Main Street in Seal Beach is bustling with new businesses. In the past six months alone, a restaurant, dessert shop and gourmet coffee spot have opened up in the 300 block of Old Town’s charming shopping district. Plus, a longtime Main Street salon on the same block just got a modern makeover.
Here’s a look at what’s fresh in part of Seal Beach’s historic downtown.
Catrina Café
Catrina Café opened in August in the space that once housed Country Café on Main Street. Owner Craig Lyon, his wife and sister teamed up with chef Olivia Medina to bring the neighborhood restaurant to town. Open daily for breakfast and lunch, Lyon describes Catrina Café as an American restaurant with Mexican roots.
That translates to a menu offering everything from churro-style waffles and mollete, Mexican toast with chorizo and other savory toppings, to omelets and grilled chopped cobb “ensalada,” Spanish for salad. “You’ve got that nice mix,” Lyon said. They also offer specialty coffee drinks and cocktails like Micheladas. Lyon previously owned Kitchen in the Canyon in Laguna Beach but when a commercial property in Seal Beach opened up, he “jumped on it.” “The opportunity to be on Main Street in Seal Beach was such a great opportunity. It’s awesome,” Lyon said in a recent interview. Lyon remodeled the space to turn the dining area of the restaurant into one large, open room. He envisions hosting cooking classes and other events for the community at Catrina Café. “We want to be a huge part of what goes on [in Seal Beach],” he said. “We want to be here for years and years.”
www.catrinacafe.com
562-296-5477
Humblemaker Coffee
Company of California
Humblemaker Coffee Company, the newest tenant on the ground floor of the building on the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street, opened up in late May. The scent of organic fresh-brewed coffee mixed with lavender invites customers into the building’s lobby furnished with leather chairs and wooden stools that doubles as the seating area for the gourmet coffee shop. Friendly, young baristas whip up lattes as well as specialty drinks like the Purple Haze, which has cold brew, lavender, earl grey tea and oat milk. Pastries, breakfast burritos and other small bites are also on the menu.
The space was previously occupied by Doc’s Pie Shop and another coffee shop, but both shuttered. So, what makes Humblemaker different? The owners have made a concerted effort to create a space where “people come in and they feel really comfortable,” said Humblemaker co-owner Chris Smith. “Whether it’s a coffee shop or a retail store you have to create something more than what is there. It’s more than just offering coffee or clothes. It’s the experience you get from it,” Smith said. Humblemaker donates 10% of its annual profits to programs that help children with autism. Smith’s business partner has two sons with autism who have benefited from therapy focused on activities like surfing.
www.humblemaker.coffee
562-430-9009
Peachwave Frozen Yogurt Shop
Another option for sweet treats on Main Street is here. Peachwave Frozen Yogurt had its opening day on Oct. 31, and is located right next door to the Bay Theatre. The shop allows customers to serve themselves frozen yogurt, gelato or a variety of flavors of the non-dairy Dole Whip dessert, which is made from Dole soft serve, something only found in Hawaii or at the Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, according to co-owner Den Bautista. There’s also a self-serve topping bar with candy, fresh fruit and syrups. Seal Beach is the first city in Orange County to get a franchise of the yogurt chain that has shops nationwide. “We fell in love with the close-knit feel of the community and the warmth the people of Seal Beach shows my family every time we go here,” Richelle Santos, co-owner of Peachwave, said in an email to the Sun. “We are very excited to be part of [the] Seal Beach community,” she wrote.
www.peachwaveyogurt.com
562-430-1010
Modern makeover at Select Nail House
It’s been in business in Seal Beach for more than 30 years and Select Nail House, the nail salon at 313 Main Street, just revealed a big makeover. Owner Kim Ta held a soft opening on Tuesday, November 12 and welcomed customers to the newly redesigned shop.
“I wanted to modernize it,” Ta said in an interview last week. “It’s 2019. It can’t be old-style anymore.” New-style means larger windows out front that deliver plenty of sunlight indoors, white and natural hues for a color scheme to create a clean, Zen-like vibe and large light fixtures that cast an enchanting glow.
There’s also brand new plush spa chairs for pedicure customers to feel pampered and a classy custom-made nail bar set up for clients seeking manicures.
Select Nail House also has three new rooms for spa services and treatments. Ta also said they are upgrading nail polish offerings.
“We’re open for business,” Ta said on Tuesday, and added that she would hold an official grand opening in December. “I just want to thank everybody who has supported me all these years,” she said.
562-430-3527
