Like many oceanfront towns across the country, Redondo Beach, Calif., has a familiar scene—families playing in the sand, souvenir shops lining the streets, and an abundance of casual food spots serving burgers and fries. But when it comes to fine dining? Options are slim to none. Foodies searching for a sophisticated, sit-down meal often have to settle for laid-back fare or drive out of town.

That’s about to change.

Enter Montauk, a high-end restaurant concept from entrepreneur Lavae McClinnahan, set to open in spring 2025. With its arrival, McClinnahan isn’t just elevating the dining experience in Redondo Beach—he’s making a statement about Black ownership in spaces historically resistant to it.

“Restaurants here aren’t that great,” McClinnahan says bluntly. “It’s a lot of seafood, but all the same. We’re switching it over to coastal dining.”

Inspired by the exclusive enclave of Montauk in the Hamptons, his restaurant is designed to exude understated luxury. Think: cognac-colored vegan leather on the walls, Macallan Scotch behind the bar, and an ambiance that feels more like a well-appointed home than a traditional restaurant.

McClinnahan knows a thing or two about luxury branding. A New Jersey native, he cut his teeth working with Ralph Lauren and Sony, where he built a network of A-list connections and developed a keen eye for high-end marketing. After moving to Los Angeles in the early 2000s, he immersed himself in the world of fine dining—learning the art of wine pairings and five-course menus. Now, he’s channeling that expertise into Montauk, complete with a jazz lounge for a “grown and sexy” vibe that stands in stark contrast to the casual, beach-town norm.

“Our focus is going to be providing a great product,” he says.

Not everyone is thrilled about Montauk’s arrival.

McClinnahan has already faced pushback—some locals unhappy about a Black-owned fine dining spot disrupting the status quo. The backlash has ranged from passive-aggressive skepticism to outright hostility, including people calling the police in attempts to shut him down before the doors even open.

Though Redondo Beach sits in Los Angeles County—a region that leans overwhelmingly liberal—Black business owners know that doesn’t always translate to inclusivity. The area has been home to right-wing rallies in recent years, and it’s just a short drive from the deeply conservative Orange County.

Still, McClinnahan is undeterred.

He sees Montauk as part of a larger movement of Black entrepreneurs reclaiming historically significant beachfront spaces—places that were once thriving Black cultural hubs before being gentrified or, in the case of Bruce’s Beach, outright stolen by the government.

“Here in South Bay, there’s no African Americans,” McClinnahan points out. He’s not wrong—the Black population in Redondo Beach is just 2%, according to Census data. “We don’t own anything down here. Homes and condos, yes. But not businesses.”

Rather than focus on the resistance, McClinnahan stays committed to his vision: creating an irresistible space with undeniable charm.

“The community is asking for more,” he says. “Everything has been kind of dumbed down, and people want better options.”

Now serving: Black excellence.