Hannah Ehrig
Staff Writer
A warm sea breeze. Mist in your hair. Excited laughter from children and adults alike. These are expected when visiting a pier. At the Malibu Pier, however, they do not exist. Aside from a few wandering tourists and some local fishermen, the Malibu Pier is relatively empty.
But this just might change. Mark Zuckerman, director of development for the Malibu Pier, is working to bring life back to it. Using his previous experience in restaurant management, Zuckerman plans to open the pier as an event venue, bringing in concession stands, boat rides and some shops. Mo’s, a restaurant owned by Bruce Heckler, will be open on weekends from May until October, the pier’s peak season.
What would Pepperdine students like to see on the pier? Sophomore Laura Colvin would like “a bait shop,” because of a time when her brother was not able to rent any fishing gear.
New excitement will be offered on the pier through boat rides. A May article in the Malibu Times reported that boat excursions are offered on Saturdays and Sundays. These boats, along with most elements a pier offers, do not seem to exist. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said a security officer working on the pier. “I see boats on weekdays, but only when there is a lifeguard.”
The pier is currently open to the public although not all proposed services are operational, according to the official website for the city of Malibu, www.ci.malibu.ca.us.
These supposed pier boat rides are offered as a whale watching trip leaving the pier at 1 p.m. Saturdays and fishing boat rides on Sunday mornings, 9 a.m. The phone number for the park, 310-456-8031, is not helpful. It is a recorded voice asking to leave a message for information on boat rides, a message that was never returned.
“I’d just go down to the Santa Monica Pier,” said senior Rachel Jones. She would think about taking a pier boat ride “if they had it and I was bored.”
Sophomore Jaime Wilson is a little more enthusiastic about her hypothetical pier boat ride. “It sounds like fun and a good way to get out on the weekends without having to drive very far.”
There is a web page specifically for the Malibu boat tours, but its helpful information is an astounding “website coming soon…”
Although boat tours were not found, fisherman can sail around the pier or fish off of it when a lifeguard is present.
The pier itself is a historic piece of Malibu. It was built in 1905. At that time it was private property, owned by a rancher named Frederick Hastings Rindge. During World War II, after a storm forced it to be rebuilt, the pier was used as a U.S. Coast Guard station. In 1980 the state gained control of the pier, and it became a popular spot until 1995’s El Nino caused damage, forcing the pier to close.
Now the plan is to restore the pier with all new shops and restaurants. Even though the pier is undergoing renovations, it is keeping the original architectural plans. An opening date for the pier has not been released due to a legal setback.
The pier was the subject of a legal dispute over its name, Malibu Pier. Stephen Harper, a resident of Agoura, believed that he was the owner of the name. According to the Malibu Times, the State Parks Department sued Harper for alleged trademark infringement.
In August, after a two-week trial, the jury of eight unanimously awarded the name Malibu Pier and the domain www.malibupier.com to California State Parks. State Parks was also given the name Malibu Sportfishing Pier. These names have been registered as state trademarks to the State Parks Department.
Malibu Pier Partners LLC had previously agreed to run concession stands and to operate the pier upon opening. This partnership was formed by Jefferson Wagner, owner of Zuma Jay’s, a local surf shop, who will be the manager of pier operations, and Alexander Leff, an attorney from San Francisco.
Now that the pier’s names have been established, retail development can begin. “Now I can start selling garments, with the pier logo, on the pier- on a cart or in a store.” Jefferson Wagner told The Malibu Times in August, “I’m going to configure a cart in the next couple of weeks, something like they have in Santa Monica on the Promenade.”
The opening the pier could bring more tourism and business to Malibu. It could also mean a new place for Pepperdine students to work and hang out. Although there is no date set for the official pier opening, it is open to the public seven days a week from sunrise until sundown. There are no services yet, but strolling is allowed.
The pier is a nice place to relax or watch the ocean. Until the official opening, there are many places nearby to eat and shop. Pier boat ride information is available by calling 310-456-8031.
10-15-2006
