Grammy-Award winning soul-funk star Anderson .Paak will make a rare appearance in Long Beach on Saturday, May 13, for the grand opening of The Bungalow within 2ND & PCH.
.Paak will step into his alter ego DJ Pee .Wee for an all vinyl set, at 11:30 p.m. to mark the official reopening of the space.
Owner Brent Botlhouse closed The Bungalow Kitchen on March 12 to pivot away from a sit-down dining concept that was created to adhere to COVID-19 restrictions in 2020. It will reopen to reflect his original vision for a “rock ‘n’ roll oasis,” which will mirror his other locations in Huntington and Santa Monica.
Bolthouse told the Post he hopes to bring some of the best DJs to the retooled Long Beach space, but the “stars aligned” when it came to booking .Paak for a night behind his turntables.
“It was a pretty unique scenario,” Bolthouse said. “We’re super excited to have him on board.”
The cocktail lounge will open at noon on Saturday and close at 2 a.m. All are welcome to attend the grand opening, which will welcome guests on a first-come, first serve basis. Reservations are encouraged, but they aren’t required.
.Paak’s SelvaRey Rum will be served that day, as well as The Bungalow’s sprawling cocktail list. Bolthouse said, “as cliche as it sounds” the Bungalow Margarita is the most popular beverage on that list.
Bolthouse says he hopes his Long Beach location will be the best Bungalow yet, especially after its transformation. The 10,000 square-foot lounge will now offer four full-service bars, multiple rooms and brand new lounge furnishings. In nixing the dining concept, guests will now be able to wander from one themed room or outdoor space to the next as they imbibe.
“It’s nice to see people in the space the way it was initially intended to be,” Bolthouse said.
The Bungalow Kitchen concept was well liked by the community and will carry on in Marin County’s Tiburon under Chef Michael Mina, who has exited the Long Beach location. The Bungalow will now offer a new menu with shareable bites and appetizers, including their most popular, a Neapolitan-style pizza.
Starting Wednesday, May 10, The Bungalow Long Beach, located within 2nd & PCH at 6400 E Pacific Coast Highway, will be open to the public at 5 p.m. The space will be open Wednesdays through Fridays from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., on Saturdays from noon to 2 a.m. and on Sundays from noon to 10 p.m.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information about The Bungalow’s first day of operation.