Gum Tree's Roots

Gum Tree holds much more than plush home décor, whimsical trinkets and an everybody-knows-your-name café. The Pier Avenue store holds history.

When boutique owner and South Bay native Lori Ford and her husband, café owner Will, were planning to leave New York City for Hermosa Beach, they searched around town for a vacant space to open shop. The couple paused when they heard about the building at 238 Pier Ave.

"We thought it would be the perfect shop and café," Lori said. "It's what I always envisioned."

Ever since she was a young girl, Lori said she imagined owning a small town store that had the look and feel of a quaint, cottage home. The Pier Avenue building was a dream come true. But she didn't realize at the time that she wasn't the first person to have been swept away by the abode.

Late Hermosa Beach cancer activist Barbara Robinson owned the historic 1911 beach bungalow before the Fords submitted a bid to buy in August 2008. Robinson ran an upscale clothing store at the location, known as p.i.n.k., which benefited the Robinson Breast Cancer Research Fund.

In September 2005, the Hermosa Beach Historical Society presented a certificate of appreciation for historic preservation to Robinson, who restored the home "to its original splendor," the society said.

Lori said that Robinson was passionately dedicated to the building's preservation and rejected many offers to purchase the property. Then the Fords submitted a letter.

"She accepted within an hour," Lori said, adding that when she and Will opened Gum Tree in November 2008 they hoped to not only preserve the quality of the house, but also to preserve community.

Last month, Gum Tree was the launching point of First Thursdays, a monthly event that Lori organized in which local businesses stay open later hours and provide music and food to visitors. The Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce recently became a sponsor.

"The idea was to throw a party in your business, make it fun," Lori said.

For this Thursday, about 56 local businesses will be involved. There will be complimentary servings of Will's homemade sangria and local children's musician Tucker Booth will perform on the front patio of Gum Tree.

That same patio once led Hermosans to the front door of p.i.n.k. "And before that it was Eclectics [Home Furnishings], owned by Bryce Toney who now owns Curious," Lori said. "And before that I've heard it was a hair salon, graphic design office and even a party house in the 1960s."

Two Gum Tree customers told Lori they lived in the home years ago. Lori said that the sisters, who are in their late 80s, now live in Los Angeles, but visited her store to see whether the house was still standing. Lori invited the women to come back for the 100-year anniversary party she's hosting for the building in January.

"This place is in incredible shape considering how many times it switched hands," she said.

Lori didn't say whether the historic landmark will go through any more changes, but said it will see many more First Thursdays, family memories and anniversaries.

"This is our life," she said about the house.