picturesque location on the sand dunes of Redondo Beach.
either Joe or his brother. Their signature dish became
Joe fell in love with the location and told himself that one
cioppino, comprised of shrimp, clams, mussels, calamari
day it would be where he would build his own restaurant.
and sea bass—attracting a clientele from all over the
But at the time, World War II was underway and dreams
South Bay and Los Angeles. But they were attracted to
had to wait.
more than the tasty menu, Millie suggested. “It was his
Once the war concluded, Joe was still needled by this
personality. Everyone just loved him. It wasn’t the idea of
pie-in-the-sky idea, so he decided to go for it. To his
‘Let’s go have seafood.’ It was the idea, ‘Lets go see Joe.’
friends, opening a restaurant right after the war out in the
When he was around, it was playtime for everyone.”
nothingness of the sand dunes of Redondo Beach seemed
Joe brought his dream to his community, but just 10
irrational and hairbrained. “Joe’s flipped his wig” was the
years later his life tragically ended—a heart attack. A
coined phrase used around town once word got out.
shockwave was sent through the community, and the
Joe let it slide off his back. He had a dream, and he was going to see to it that the dream came to fruition. And that’s how Joe’s very own Vista Del Mar Seafood
family was left with the decision to pack it up and let the restaurant go … or keep going. Millie chose the latter. “I made myself a promise—I was going to keep myself
Grotto was born in 1946 on the sand dunes of Avenue I in
independent,” she said. “I don’t want any handouts
Redondo Beach.
from anybody. Do you know what it’s like being a rat,
Much to the dismay of his naysayers, the restaurant became a quick success. All fish was caught fresh by
cornered? You have to fight to get out, to fight for your kids’ survival. So that’s what I did.”
Joe and friends at the fish market