From cafes and bakeries to wine and flower shops, a handful of Signal Hill businesses have been here so long, they’re a part of the fabric of the city. While we celebrate the city’s centennial, we also want to honor some of the legacy businesses that have been happily serving residents for decades.
Curley’s Cafe – Opened in 1932 and still stands at the same location at 1999 E. Willow St.
What started as a go-to post-work hangout for oil rig workers in 1932 still stands almost a century later as a popular, reliable family-style diner. True to its roots, two pumpjack oil rigs (still in operation as well) adorn the parking lot of Curley’s Cafe, while images of oil derricks serve as decorations on menus, mugs and merchandise.
Families and friends can enjoy homestyle meals such as country-fried chicken and eggs, thick burgers, various soups and ribeye steak with potatoes. The cafe also has a full bar with specialty drinks like Curley’s Pancake Shot, Hot Buttershots and Morning Martini. Stop by and say hello to longtime owner John Toman and the cheerful Curley’s crew.
Curley’s Cafe hours:
Monday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tuesday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday from 8 .m. to 5 p.m.
Rossmoor Bakery – Has been operating since 1961 at 2325 Redondo Ave.
Cakes, pastries and community. It’s the tagline of Signal Hill’s oldest bakery, which was established in 1961 and has been whipping up custom cakes, icing-dipped cookies and fluffy pastries made with fresh ingredients since then. The bakery was originally located on Seal Beach Boulevard, but “The Shoppe” has been serving Signal Hill residents for decades.
The bakers and pastry chefs make each item with love, evident by the fuchsia-colored embroidered hearts on their coats, signifying Rossmoor Pastries’ love and passion they pour into the community. They also take pride in their always fresh, never frozen ingredients, such as the 5 tons of chocolate, 475 pounds of carrots and 10 tons of eggs used each month.
Residents can taste the difference by walking into the bakery or contacting cakestudio@rossmoorpastries.com for a custom order.
Golden Eagle Restaurant – Opened in 1988 at 2101 E. Willow St.
The Golden Eagle’s famous breakfast burritos can be enjoyed at multiple locations in the Los Angeles area, but that doesn’t stop the restaurant from maintaining its family roots. The red-brick building has been owned and operated by the Georges family since 1988, while the first location still stands 14 miles west in Torrance.
The family immigrated from Greece in 1958 with dreams to open a restaurant, and the five Golden Eagle locations have remained in the family for three generations. Along with the famous breakfast burritos, customers can also enjoy fried zucchini, thick-cut fries with fresh burgers, egg sandwiches, omelets and more hearty breakfast options.
Golden Eagle hours:
Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Wine Country – Opened on Nov. 14, 1995 at 2301 Redondo Ave.
This wine wonderland eliminates all barriers by creating a welcoming environment for those willing to learn about and explore wines, cheeses, craft beers and pairings galore. Each staff member specializes in a different wine-rich region, and customers can read informative and entertaining articles often published on The Wine Country’s website.
The 7,000 square foot location holds hundreds of hard-to-find wines and liquors, as well as frequent tastings ranging from intimate sit down Friday evenings to casual gatherings Saturdays. Tastings offer a deep dive into a region or type of wine, but the friendly staff is always available to answer questions and welcome residents into Wine Country.
Wine Country hours:
Monday through Saturday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Signal Hill Florist – Operating since 1998 at 2099 E Willow St.
Free, same-day flower delivery? It sounds too good to be true, but Signal Hill Florist has been providing this lovely, hand-delivered service to local residents since 1998. Customers can choose depending on color, flower type, occasion or price range and expect a hand-picked, meticulously arranged and carefully delivered gift for a loved one. Along with fresh flowers, customers can also order a florist’s choice of plant.
If the long list of glowing reviews isn’t enough to convince you, the shop also offers a 100% guarantee on each order.
Signal Hill Florist hours:
Monday through Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Over the next few weeks, we will be publishing full-length features on these businesses, allowing residents to learn more about the places and people that make Signal Hill special.
You can read these features online at signaltribune.com, on our social media pages and as always, in our weekly print editions.