned and operated by two Kiwi lads, Andrew "Stan" Stanisich and Craig Oram. Stop in for coffee from Caffe Vita and tea from the Art of Tea. Cake Bakeshop of Manhattan Beach and Breadbar of El Segundo supply goodies. Two Guns is open Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. -3 p.m. Stop in to say "hello" to the New Zealanders.

4. European Wax Center, offering the Comfort Wax System, has opened in Manhattan Beach at 1590 Rosecrans Avenue, near Bristol Farms, and is offering free services [a free bikini line, eyebrow or underarm comfort wax for women and eyebrow, ear or nose for men] to first-time guests, according to Kipp Kreutzberg. You can reach the business by calling (310) 297-9291. EWC is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

5. Encore Bridal is gone. The Manhattan Beach shop at 3215 Highland Avenue, at 33rd Street, has moved to San Francisco. Their website reads, "A big thank you to all of our Southern California brides for your support. We look forward to continuing our service to you through our e-Boutique."