It's 2017, folks—anything can happen. The Hollywood sign can transform into Hollyweed, rain can pour forth in buckets from the L.A. skies and shipping containers can now be restaurants. That last one, at least, is happening at SteelCraft, a new outdoor food-focused shopping center in Long Beach's Bixby Knolls neighborhood. While the grand opening won't take place until early February, a few containers (Steelhead Coffee, Smog City Brewery) are officially open for business.
Restoration is the key word at SteelCraft, where meals are shared on communal tables made from reclaimed wood and bike racks are made from 95 percent recycled material. Each restaurant or bar is operated out of repurposed metal shipping containers from the Port of L.A. and the Port of Long Beach. The concept isn't entirely new—Shreebs, for example, serves coffee out of their colorful container in the Arts District—but an entire food court made from shipping containers is a novelty in the area.
Restaurants are going to be rolling out gradually until the grand opening; on Friday, Hollywood's DeSano Pizza Bakery will open, followed by Belgian waffle specialist Waffle Love, San Diego's Tajima Ramen House, Hawaiian shave ice shop Fresh Shave, a gourmet hamburger restaurant and more. SteelCraft plans to throw events as well—but for now, you can visit for a pint of Smog City beer, a slice of pizza from DeSano's and plenty of space to mingle in a communal atmosphere.
SteelCraft is located at 3768 Long Beach Blvd in Long Beach, and is currently open daily starting at 6:30am.
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