52 Pier Ave.
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
(310) 318-0004
www.sharkeez.net/hb

Sharkeez is the creation of Ron Newman- founder of the Red Onion chain of casual restaurants that flourished in the 1970’s and ‘80s- and his son Greg. After Greg graduated from USC, Ron offered him $100,000 to start his own place. Soon thereafter, the Newman’s decided to start a new enterprise as a team. They believed that their partnership would be a good fit combining the senior’s experience and expertise with the junior’s young, fresh ideas and understanding of the younger demographic and connections within the college and beach communities.

It was an instant hit with the young professionals and college students who began frequenting the South Bay beach city at that time. Despite the recession of the early 1990s and the numerous closures of beach bars and restaurants in the South Bay, Greg and Ron Newman decided to stay in the restaurant/nightclub business. During this time, the job market for graduating college students was poor and Greg was approached by many of his fraternity brothers and peers from USC for jobs. It was a symbiotic relationship. His friends were given jobs but he benefited by having highly skilled, well-educated employees during his start-up period in addition to his new staff bringing all their friends and creating a larger crowd.