555 EAST
CELEBRATES
40 YEARS IN 2024
Belief and investment in Long Beach worth every nickel
In 1983, boarded-up houses and apartment buildings scarred the best neighborhoods. The boardwalk was in disrepair and The Pike, demolished. Hotels that once catered to socialites and entertainers were operating as adult-care facilities. Middle class families were moving away from the city and younger couples were not replacing them. By all accounts, Long Beach looked haunted. But not all had lost hope.
On the day before Thanksgiving in 1983, Long Beach native and budding restaurateur, Sam King, made a commitment and investment to the city, signing a lease for 555 E. Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach, Calif. Less than eight months later, and six weeks before the 1984 Olympic Games, the steakhouse opened its doors.
For decades, 555 East has anchored Long Beach as a culinary cornerstone, pioneering the prime steakhouse concept throughout Southern California. The iconic establishment helped revitalize the city and in 2024, celebrates its 40th anniversary. It’s an achievement made possible by its commitment to both the community and Guests across generations – all while skillfully adapting to the ever-changing landscape of running a restaurant.
“We’ve gotten better with age,” said Sam King, co-founder and CEO of King’s Seafood Company, the family-owned and operating company behind 555 East. "555 East was our first concept and its success laid the foundation for our company's growth."
Laying roots in Long Beach for King’s first restaurant wasn’t a foregone conclusion. It was a calculated decision. “I was born and raised here – from high school to the first home I bought,” recalls King. In fact, all three of King’s children were born in Long Beach. “I could see the potential for the city’s return to prominence and I wanted to be a part of its revitalization.”
555 East is the flagship steakhouse of King's Seafood Company, a family venture spanning nearly 80 years when Sam’s uncle and father, Lou and Mickey, started building restaurants together in Southern California in 1945. After a successful run of almost 40 years of their own, the family sold its six restaurants in 1982. Sam stayed on with the company that purchased their restaurants.
“It’s at that time that a restaurant in Long Beach, The Carriage Club, hit the market and caught my eye,” King remembers. “I saw the opportunity, trusted my instincts and took action. Just as my father did before me, my first call was to family and my cousin Jeff.”
Sam and Jeff King, co-founders of King’s Seafood Company, signed their first lease the day before Thanksgiving in 1983 and opened 555 East in 1984. It continues to thrive to this day.
“It’s been an honor to serve Long Beach for the past 40 years,” said King. “It’s a commitment that we don’t take lightly – or for granted.”
In an industry known for its volatility, reaching the 40-year milestone is a testament to the restaurant's commitment to quality, consistency and exceptional dining experiences. Through economic downturns and even the pandemic that shuttered many restaurants permanently, 555 East has demonstrated remarkable resilience and cemented its status as a beloved institution by locals and visitors alike. It’s done this year-over-year by being Guest-first and unconditionally guaranteeing its product and service.
As 555 East looks to the future, it remains committed to the values that have made it an institution in Southern California including high quality food, impeccable service and a welcoming atmosphere for all who walk through its doors.
This November, the restaurant will start celebrating its anniversary achievement with Guests with a series of experiences to close out its anniversary year. This includes a VIP event, throwback menu items, nostalgic décor, commemorative gifts, celebratory prosecco toasts and more.
