Longboard pub rings in 15 years

When the Longboard Restaurant and Pub opened its doors in 1991, its lights were the only ones that twinkled on the deserted second block of Main Street.

Since that night, the community-oriented establishment has remained a busy and popular spot on the main drag.

“There was nobody else downtown; nothing was there,” restaurant co-owner Bruce Milliken said. “Our lights were the only outside lights in the second block of Main Street at night.

“The night we opened, there was a line out the door?.We never imagined our little place would take off like that. It was crazy, but it all worked.”

This weekend, the New England-inspired, Surf City-oriented restaurant and pub will celebrate its 15th anniversary with three days of specials and parties to commemorate the milestone.

Huntington Beach locals Milliken and his partners Dave Lautner and Reid Davies should have celebrated this last year, but in 1990, when they signed their first lease, the two had to calm the city’s fears the bar would attract unruly characters, Milliken said.

“We were the first new business of the downtown redevelopment project, and they were worried we were going to have some sort of biker bar,” Lautner said. “They misunderstood our intent, so it was a real battle.”

Rather than just go through the planning commission, the partners had to go before the City Council twice for a vote. The first time, the council voted in their favor. Because of further protests, they had a second vote, which resulted in a tie.

“That second time was a tie vote, and because it was a tie, it defaulted back to the first vote where they voted in our favor,” Lautner said. “It was a real knuckle-biter for us, so that was a bit of a struggle, but now we’re kind of the sweetheart business?. City Council members and city employees come and hang out with us.”

Some of the restaurant’s history is in the building itself ? the oldest business building in Huntington Beach, dating back to 1904. Milliken, Lautner and Davies rebuilt and retrofitted the building according to historical code ? the only business on the block to do so ? and the rest is Longboard history.

The owners, who each work full-time day jobs and are not hands-on, brought on Ron McLin as general manager seven years ago to run the day-to-day operations. McLin credits the restaurant’s success on a laid-back, familiar vibe appreciated by locals and tourists alike.

“I think it’s just a real comfortable place,” McLin said. “The clientele really captures the Huntington Beach essence of California casual.”

McLin, who serves on the board of directors for the Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau and Huntington Beach Restaurant Assn., and the owners are actively involved in the community.

“I think for us, it gives a feeling of family,” Milliken said. “You walk into the Longboard ? we’re like the ‘Cheers’ in Huntington Beach ? you sit down for five minutes and you’re going to know someone around you.”

Not only can the customers feel like family, but some of the employees are family. McLin’s 23-year-old daughter works the bar and his nephew helps out, too. Beyond that, many employees stick around to serve the locals for many years.

“I bet we put 30 more kids through college and probably had 20 people who have met and gotten married through there,” Lautner said. “We just had three of our girls graduate last week.”

The décor of the place is casual and fits right into the city’s Surf City moniker. Pub patrons will notice the 28-foot longboard, created by renowned surfboard shaper Robert August, and the breaking wave mural can give even those who don’t surf the feeling they’re getting pitted.

This weekend, the restaurant will feature live entertainment and specials, including a steel-drum band as the Sunday finale.

To kick off the weekend bash, the bar will have a complimentary appetizer buffet from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., with discounts on beer. There will be a Saturday brunch to coincide with an Extreme Volleyball Professional signup and drink specials in the evening. To wrap up the festivities, the bar will host a steel-drum band to bring island sounds to downtown, and don’t be surprised to see any one of the three owners hanging out at their favorite spot.

“I like hanging out there. I like this town a lot, and it’s fun to be an owner,” Lautner said. “We’re kind of like the little ‘Cheers’ of Huntington, and it’s kind of cool to be an owner of that ? and it even makes a little bit of money.”(LA)An anniversary party three years ago fills the patio with revelers at Longboard Restaraunt and Pub, one of the many special events over the years. hbi-01-happs2-BPhotoInfo2S1RG7UE20060601j03y74ncNo Captionhbi-01-happs1-CPhotoInfo2S1RG7UC20060601j03y6unc(LA)An anniversary party three years ago fills the patio with revelers at Longboard Restaraunt and Pub, one of the many special events over the years.