Gum Tree, an Aussie-inspired cafe and gift shop, has been a community favorite in Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach since the locations opened in 2008 and 2016 — but changes are coming.
While the flagship location in Hermosa Beach is going nowhere, the Manhattan Beach location will need to find a new home after 10 years in business.
That’s because while Gum Tree owners Lori and Will Ford also own the Hermosa Beach bungalow where that cafe is located, they lease the Manhattan Beach spot and, they said, they must vacate that property in early spring. The Fords are looking for a new location.
“We unfortunately lost our lease, and so we are doing the best we can to find another space,” Lori Ford said. “We really want to stay in downtown Manhattan Beach. It’s really been an incredibly supportive community to us, and our store is doing great. It’s just that the new rent was out of our reach.”
Downtown Manhattan Beach, Ford said, is “almost like a victim of our own success.”
“It’s a thriving, beautiful downtown because of the blood, sweat and tears that all of the local businesses have put into it for all of these years,” Ford said. “Many of us are locals. I grew up in Manhattan Beach. A lot of my fellow business owners live in Manhattan Beach.”
The Gum Tree’s beach bungalow in Hermosa has been a short distance from the sand since it was built in 1911.
The Hermosa Beach location, 238 Pier Ave., will continue its tradition of a photo with Santa Claus to raise funds for the Hermosa Beach Education Foundation from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, Ford said.
The digital photos are $20 with Santa.
“Every penny goes to the Hermosa Beach Education Foundation,” Ford said. “We’ve raised over $120,000 over the last 17 years with that event. So we’re really excited about that.”
Gum Tree Manhattan Beach is located at 324 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
For more information, visit gumtreela.com.
The Shade Motel in Manhattan Beach celebrated its 20th anniversary with a ribbon cutting on Nov. 10, 2025. (photo by Michael Hixon/SCNG)
Keyshawn Johnson, a USC star wide receiver who spent 11 years in the NFL and was a Super Bowl champion, signed his first children’s book, “Once Upon a You,” at Pages bookstore in Manhattan Beach, which celebrated its 15th anniversary n 2025, on ‘Small Business Saturday,’ on Nov. 29, 2025. Johnson is pictured with co-author Bettina Bush. (photo by Michael Hixon/SCNG)
Gum Tree Manhattan Beach pictured on ‘Small Business Saturday,’ on Nov. 29, 2025. (photo by Michael Hixon/SCNG)
Gum Tree Manhattan Beach owner Lori Ford pictured on ‘Small Business Saturday,’ on Nov. 29, 2025. Ford is looking for a new location in 2026. (photo by Michael Hixon/SCNG)
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The Shade Motel in Manhattan Beach celebrated its 20th anniversary with a ribbon cutting on Nov. 10, 2025. (photo by Michael Hixon/SCNG)
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Shade MB celebrates 20 years
The Shade Motel in Manhattan Beach celebrated its 20th anniversary with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 10.
Restaurateur Michael Zislis had the support of more than 50 investors when Shade Manhattan Beach came to fruition more than 20 years ago, he said at the event.
Following the success of Shade MB, Zislis opened Shade Redondo Beach in 2016.
At the ribbon-cutting, Zislis thanked those investors and the community for 20 years.
“We do live in the best piece of rarefied air in the world,” Zislis said at the event.
North Manhattan Beach Holiday Stroll
The North Manhattan Beach Holiday Stroll will return on Sunday, Dec. 7.
Highland Avenue will be closed from 33rd Street to Rosecrans Avenue.
The event attracts 2,500 holiday shoppers each year, according to visitnorthmanhattanbeach.com.
The event, which will take place from 5 to 9 p.m., will feature a visit from Santa, live entertainment, carolers, a “Holiday Market” and more festivities.
Kendra Scott gives back
Kendra Scott at The Point in El Segundo will donate a portion of its sales from Saturday to Monday, Dec. 6-8, to Soroptimist International of South Bay.
“(From noon to 2 p.m.), enjoy a festive in-store shopping event with sips and sweets, while 20% of event sales are donated back to SISB,” the hbchamber.net website said. “Can’t make it in person? Shop online during the event window and your purchase will still support our mission.”
For those who can’t make it in person, shoppers can visit kendrascott.com from Saturday to Monday, and enter giveback code GIVEBACK-JOUYX at checkout.
Kendra Scott is located at The Point, 830 S. Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 114, in El Segundo.
Business Beat is a monthly column by staff writer Michael Hixon. If you have beach cities business tips, you can reach Hixon at mhixon@scng.com.