MDR Pier 44 Development Provides Waterfront Places To Eat & Drink
Its problems come when you get back on land. There’s little to do when you turn in that SUP or Jet Ski or get off one of those sightseeing boats. The problem is that there’s no lively place to go afterward to have food and drinks to talk about your adventurous afternoon.
But that may be changing, at least a bit, for the better in the near future with the approval of a Trader Joe’s and waterfront restaurants at Pier 44.
Pier 44 is at Admiralty Way between Fiji Way and Mindanao Way, down from Fisherman’s Village and across from the Ralph’s shopping center. There’s nothing there now from a commercial standpoint, just a couple 60s buildings and a few boats out of the water in a wide parking lot, and it’s not very scenic.
The Trader Joe’s plans call for turning this largely empty area into a pedestrian promenade and surely improving the bike path that runs through it.
Outside seating is planned for the restaurants and Trader Joe’s, tho PubClub.com is not sure if this means you can sit out there with cocktails. Of course, this would be desired and how cool would it be to be able to uncork a bottle of wine or open some beers you just picked up from Trader Joe’s and enjoy while looking out at the marina!?
Of course, having a tiki bar where that El Torito sits now in Fisherman’s Village would do a lot to help this area as a destination, too. MDR is a great bike ride for people from up and down the Los Angeles coastline – Santa Monica to South Bay – but now there’s no cool, lively place for people to stop and have a good meal and a cold drink or two.
Ground-breaking on the Trader Joe’s area is already underway and the project is expected to be completed in time for summer.
You’re right. Rode the bike by there a few weeks ago and said the same thing.
“…completed in time for summer”? This article was written in July of 2016. Hm…
Don’t you think for a second a Trader Joe’s will HELP this situation because Ralph’s is the only place to go now? Plus, a lot of people will go to TJ’s on bikes – people who live to the north and south of MDR out for a bike ride on a nice day – bringing more business to MDR. It’s a positive to the whole area, not a negative.
Are you joking? Have you EVER tried to go the the Ralph’s (virtually across the street) on the weekend? There are so many cars/accidents and NO parking. It’s a nightmare. What a joke.
Imagine being able to sit outside with a Trader Joe’s lunch on a day like today, too!
Yea, but with a TJ’s in the area people won’t have to drive somewhere to go shopping!
Terrible idea. Traffic in this area is a DISASTER. This will only create MORE issues.