9:00am | “The Spirit of Christmas” may not be an especially imaginative name, but it doesn’t matter much what you call an act of giving.
That’s just what The Reef Restaurant (officially, The Reef on the Water) has planned for Christmas Day 7:00am-10:00am, when one of Long Beach’s oldest and swankiest eateries on the water will throw open its doors to anyone in need, doing what they’ve done every Christmas for the past three decades or so.
Ryan Smith, general manager of the Reef, says that in addition to a “traditional holiday feast” that will include ham, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pastry, and cookies, the restaurant will be providing live music, clowns, and toys for kids courtesy of the Long Beach Fire Department.
David Tallichet, founder of The Reef Restaurant, began “The Spirit of Christmas” there in the late 1960s, and it’s a tradition that has continued due to the efforts of his surviving family and of Specialty Restaurants Corporation (SRC). Last year The Reef hosted 2,500 diners, and this year as many as 3,000 are expected to turn up.
Serving so much food is a lot of work, and The Reef welcomes any volunteers who want to come out during any portion of the morning. “Anyone who shows up, we’ll put ’em to work,” Smith says. “We’ll find something for them to do.”
Among the volunteers will be members of the Salvation Army, along with SRC employees. “A lot of our executives come in to do this. A lot of our corporate office will be here,” Smith says. “It’s good for our company’s morale to be able to come together and provide this for everyone.”
While Smith encourages those who wish to partake in the repast to pick up tickets (free, of course) at the Salvation Army branch at 455 E. Spring St. — mostly because it gives The Reef an idea of how many persons to expect — a ticket is not mandatory to get a meal. “We’re not going to turn anyone away,” he says. “If it’s Christmas and they’re in need, we’re going to welcome them with open arms.”
The Reef Restaurant is located at 880 Harbor Scenic Dr. The Passport C line stops right there, and a bus from the Salvation Army on Spring St. (between Long Beach Blvd. and Atlantic Ave.) will make multiple runs to The Reef. For more information, call (562) 435-8013.