If you've been to the Redondo Beach Pier, you've most definitely seen the Fun Factory. The colorful signage and sure-to-give-you-nightmares clown mural are hard to miss, despite being tucked underneath a parking garage. Sure, it's run down and hasn't been updated since the '70s, but the Fun Factory was a nostalgic landmark and offered fun for all ages. Now, the Redondo Beach City Council has voted to shut down the arcade to make room for yet another shopping mall.
The beach scene in Big Momma's House 2 was filmed in Redondo Beach and the pier. Redondo Beach is home of the fictional Bird of Paradise Motel in the 1990 film The Two Jakes. Parts of the 1988 movie Tequila Sunrise were filmed in Redondo Beach, specifically, on the Esplanade. One of the main attraction to Redondo Beach is the Pier as it is filled with boardwalk shops, restaurants, clubs, and nearby residential and hotels developments. Sitting adjacent to the beach, this mixed-use entertainment development attracts a unique blend of market users from local, regional, and international market users.
Redondo Beach City Council is buying the arcade's owner out for $9 million. The arcade's original lease was through 2027, but with the new deal, it will have to vacate the property in three years.
![Redondo Beach Pier Development Redondo Beach Pier Development](/uploads/1/2/5/6/125663063/666146214.jpg)
All of this is part of a major overhaul of the Redondo Beach Pier. The $300 million makeover will replace the pier's authentic fisherman vibe with a feel that is similar to the Grove. Much of the current development, from the Seaside Lagoon to Torrance Boulevard, will be taken over for a 'harbor village,' according the Daily Breeze. That village will include a hotel, market hall, movie theater, retail space, dining options and more. And as you can expect, not everyone is happy.
Activists file appeal challenging $300 million Redondo Beach waterfront overhaul - The Daily Breeze https://t.co/ObXsIbP4V1#Torrance
— Torrance News (@NewsInTorrance) August 23, 2016On the bright side, at least we have three more years to play some skee ball and ride on the Tilt-A-Whirl.
Want more? Sign up here to stay in the know.